I'm starting this thread to list ways to trade Bitcoin other than the obvious places, such as Mt Gox. In particular, I am thinking about those places where one can trade Bitcoin with a view other than "it's going higher". Things such as shorting Bitcoin, futures on Bitcoin, CFDs on Bitcoin (which may provide the ability to short) and options on Bitcoin. ************** Spot exchanges: Well-known brokers can be found here: https://bitcoinaverage.com/#USD Some of the more active exchanges include Mt Gox, Bitstamp and BTCE. Futures exchanges https://icbit.se/ in Sweden CFD brokers http://www.btcpedia.com/bitcoin-forex-cfd-trading-services/ The two listed in this article are Avatrade and Plus500.
kraken.com is swiss I think and they have one of the best inteface, but the volume is still low. They also let you short it... --------------------------------------- Slightly related, but the first time in history, finally the arbing opportunities started to die. Mt.Gox, Bitstamp and CampBX are only 11 bucks away from each other, so basicly in a 1.3% range. That difference is so small that probably kills any profit opportunities by sending money or bitcoins from one exchange to the other... In fact, Mt.Gox's and Bitstamp's price are nearly identical...
"Bitcoin derivatives market has arrived" http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-12-08/bitcoin-derivatives-market-has-arrived
www.btc-e.com offer 3:1 margin and metatrader 4. www.bitfinex.com allow you to get short on margin. www.plus500.co.uk offer cfd's and shorts. www.kraken.com market is in euros and wide, all markets in euros I have seen are wider than dollars. binary options on bitcoin are numerous google it.
AvaFX has just changed its Bitcoin trading. There will be 2 products, a BTC mini (0.1 incrementals, no margin) and Bitcoin weekly (10:1 margin, 1 BTC minimum). No trades over the weekend....
Thanks for the update Pekelo - is "AvaFX" Avatrade that you have mentioned previously? The Plus500 Bitcoin product is a daily, with mandatory position closure at midnight UTC (7pm US Eastern) http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=1440 Margin is 10:1 initial, 20:1 maintenance. They also have a Litecoin daily, with the same mandatory position closure at midnight UTC. Margin is 5:1 initial, 10:1 maintenance.