Home > What Is Leverage in Crypto Trading? > What Is Leverage in Crypto Trading?
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Written by Charles
Hi, I'm Charles Johns, a Finance graduate with a specialization in Financial Management from the University of Chicago. My journey through financial markets has fueled a passion for both traditional and digital assets, where I continuously explore evolving investment opportunities. As an active trader and cryptocurrency enthusiast, I strive to bridge the gap between complex financial concepts and practical, real-world applications. My goal is to empower everyone, whether seasoned investors or newcomers, with valuable insights and knowledge to confidently navigate the world of finance and crypto investing.
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This article has been reviewed by crypto market experts at SCM to ensure all the content, sources, and claims adhere to the highest standards of accuracy and reliability.
Last Updated on February 4, 2025
When it comes to maximizing profits in the cryptocurrency market, margin trading offers an attractive opportunity for seasoned traders.
By allowing users to borrow funds and increase their trading position, margin trading can amplify both potential gains and risks.
In this guide, we explore the best crypto margin trading exchanges, focusing on platforms that provide competitive leverage, robust security, and a wide range of trading pairs.
Whether you’re a professional trader or just getting started, these exchanges are top contenders for optimizing your margin trading strategy.
The following is the Margin Trading Crypto Exchanges List that we have prepared for your reference:
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Bybit, founded in early 2018 by Ben Zhou and his team, is a prominent crypto margin trading exchange. Based in Singapore, Bybit has earned a solid reputation for its robust platform and user-centric approach.
Bybit has amassed over 10 million users, with a daily trading volume exceeding $10 billion. This high liquidity ensures efficient trades for both short-term and long-term traders.
You can trade a wide range of cryptocurrencies on Bybit. The platform supports various margin trading pairs, offering leverage up to 100x. This means you have the potential to maximize potential profits, though risk management is crucial.
Bybit offers cross-margin and isolated-margin trading. In terms of fees, Bybit charges a trading fee of 0.075% for takers, while makers enjoy a rebate of 0.025%.
Security is paramount at Bybit. The platform uses cold wallet storage for client funds, two-factor authentication (2FA), and advanced risk management systems to safeguard assets. Customer support is available 24/7 through live chat and email.
Bybit supports multiple order types, including limit orders, market orders, conditional orders, and trailing stop orders. This flexibility allows you to implement various trading strategies effectively.
Pros
Cons
Thanks to its user-friendly interface, reliable security, and robust trading options, Bybit remains a strong choice for those looking to engage in crypto margin trading.
You can check our detailed Bybit Review to learn more.
Founded in 2018, BingX is a well-established cryptocurrency exchange. With its headquarters in Singapore, BingX has gained substantial traction in the crypto community. The platform is known for its user-friendly interface and robust security measures.
BingX boasts over 2 million users with a daily trading volume of $632.9 million, according to CoinGecko. This makes it one of the top exchanges in terms of trading activity.
BingX supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies. You will find numerous margin trading pairs available, allowing you to trade with up to 125x leverage.
You can engage in both isolated and cross-margin trading on BingX. Fees are competitive, with maker fees starting at 0.02% and taker fees at 0.05%.
BingX employs advanced security features like two-factor authentication (2FA) and cold storage for digital assets. Customer support is available 24/7 through live chat and email, ensuring you receive timely assistance.
Various order types are available, including market orders, limit orders, and stop-limit orders, giving you flexibility in your trading strategies.
Pros:
Cons:
By incorporating these features, BingX aims to provide a comprehensive and secure margin trading experience.
Do read our BingX review for more information.
Phemex, founded in November 2019 by ex-Morgan Stanley employee Jack Tao, is based in Singapore. It has quickly grown to be a reputable platform for crypto margin trading.
The platform boasts over 2 million users, with a daily trading volume exceeding $1 billion. Phemex supports more than 40 different cryptocurrencies, offering 120+ margin trading pairs with up to 100x leverage.
Phemex offers both cross and isolated margin trading. Fees are competitive, with a 0.1% trading fee for both makers and takers.
Security is a priority, with cold wallet storage, two-factor authentication, and a dedicated risk control team. Customer support is available 24/7 via live chat and email.
Order types include market, limit, and conditional orders, giving you flexibility in your trading strategies.
Pros:
Cons:
Phemex combines traditional finance principles with modern technology, making it a strong choice for experienced traders looking for high-leverage opportunities.
You can find our detailed analysis here in our Phemex review.
MEXC, founded in 2018, is headquartered in Seychelles and has established a strong reputation in the crypto margin trading sector. It’s known for its user-friendly interface and competitive fees. The exchange has attracted a significant user base and daily trading volume, becoming a prominent player in the market.
MEXC boasts over 6 million users with a robust daily trading volume that often exceeds $1 billion. It supports more than 100 different cryptocurrencies and offers numerous margin trading pairs. Crypto leverage trading options on MEXC can go up to 10x, providing ample opportunities for traders to maximize their positions.
You will find both isolated and cross margin types available on MEXC. The margin trading fees are competitive, with a base trading fee of 0.2% for both makers and takers. This makes it an attractive option for traders who are conscious of their trading costs.
