Glossary

Spot market

The market where an asset changes hands immediately at the current price. The basic form of crypto and stock trading.

In spot you own the asset: a stock, a coin, physical gold. There is no leverage (except in a margin account), no expiry, and no overnight carrying cost (swap/funding).

Derivative markets (futures, CFDs, options) take the spot price as their reference; the difference between spot and the derivative is called the "basis."

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