Bybit Spot Trading vs Futures Trading: Which Is Right for You?

02What Is Spot Trading on Bybit?

Spot trading is the simplest form of crypto trading. You buy a cryptocurrency (like BTC or ETH) at the current market price, and you own it immediately. You can hold it, transfer it, or sell it whenever you want.

Key characteristics of spot trading on Bybit:

• No leverage — You trade with your own funds only
• No liquidation risk — You can't lose more than your investment
• Direct ownership — You hold the actual cryptocurrency
• Simple order types — Market, limit, and stop orders
• 350+ trading pairs available on Bybit

Spot trading is ideal for beginners and long-term investors who want to accumulate crypto assets over time.

03What Is Futures Trading on Bybit?

Futures trading on Bybit lets you trade contracts based on the price of cryptocurrencies. You don't own the underlying asset — instead, you're speculating on whether the price will go up or down.

Key characteristics of futures trading on Bybit:

• Up to 100× leverage — Amplify your buying power
• Long and short positions — Profit from both price increases and decreases
• Liquidation risk — Losses can exceed your margin if not managed
• Advanced order types — Including TP/SL, trailing stops, and conditional orders
• USDT and Inverse contracts available

Futures trading is suited for experienced traders who understand risk management and want to capitalize on short-term price movements.

04Fee Comparison: Spot vs Futures

Understanding the fee structure is essential for calculating your trading costs:

Spot Trading Fees:
• Maker: 0.10%
• Taker: 0.10%

Futures Trading Fees:
• Maker: 0.02%
• Taker: 0.055%

Notice that futures trading actually has lower fees than spot trading. This is one reason active traders prefer futures — combined with leverage, the cost efficiency can be significant.

With our referral link, you get an additional 20% discount on all trading fees, making both options even more affordable.

05Risk Comparison

Risk management is where spot and futures trading differ the most:

Spot Trading Risk:
• Maximum loss = your investment amount
• No forced liquidation
• Market volatility affects your portfolio value
• Best for HODLing strategies

Futures Trading Risk:
• Losses can be amplified by leverage
• Positions can be liquidated if the market moves against you
• Funding rate fees for holding positions overnight
• Requires active monitoring and stop-loss orders

The golden rule: never risk more than you can afford to lose, regardless of which trading mode you choose.

06Which Should You Choose?

Here's a simple decision framework:

Choose Spot Trading if:
• You're new to crypto trading
• You want to buy and hold long-term
• You prefer lower risk
• You don't want to monitor positions actively

Choose Futures Trading if:
• You have experience with financial markets
• You want to trade short-term price movements
• You understand leverage and risk management
• You're comfortable with potential liquidation

Many successful traders on Bybit use both — holding core positions in spot and using futures for active trading opportunities.

07Getting Started on Bybit

Ready to try both trading modes? Sign up through our referral link to get a 20% fee discount on all trades, plus up to $30,000 in bonuses.

Bybit also offers a Demo Trading mode where you can practice both spot and futures trading with virtual funds — zero risk, full features. It's the perfect way to learn before committing real capital.