Futures Meaning

Mar 3, 2023 | Updated May 24, 2023

Crypto futures contracts are a derivative in which traders agree to either buy or sell an asset on a specific date at a predetermined price.

What are Crypto Futures?

Crypto futures are financial contracts that allow traders to speculate on the future price of a cryptocurrency. They are similar to traditional futures contracts, but instead of trading commodities like oil or gold, they allow traders to speculate on the price movements of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and others.

Crypto futures contracts do not involve the actual buying or selling of the underlying cryptocurrency asset. Instead, they are financial derivatives that track the price of the underlying asset. When a trader buys a futures contract, they are essentially agreeing to buy or sell the underlying cryptocurrency asset at a predetermined price at a specified time in the future.

Crypto futures are a type of derivative, where traders are speculating on the future value of a digital asset. It requires traders to extrapolate and bet on future market sentiment and price variations..

How Does Crypto Futures Trading Work?

With futures contracts, a buyer or a seller commits to a contract dictating that they purchase or sell a particular crypto at a preset future date and price. Crypto futures specify the number of units of the underlying asset and the specific date at which they would be purchased or sold.

The contract is settled at the contract’s predetermined execution date. At this time, both parties holding the futures contract are legally obligated to purchase or sell the asset at the agreed-upon price.

What are the Benefits and Risks of Futures Trading?

Crypto futures contracts can provide benefits including:

Act as hedging instruments against adverse market movements
Provide gains if a trader’s prediction about future market trends is correct.
Secure against market volatility, because users can short in any market, including bear markets.
Manage risks associated with the volatility of the underlying asset.
Provide a way for traders to diversify their portfolio

At the same time, futures contracts also pose risks for a number of reasons. First and foremost, they involve speculating on the future price movements of highly volatile assets, which can be difficult to predict. This means that traders can potentially suffer significant losses if they make the wrong predictions.

Additionally, futures trading often involves leverage, which can amplify both gains and losses. This means that traders can potentially lose more money than they have in their trading account. Furthermore, futures contracts are subject to market and liquidity risks, which can lead to significant price fluctuations and potentially prevent traders from closing their positions at their desired price.