Forex vs Crypto.
At its core, any comparison between the forex market and the cryptocurrency market boils down to old and new ways of thinking about money. It may seem difficult to correlate currencies backed by countries with those by coding. But people are creating real buying power in their day-to-day lives learning both types.
If you’ve ever had forex vs crypto thoughts rolling around in your head, read on for some context that could help inform your decision.
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Table of Contents [ Show ]
Forex vs Crypto Similarities Forex vs Crypto Differences Pros and Cons of Crypto Trading Pros and Cons of Forex Trading Best Brokers for Forex Trading Best Brokers for Crypto Trading Which Market is Right for You? Frequently Asked Questions.
Forex vs Crypto Similarities.
Before we move into the differences between crypto and forex, let’s see why these markets may not be so different after all.
Forex and Crypto Play Together.
The most important similarity between crypto and forex is that they now hold value relative to each other. You may not believe in Bitcoin or Ripple as a legitimate currency, but forex exchanges do. The Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) also believes in crypto enough to offer options contracts on them.
Although the CBOE only offered crypto futures contracts from December 2022 until March 2022, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) currently offers bitcoin futures. You can also trade contracts-for-differences (CFDs) of reputable cryptocurrencies on platforms like eToro just like CFDs of forex currency pairs.
Because cryptocurrencies and foreign currencies ebb and flow in similar ways, you can think of each investment similarly. Yes, you must use different strategies and study different indicators to make wise decisions, but these financial tools are not opposites.
Decentralization.
If you’ve read anything about crypto, you’ve heard about the concept of “decentralization.” All that means is there is no central regulation on the market. Here’s a little secret: The forex market is also decentralized. No, FOREX.com is not a central regulatory body for forex, just a well-named exchange! (Click here for a FOREX.com Review to learn more about it.)
On its own, decentralization does not mean that a market is less stable. It does mean you need to watch your back when investing, but that should go without saying.
Similar Market Physics.
The same basic money physics that regulate movement in forex also regulates crypto. The notion of basic supply and demand is in effect: If there are more buyers than sellers for a crypto coin, the price of that coin generally goes up. More sellers than buyers means a crypto bear market, just like in forex.
Efficient market absorption of news means that both forex and crypto respond instantly to market shocks. For example, if a BTC whale converts $30 million BTC into Japanese yen, it affects the crypto market just as talk of war in the White House would change the value of certain U.S.-based forex currency pairs.
Forex vs Crypto Differences.
Differences between the markets will ultimately tell you which you prefer to invest in. Yes, you might invest in both, but the average investor often chooses one or the other as a starting point. When you get your feet wet, you might get to know other markets that you did not fully understand when you started investing.
Keep your eyes open for these differences.
Market Size.
The forex market is the No. 1 market in the world for trading volume—by a wide margin. As of May 2022, the cumulative market cap for the crypto market totaled around $256 billion. The Bank for International Settlements also reported an average of $7.5 trillion daily trading value in the forex market as of April 2022.
The large size of the forex market also gives it different levels of volatility and liquidity (concepts that will be discussed below). Forex beginners can start out trading currency pairs from stable countries with more protection from large losses before moving on to more speculative trades.
Keep in mind that currency pairs may seem simple when presented by industry experts, but they are new to you. Because the market is so massive, you can comfortably start with a simple pairing, learn what to do and slowly expand your portfolio without encountering anything that feels too complex to manage.
Volatility and Liquidity.
Crypto is a smaller market than forex, so smaller amounts of money can move crypto more substantially than forex. If another $256 billion entered the crypto market, we could ideally expect the prices of all crypto to double. That same $256 billion represents a change of about 4% in the forex market. As a result, the crypto market is much more volatile than the forex market.
A higher volatility means more risk for investors — a greater chance of an exponential upside as well as huge, financially crippling losses. Higher volatility also means less liquidity (ease of trading), because more people are naturally attracted to a smooth marketplace. Low volatility and high liquidity means the forex market can better absorb economic shocks. This benefits the average person — both investor and noninvestor — with relatively stable currencies even in bad economic times.
At the same time, an experienced investor can do quite well for themselves on the crypto market—if they do their research and know when to buy and sell.
Anonymity.
Cryptocurrency first took off primarily because of its ability to foster anonymous transactions. Government intervention has limited the ability of top coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum to hide identities, but smaller coins like Monero, Zcash and Verge retain this characteristic.
Forex transactions, on the other hand, are regulated by a tight web of forex brokers and financial professionals known as the interbank market . Since 2014, the interbank market has incorporated a “know your customer” (KYC) standard that requires traders to provide personal information to access an exchange. Perhaps spurred on by crypto’s anonymous structure, companies like EagleFX that subvert or ignore KYC rules are popping up for forex traders.
Pros and Cons of Crypto Trading.
Before making a decision to invest in this quickly changing environment, consider the following pros and cons. Comparing these lists helps you understand how significant the drawbacks of crypto might be in your mind. Invest in crypto when you feel the pros outweigh the cons. If not, you may want to choose a more stable investment vehicle.
Pros Cons Anonymity High growth potential Low barriers to entry Low fees Increasing acceptance into mainstream society No government insurance for accounts Less secure marketplace Probability of total currency default Lower levels of liquidity Errors in underlying technology can drastically affect markets.
Pros and Cons of Forex Trading.
On the surface, forex is safer than crypto, but you still need to know what you’re getting into. Compare the pros and cons of both to determine if the cons outweigh the pros in your mind. Because it’s your money and your portfolio, you can do what best serves you in the moment.
Pros Cons Stability High liquidity Measure of centralized protection against fraud and theft Less potential for massive losses KYC standards protect traders and brokers from fraud Less potential for huge, short-term gains Gains easily tracked and taxed Higher barriers to entry High fees and middleman costs depending on your chosen broker Unexpected political events can shock the market and cause major losses.
Best Brokers for Forex Trading.
The broker you use for trading forex can make a huge difference in your success. Here are some of the best forex platforms to consider.