Arbitrage Trading: All You Need to Know
The world of arbitrage trading in crypto can be confusing and overwhelming to understand because of the technology involved. However, it has appeared as an alternative way to profit from the crypto market, one best suited for institutional buyers.
Crypto arbitrage trading has been gaining traction as it provides a means of profiting from price differences between crypto exchanges. We'll help you understand this new frontier called crypto arbitrage trading with our beginner's guide!
Arbitrage Explained: How Does Arbitrage Work?
Arbitrage is often used in investment circles and is best explained as the purchase of an asset in one market to be sold immediately for a profit in another market at a higher price. Applied to the world of cryptocurrency, Bitcoin arbitrage could mean buying Bitcoin low on one exchange and selling it high on another.
This can be done because markets have inefficiencies, so you can find the price variations and take advantage of the little differences. In addition, due to various factors, such as regional trading restrictions or sudden demand spikes in certain countries, opportunities abound for savvy investors looking to exploit arbitrage possibilities.
For example, if you used US dollars to buy Bitcoin on the Redot exchange for a lower price, then you sold that Bitcoin on the Gemini exchange, you would make money instantly.
How to Arbitrage Bitcoin
The main idea of Bitcoin arbitrage trading is simple. Different exchanges have different customers, and the way they organize markets may vary. The main reason Bitcoin arbitrage happens is that cryptocurrency exchange prices move independently, especially during high volatility events.
The phenomenon is usually so fast that you might not get the best from it trading yourself. However, you can avoid missing Bitcoin arbitrage opportunities by using a bot.
Speed of execution is crucial to profit from the Bitcoin arbitrage trading strategy. The common way to benefit from Bitcoin arbitrage opportunities is by using a high-frequency trading technology that spots opportunities and executes orders faster than the competitors.
You can also get a flash loan to make the most of it; just one caveat. Your bot is in stiff competition with many other high-frequency trading bots. With the super tech, Bitcoin arbitrage strategy tends to be always profitable—provided that one properly hedges the underlying.
For traders without the tech stack, there might still be more complex arbitrage strategies that involve extra structuring via several trading instruments - say, buying Grayscale BTC trust and arbing via derivates to be delta neutral while leveraging GBTC discount.
Types of Crypto Arbitrage
Since we have looked at how to arbitrage Bitcoin, let’s briefly see the types of crypto arbitrage.
In the cryptocurrency space, opportunities to test out computer-assisted Bitcoin arbitrage trading are frequently available. There are different types of crypto, or even Bitcoin arbitrage trading, each with different mechanisms and strategies. Popular ones include cross-exchange and spatial arbitrage, and we will take a closer look at the others.
Cross-Exchange
This form of Bitcoin arbitrage trading prioritizes time over profit margin. This strategy uses automated trading assistance to trade a cryptocurrency between two disparate exchanges in the twinkling of an eye.
This type of arbitrage is explained in a simple example: you can buy cryptocurrencies at one trading platform, sell them at another, and profit from the price difference. So let's take Bitcoin arbitrage as an example. If the price of Bitcoin is $7,000 on Exchange A and then $7,020 on Exchange B in quick succession, you'll make a tidy profit, buying in Exchange A and selling on B.
Spatial
The cross-exchange and spatial arbitrage strategies are very similar. The only noticeable difference between them is that, in spatial arbitraging, the exchanges come from different regions of the world. A trader can easily capitalize on differences in the supply and demand of Bitcoin in the United States and South Korea using a spatial arbitrage method.
Triangular
This method of arbitrage involves moving funds to two or three digital assets on a single exchange to capitalize on the price difference between them. This exemplifies many people's opinions about arbitrage.
Triangular arbitrage is a trade where you simultaneously buy and sell an asset at different prices on two exchanges. These trades usually result in profits, allowing you to lock in your gains immediately.
Decentralized
When you use arbitrage on smart contracts or automated market makers (AMMs), it is called decentralized arbitraging. For example, once the price of the crypto pairs differs from their spot price on centralized exchanges, a Bitcoin futures arbitrage trader can execute cross-exchange trade that involves centralized and decentralized exchanges.
Statistical
Due to discrepancies in exchange rates, spreads, and other factors in cryptocurrency arbitrage, there are opportunities for those who can study statistical data and predict market shifts. In general, statistical arbitrage is about taking advantage of information asymmetries; and such activities tend to occur primarily on exchanges with low volumes and thin order books.
Tips for Successful Crypto Arbitraging
Cryptocurrency arbitraging is a great way to make extra cash, but it isn't a simple task. With that in mind, here are tips for successful Bitcoin arbitraging:
Have a Strategy
Strategy separates amateurs from professionals. You must program your trading bot to suit your style. There are different strategies one can use, one example could be a so-called cash-and-carry strategy. This is a market-neutral arbitrage strategy trying is to exploit mispricings between the spot and derivatives market prices of the cryptocurrency. The trader buys a long position in a crypto (like Bitcoin) and sells the futures. He profits off the difference. Although there are concerns like credit risk, it is a good arbitrage opportunity to enjoy relatively stable profits.
