Instruments · Cryptocurrencies
Crypto CFDs: Bitcoin and Ethereum trading
Crypto CFDs from the same account as your forex and index positions — with the added volatility that comes with the asset class clearly disclosed.
Overview
Digital assets, traded like any other market
Bitcoin, Ethereum and the leading altcoins trade 24/7, driven by a mix of adoption news, regulation headlines and momentum. Trade crypto CFDs with AQ Markets long or short, from the same account as your forex and index positions — with the added volatility that comes with the asset class clearly disclosed.
Crypto CFD basics
What are crypto CFDs?
A crypto CFD is a contract that tracks the price of a digital asset such as Bitcoin or Ethereum. You do not buy or hold the coin, and you need no wallet. You gain if your view on direction is right and lose if it is wrong. Leverage magnifies both outcomes.
What moves Bitcoin and crypto prices?
Adoption news, exchange-traded fund flows, regulation headlines, large holder activity and exchange failures all move prices. Broader risk appetite and interest rate expectations also matter, so crypto sometimes moves with stock indices. Supply events such as the Bitcoin halving draw attention too. Moves of 5 percent in a day are not unusual, and they can reverse just as fast.
When do crypto CFDs trade?
Crypto trades 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends. Liquidity and spreads can vary outside busy hours, and prices can gap when news lands. The forex market pauses at the weekend; crypto does not. New to CFDs? Read how they work.
Worked example
Bitcoin CFD example: a 5 percent move
Hypothetical example: Bitcoin trades at 60,000 dollars. You buy 0.1 coin, a position worth 6,000 dollars. The price rises to 63,000. Your gain is 3,000 × 0.1 = 300 dollars, before spread and swap.
| Step | Hypothetical figure |
|---|---|
| Entry | 60,000 dollars |
| Exit | 63,000 dollars |
| Move | +3,000 per coin (5 percent; 0.1 coin) |
| Result | +300 dollars, before spread and swap |
Suppose margin were 20 percent of position value (sample figure), or 1,200 dollars. A fall to 57,000 would cost you 300 dollars, a quarter of that margin, from a 5 percent price move. Short positions work in reverse. Run your own figures in the calculators and check trading conditions for crypto leverage.
Why crypto
Why trade crypto CFDs with AQ Markets
Bitcoin, Ethereum & the majors
Trade the largest cryptocurrencies as CFDs from the same account as your forex and index positions.
24/7 markets
Unlike traditional markets, crypto doesn’t close for the weekend — prices move around the clock.
Go long or short
Take a view in either direction via CFD, without needing a wallet or exchange account.
Built for volatility
Crypto is among the most volatile asset classes we offer — position sizing and risk controls matter more here than anywhere else.
- ✓ No restrictions. No restrictions on scalping, hedging or EA use across supported platforms.
- ✓ One account. Forex, metals, indices, commodities, shares and crypto CFDs from a single account.
- ✓ Tight spreads. Spreads from 0.0 pips on majors, sourced from a deep liquidity pool.
Quick stats
Crypto at a glance
Spec table
Crypto instrument specifications
Sample crypto CFDs and indicative trading conditions. The full instrument list is available inside the platform.
| Symbol | Description | Min Spread | Swap Long | Swap Short | Contract Size | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BTCUSD | Bitcoin / US Dollar | 25 | -12 | -8 | 1 coin | 24/7 |
| ETHUSD | Ethereum / US Dollar | 1.8 | -9 | -6 | 1 coin | 24/7 |
| SOLUSD | Solana / US Dollar | 0.05 | -6 | -4 | 1 coin | 24/7 |
| XRPUSD | XRP / US Dollar | 0.003 | -4 | -3 | 1 coin | 24/7 |
| DOGEUSD | Dogecoin / US Dollar | 0.0006 | -3 | -2 | 1 coin | 24/7 |
Illustrative sample data, not live market prices.
Trading conditions
Execution built for crypto
- ✓ Market execution, 24/7 — no dealing-desk intervention.
- ✓ Average fill time 38ms (sample figure).
- ✓ Leverage on crypto is capped lower than other asset classes given higher volatility — see Trading Conditions.
- ✓ Weekend and holiday trading with no market close; liquidity may vary.
- ✓ Margin call and stop-out levels published per account type.
Platforms
Trade crypto on your platform of choice
Questions
Crypto CFD questions answered
No. A CFD tracks the price only, so you hold no coins and have no ownership of the asset.
Prices move further and faster, and trading never pauses. Position size and stop-loss placement matter more here than in shares.
Spreads apply on entry and exit, and swaps apply to positions held overnight. Figures in the table are sample figures.
Risk warning. Forex and CFD trading is leveraged and carries a high level of risk to your capital. Prices can move quickly against you, and losses can exceed your initial deposit. Please read our Risk Disclosure before trading.
Crypto volatility notice. Cryptocurrencies are markedly more volatile than traditional asset classes; prices can move sharply in short periods and losses can accumulate quickly. Trade crypto CFDs only with capital you can afford to lose.
Learn more
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