Security is a priority at MEXC. The platform implements stringent security measures, including multi-signature wallets and 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) to safeguard your assets. Additionally, MEXC offers responsive customer support accessible through multiple channels, ensuring any issues you face are promptly addressed.
The exchange also offers a variety of order types for margin trading. These include limit orders, market orders, stop-limit orders, and trailing stop orders, providing flexibility and control over your trades.
Pros:
Cons:
MEXC stands out in the crypto margin trading space with its user-friendly platform, extensive coin support, and strong security measures, making it a reliable choice for margin traders.
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Bitget, founded in 2018 by Sandra Lou, is a prominent player in the crypto margin trading space. Headquartered in Singapore, Bitget has quickly built a strong reputation due to its user-centric design and high-performance trading capabilities.
Bitget boasts over 2 million users and handles a daily trading volume that frequently exceeds $1 billion. This wide user base makes it highly liquid and appealing for traders.
The platform supports more than 100 cryptocurrencies for margin trading, offering numerous pairs that can be traded with up to 3x leverage for cross margin modes and up to 10x for isolated margin modes in USDT.
Bitget provides both cross margin and isolated margin options. The fees for margin trading on Bitget are competitive, generally falling between 0.02% to 0.1%.
For security, Bitget employs measures like multi-signature wallets, cold storage, and two-factor authentication (2FA). Customer support is available 24/7 via live chat, email, and a comprehensive help center.
Traders can use various order types such as market orders, limit orders, and stop orders to optimize their trading strategies.
Pros
Cons
Bitget offers a robust platform for those looking to engage in crypto margin trading, making it a solid choice for both new and experienced traders.
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BYDFi, formerly known as BitYard, was launched in 2019. Founded by a team of financial and technology experts, BYDFi is based in Singapore. It has built a strong reputation for its advanced crypto trading features.
BYDFi boasts a user base of over 500,000 customers, with a daily trading volume that often exceeds $1 billion.
The platform supports 150+ cryptocurrencies, allowing for a wide range of trading options. You can trade margin with up to 200x leverage, which is significant in the industry.
BYDFi offers different types of margin trading, including cross margin and isolated margin. Margin trading fees on BYDFi are competitive, generally ranging between 0.1% and 0.3%.
Security is a top priority for BYDFi. The exchange is regulated by FinCEN in the United States and employs top-notch security protocols, including two-factor authentication (2FA) and advanced encryption. Customer support is available 24/7 to assist with any issues you might encounter.
Order types available on BYDFi:
Pros:
Cons:
BYDFi is an excellent platform if you’re looking for robust, high-leverage margin trading options combined with strong security measures and reliable customer support.
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Deribit, founded in 2016 by John Jansen and Marius Jansen, is a well-regarded cryptocurrency futures and options exchange based in the Netherlands. It’s known for its advanced trading platform and competitive edge in crypto margin trading.
You can trade on Deribit with thousands of other users, contributing to a daily trading volume often surpassing $1 billion.
Deribit supports margin trading for multiple cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH). You can leverage up to 50x on futures and perpetual contracts. The platform provides both cross and isolated margin options, offering flexibility in managing your risk.
Margin trading fees on Deribit are competitive. There’s a 0% maker fee and a 0.05% taker fee for futures contracts, with options trading costing 0.03% for both makers and takers.
Security is robust, featuring cold storage for digital assets, two-factor authentication, and regular security audits. Customer support is available via multiple channels to assist you.
Deribit offers various order types like limit orders, market orders, and stop orders, allowing you to execute your trading strategies effectively.
Pros
Cons
Deribit stands out for high liquidity, advanced trading options, and strong security.
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OKX is a well-established cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2017 by Star Xu. Headquartered in Seychelles, it has built a solid reputation among crypto traders for offering robust margin trading options.
OKX boasts millions of active users and reports a daily trading volume in the billions, signifying high liquidity. This makes it a strong contender for margin trading.
The platform supports over 500 coins and offers numerous margin trading pairs with leverage up to 10x, providing ample opportunities to amplify your trading positions.
OKX offers two types of margin trading: cross-margin and isolated-margin. The trading fees are competitive, starting at 0.1% for both maker and taker trades.
Pros:
Cons:
OKX combines a broad range of supported assets with high leverage and strong security, making it a reliable platform for margin trading.
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Kraken, founded in 2011 by Jesse Powell, is based in San Francisco. Known for its reliability and security, Kraken has established itself as a top choice for crypto margin trading.
With over 6 million users and a daily trading volume that often exceeds $500 million, Kraken supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies.
Kraken offers 95 margin trading pairs with leverage up to 5x. Margin trading fees range from 0.01% to 0.02% to open a position, with rollover fees of the same amount every 4 hours.
Kraken provides cross margin and isolated margin options. The platform prioritizes security with 2FA, encryption, and cold storage for the majority of funds.
You can expect robust customer support through multiple channels, including live chat and email.
Kraken supports various order types such as market, limit, stop loss, and take profit orders.