Use a Reliable Arbitration Bot
Speed is a vital part of cryptocurrency arbitrage, and as such, the race for a better arbitrage bot is never-ending. Cryptocurrency arbitrage bots are essential for front-running and for anyone looking to profit off-price discrepancies. They automate the process of finding and executing trades, making them much faster and more accurate than humans. However, not all arbitrage bots are created equal. Some are more reliable than others, so it's important to do your research and choose (or build) a bot that you can trust.
Merits and Demerits of Crypto Arbitraging
Not dependent on market cycles
One of the major pros of arbitrage trading is that you can profit regardless of Bitcoin’s price direction. So even if it's decreasing, you can still make money. This characteristic makes crypto arbitraging ideal for investors who want to maintain steady profits and don't want to tie themselves down to one investment strategy. Also, you can perform Bitcoin futures arbitrage.
Crypto Never Sleeps
Major cryptocurrencies are also rather liquid assets with 24-hour buy/sell markets. Compared to other investments such as stocks and mutual funds, which are limited to trading hours. This means that you can move capital out of cryptocurrencies at any time, which might contribute to the crypto market growth.
The Risks of Crypto Arbitrage
It’s possible to structure crypto arbitrage to bear very little risk. However, when done improperly, there are several potential dangers that you should be aware of before attempting this strategy.
Different Levels of Liquidity
The downside is that hundreds of cryptocurrencies are available for investing today, and each has different levels of liquidity. Therefore, to succeed in cryptocurrency arbitraging, especially Bitcoin arbitrage, traders must understand how each currency works (its purpose) and how its price will react under different market scenarios.
Losses
Another risk that crypto arbitrageurs face is the potential for losses due to price swings. While this can be mitigated by using stop-loss orders, there’s always the possibility that a currency will drop in value so rapidly that your stop-loss order gets executed at a price lower than you anticipated, leading to a loss.
Capital at Risk
There are many risks associated with crypto-arbitrage trading strategies—but perhaps one of the biggest is the risk that comes from trading across several exchanges simultaneously; it can be difficult to cover losses if you make an error or have bad luck on one exchange.
Investors may expose themselves to too much risk by buying cryptocurrencies on one exchange, selling them for a profit at another, and then attempting to withdraw their funds while still awaiting approval from another platform.
Remember: It's never wise to invest more than you're willing to lose—and with crypto arbitrage trading, there's plenty of opportunity for loss due to sudden dips or spikes in price.
Market Manipulation
If market manipulation occurs, arbitrageurs' activities can be disrupted. For example, suppose a large whale decides to sell a large amount of a certain token all at once. In that case, this can invariably affect the price of that token and make it difficult for arbitrageurs to profit from price differences between exchanges. In contrast, if a group of traders or top crypto twitter influencers conspire to drive up the price of a certain token on one exchange, this can create an imbalance that arbitrageurs can exploit to buy low on one exchange and sell high on another.
Transaction Costs
The transaction costs required to participate in Bitcoin arbitrage can add up quickly. These costs include trading, deposit, and currency conversion.
Each of these costs makes it more difficult for a trader to come out ahead after making trades in an attempt at crypto arbitrage. Because of these factors, many traders often lose money with each trade they make.
Taxes
As cryptocurrency becomes more and more mainstream, governments worldwide are trying to wrap their heads around how they can collect taxes on crypto transactions. Unfortunately, if you're participating in arbitrage trading in crypto, there are some dangers associated with it—including not paying all your required taxes.
For example, a US District Court judge recently issued an injunction against Coinbase that requires it to turn over user transaction records to US tax authorities. It will be interesting to see if other exchanges face similar pressures.
Is Arbitrage Trading in Crypto Worth It?
Arbitrage is a way to take advantage of price discrepancies across different markets, whether stocks or currencies. However, arbitrages can become more complicated in the case of cryptos because they don't follow similar pricing conventions as equities and bonds, which are tied to company performance, etcetera. As a result, there are potential high rewards and significant risks involved if you're unaware.
Arbitrage exists across the capital markets, including stocks, bonds or commodities. Since cryptocurrencies aren't based off any underlying asset, their prices can vary across countries according to market demand, which gives these great potential earnings.
As with any investment strategy, conducting in-depth research is essential when exploring cryptocurrency arbitrage; this involves using software and evaluating different cryptocurrencies to track exchanges in real-time.
If you're looking for an opportunity with crypto trading, consider using the strategies of arbitrage explained above as one viable tool in your arsenal. It may not always provide a profit, but it does have potential and, if done correctly, can result in some real success stories.
*This communication is intended as strictly informational, and nothing herein constitutes an offer or a recommendation to buy, sell, or retain any specific product, security or investment, or to utilise or refrain from utilising any particular service. The use of the products and services referred to herein may be subject to certain limitations in specific jurisdictions. This communication does not constitute and shall under no circumstances be deemed to constitute investment advice. This communication is not intended to constitute a public offering of securities within the meaning of any applicable legislation.
