What's the Difference Between Crypto Spot and Crypto Futures?
Crypto Spot means buying or selling a crypto asset directly at its current price, so you actually own the asset afterward and can only profit when its price rises. Crypto Futures means trading on the asset's price movement without owning it, using leverage and USDT-margined perpetual contracts that let you profit from both rising and falling prices, but that also carry a higher risk of liquidation.
Spot Trading example: If you buy 1 BTC at Rp 950,000,000, you pay Rp 950,000,000 and own the BTC. If the price rises to Rp 1,100,000,000, you can sell for a profit of Rp 150,000,000. If the price falls to Rp 800,000,000, selling means a loss of Rp 150,000,000 — your maximum possible loss is capped at what you paid.
Crypto Futures example: If you open a Long position with an initial margin of USDT 2,000 and use 25x leverage, you control a position worth USDT 50,000. As the position moves against you, your Margin Level rises from 0% — if it passes 75% (the Final Margin Call threshold), you can only close positions or reduce exposure. If it keeps rising toward 100%, your position is automatically liquidated.
| Aspect | Spot Trading | Crypto Futures |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Buy or sell a crypto asset directly. | Trade on an asset's price movement without owning it. |
| Asset Ownership | You own the asset. | No asset ownership. |
| Currency | IDR-denominated. | USDT-margined. |
| Leverage | Not available. | Available. |
| Risk | Relatively lower risk. | Higher risk due to leverage and possible liquidation. |
| Objective | Longer-term investing. | Shorter-term speculation or hedging. |
Related questions:
Q: Do I own the crypto asset when I trade Crypto Futures?
No. Crypto Futures lets you speculate on price movement without owning the underlying asset, unlike Crypto Spot where you take actual ownership.
Q: Is leverage available on Crypto Spot?
No. Leverage is only available on Crypto Futures; Crypto Spot transactions use only the funds you put in.
Q: Which carries more risk, Crypto Spot or Crypto Futures?
Crypto Futures carries higher risk because leverage amplifies both gains and losses, and positions can be liquidated if the market moves against you.
Q: What currency are Crypto Futures contracts priced in on Pluang?
Crypto Futures contracts on Pluang are quoted and settled in USDT, while Crypto Spot only trades in IDR pairs.
Q: Can I use Crypto Futures to manage risk on my Crypto Spot holdings?
Yes. Opening a Short Crypto Futures position on an asset you hold in spot is a common hedging technique to offset potential losses during a price drop.