Pros
Cons
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Binance, founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao and Yi He, is headquartered in Malta. It has built a strong reputation as one of the leading cryptocurrency exchanges worldwide, especially in the realm of margin trading.
With over 28 million users and a daily trading volume exceeding $30 billion, Binance supports a wide array of cryptocurrencies.
Binance offers over 300 trading pairs with leverage up to 10x. Margin trading fees can go up to 0.1%, with reduced fees available for those holding Binance Coin (BNB).
Binance provides both isolated margin and cross margin trading options. The platform prioritizes security with two-factor authentication (2FA) and advanced encryption techniques.
Robust customer support is available through 24/7 live chat, complemented by extensive FAQ and support documentation.
Binance supports various order types, including limit orders, market orders, stop-limit orders, and OCO (One Cancels the Other) orders.
Pros
Cons
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BitMEX, founded in 2014 by Arthur Hayes, Ben Delo, and Samuel Reed, is based in Seychelles. It has earned a strong reputation as one of the leading platforms for crypto margin trading.
BitMEX boasts a large user base, with millions of users worldwide and a daily trading volume that often exceeds billions of dollars.
You can trade several cryptocurrencies on BitMEX, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other popular altcoins. The platform offers up to 100x leverage on Bitcoin trading pairs and lower leverage for other cryptocurrencies.
BitMEX supports both cross and isolated margin types. The trading fees are competitive, usually around 0.075% for taker fees and a rebate for maker fees.
BitMEX employs robust security measures like multi-signature wallets, two-factor authentication (2FA), and an automatic withdrawal system. Customer support is available through email and a support center.
You have access to various order types such as market orders, limit orders, stop orders, and trailing stop orders.
Pros:
Cons:
By using a mix of informative content and structured formatting, you get a clear and detailed understanding of trading crypto on BitMEX.
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Imagine you want to trade Ethereum (ETH) using margin. You have $1,000, and your exchange offers 5x leverage.
Step-by-Step Example:
Calculation:
Market Moves:
Risk Consideration:
Note: Margin trading amplifies both profits and losses. It’s crucial to manage risks and only use funds you can afford to lose. Always monitor your positions closely to avoid margin calls, which can liquidate your holdings if losses exceed your collateral.
Choosing the best platform depends on various factors such as fees, available pairs, and ease of use. Bybit is a top choice for many due to its extensive range of over 300 trading pairs and relatively low fees. It offers up to 20x leverage on spot trades.
BingXÂ and Phemex are other notable mentions, each offering different strengths, such as high liquidity on BingX and robust security on Phemex.
Yes, you can margin trade on Crypto.com Exchange. The platform offers up to 10x leverage for its users. This feature enables traders to maximize potential profits but also comes with increased risk. Crypto.com provides a wide range of cryptocurrency pairs for margin trading and has a user-friendly interface.
You’ll find robust security measures and a comprehensive mobile app, making it convenient to trade on the go. Ensure you’re aware of the fees and terms associated with margin trading on Crypto.com before you begin.
No, Coinbase no longer offers margin trading services. The platform previously provided this feature but discontinued it in 2020 due to regulatory concerns. Coinbase currently focuses on providing a secure and straightforward platform for buying, selling, and holding cryptocurrencies.
If margin trading is essential to your strategy, you’ll need to look at other platforms such as Kraken, Bybit or Binance. Always keep in mind the regulations and terms each platform adheres to when considering margin trading.
Yes, Kraken supports margin trading. It allows up to 5x leverage on a wide range of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Kraken is known for its robust security features, including two-factor authentication and cold storage options, making it a safe choice for margin trading.
Kraken also offers advanced trading tools and a detailed interface, which might be more suited to experienced traders. Make sure to review their fee structure and account requirements before starting your margin trading activities.
Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) are often considered the best coins for margin trading. They are highly liquid and have significant trading volumes, making them less susceptible to extreme volatility. BTC‘s dominance in the market provides a relatively stable option for margin traders looking to execute larger trades.
ETH also offers excellent trading opportunities, especially considering the continued development in the Ethereum ecosystem. Evaluating market conditions and understanding the specific risks associated with each coin will help you make informed decisions.
Choosing the right exchange for margin trading is crucial for enhancing your trading strategy and managing risks effectively.
The exchanges highlighted in this guide offer a blend of high leverage, user-friendly interfaces, diverse trading pairs, and strong security measures, making them the top choices for crypto margin trading.
Whether you prioritize low fees, extensive coin support, or advanced trading tools, there’s an option here to suit your needs.
As with all trading activities, remember to approach margin trading with caution, as the potential for higher rewards comes with increased risk. Make informed decisions, stay updated on market trends, and choose the platform that aligns best with your trading goals.
Hi, I'm Charles Johns, a Finance graduate with a specialization in Financial Management from the University of Chicago. My journey through financial markets has fueled a passion for both traditional and digital assets, where I continuously explore evolving investment opportunities. As an active trader and cryptocurrency enthusiast, I strive to bridge the gap between complex financial concepts and practical, real-world applications. My goal is to empower everyone, whether seasoned investors or newcomers, with valuable insights and knowledge to confidently navigate the world of finance and crypto investing.
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