AvaTrade and Plus500 increase Bitcoin trade leverage allowed 10x from 5x, spread falling.
LeapRate Exclusive…. Very quietly, retail forex brokers have become more comfortable adding Bitcoin trading, while at the same time relaxing the conditions of trading for their customers. These changes are coming as Bitcoin volatility — still high by ‘normal’ forex standards — has subsided somewhat, and as traders become more mixed in their outlook for Bitcoin. Not everyone is just buying any more.
The easing of conditions comes mainly in the form of increased leverage allowed to traders. When first introduced, leverage was capped at 4:1 for Bitcoin trading when first introduced by Plus500, creeping its way up to 5:1 when AvaTrade launched Bitcoin trading, and has now been fairly evenly set at a more moderate 10:1 at both those brokers.
Bitcoin trading conditions as at January 7, 2014. Source: Plus500.
The spread on Bitcoin trading could be wider (depending on market conditions) than for most other forex instruments. That will probably continue until more hedging and liquidity options arrive on the scene for brokers. At this point, Bitcoin brokers are b-booking all Bitcoin trades, with little if any ability to hedge client positions, should they get too one-sided.
We expect more forex and binary brokers to add Bitcoin trading capabilities in 2014.
For more on the global Forex industry see the LeapRate-Dow Jones Forex Industry Report.