BitMEX Review 2023
BitMEX is a cryptocurrency exchange that offers various derivatives products. It also supports spot trading and short term staking strategies.
However, BitMEX has a chequered history and many users have complained about its poor service in the past. This BitMEX review will examine both the pros and cons of BitMEX to help you decide whether it is right for you.
What Is BitMEX?
BitMEX is a cryptocurrency derivatives exchange that provides futures and perpetual contracts on numerous coins. For professional traders, the exchange offers margin trading with up to 100x leverage.
In addition to these features, BitMEX also provides a selection of order types like stop and market orders. BitMEX’s trading engine was designed to execute high-speed trades using software developed by high-frequency trading companies.
BitMEX requires you to verify your identity and create a wallet address. After receiving this valid wallet address, you can then transfer your BTC into it.
The platform also includes a profit and loss calculator, which lets you project potential losses. This can be helpful when deciding whether it’s worthwhile withdrawing your Bitcoins or not, particularly when trading on high leverage.
BitMEX not only offers advanced trading features, but it takes security seriously as well. The platform uses a unique multisignature deposit/withdrawal system that ensures your Bitcoins are safe until you authorize withdrawal.
Is BitMEX regulated?
BitMEX is a crypto derivatives exchange founded in Hong Kong and now incorporated in the Seychelles. The platform offers spot and futures trading for experienced traders. However, it may not be suitable to novice investors or multi-asset investors.
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), recently assessed a $100 million fine against BitMEX for violating the Bank Secrecy Act as well as FinCEN’s implementing rules. These penalties were levied because BitMEX failed to implement and maintain an adequate anti-money laundering (AML) program as required under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA).
FinCEN discovered that BitMEX had failed to file suspicious Activity Reports (SARs), as required by Anti Money Laundering regulations. This puts BitMEX at risk of potential criminal liability. In particular, BitMEX failed to identify and report on transactions involving darknet markets, Iran crypto exchanges, unregistered money services businesses offering mixing services, and counterparties involved in fraud schemes.
Since the charges were filed, BitMEX has taken steps to improve their compliance practices. The case serves to remind companies that compliance is key for ensuring business growth and avoiding any encounters with regulators. Recognizing regulatory expectations is the first step toward meeting them; and the BitMEX settlement documents give an extensive look at what transaction monitoring standards are expected of crypto businesses.
Services offered
BitMEX offers a variety of services such as derivatives trading and cryptocurrency futures. The exchange also offers a perpetual swap trading product, which allows users to leverage up 100x their initial investment.
There’s also the BitMEX Earn feature, which allows users to earn interest on their crypto holdings. According to the platform, this can save users both time and money since tokens can be placed into high return products and earned interest.
BitMEX also offers a cryptocurrency converter that allows users to quickly and easily convert their coins. This service has no fees and is completely free for everyone to use.
BitMEX Academy is also available, which offers a variety of courses and podcasts. This gives users an unparalleled opportunity to gain insight in the industry.
To protect their users’ funds, private key and information, the company uses a variety of security measures. These security measures include multisig withdrawals, cold storage, and an efficient security infrastructure. These measures are highly secure, preventing hackers from gaining access to your money.
Types of Contracts on BitMEX
BitMEX provides traders with a selection of contracts to trade on its platform. These include perpetual swaps and traditional futures that allow users to speculate on cryptocurrency’s future price.
BitMEX’s most sought-after product is the perpetual swap. These contracts track the price of crypto assets and do not have an expiry date. These contracts can be traded across cryptocurrencies, with up to 100x leverage.
These derivatives are collateralized and settled in either BTC or USDT, depending on the instrument at hand. They also provide a minor fiat gateway that allows traders to trade cryptocurrencies with fiat currency.
Although fees are charged by the exchange for each trade, these rates are still competitive with other exchanges. The taker fee starts from 0.075%, while the maker fee begins at 0.01%. Your trading volume increases, and so do your fees. They decrease in proportion.
BitMEX also utilizes a maintenance margin (MM) level for all accounts, which allows the system to automatically liquidate a trader’s position if it drops below that point. This ensures all account holders have enough funds to cover their entire exposure on each trade.
Traditional Contracts or Futures on BitMEX
BitMEX offers various derivatives that give traders the ability to purchase or sell commodities, currencies or other instruments at a prearranged price on a specific date. There are two types of these contracts: traditional futures or perpetual contracts.
The first type of derivative settles at a future date. Users have the option to close or open the contract at any moment they wish. This contract is also available for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency.
On BitMEX, there are various ways to trade traditional futures markets, including market orders, stop limit orders, take profit orders and more. These orders help determine whether a given position will be profitable or not.
Another popular order type on BitMEX is the trailing stop order. This allows you to place an order pre-set at a set percentage from the current market price, when it changes.
BitMEX also offers margin trading which allows you leverage up to 100x your BTC balance within an account. This can assist in trading more efficiently despite the inherent risks involved with cryptocurrency trading.
BitMEX Perpetual Contracts
Perpetual contracts on BitMEX allow traders to invest in future prices of cryptocurrency. While these contracts are similar to futures contracts, they have important differences.
Perpetual contracts are unique in that they don’t have an expiration or settlement date. This allows traders to keep their positions open for as long or as short as they like and then close them when they are finished.
This type of contract also features a funding rate to ensure the price remains closely aligned with the spot market value of the underlying asset. For instance, if BTC spot rate is $36k and Alice purchases a 20-day BTCUSDT perpetual swap at $2k, she must pay an ongoing funding fee to the seller every day until its value reaches $38k.
On some exchanges, perpetual contracts can be leveraged up to 125x for traders’ profit potential. However, this type of trading also exposes users to liquidity risk if the price of the underlying asset drops significantly. Users should only deposit minimal collateral to keep their trading positions open.
Upside Profit Contracts on BitMEX
Investors who want to be part of the growth potential of a cryptocurrency can use BitMEX’s upside profit contracts. These contracts can be traded with either a fixed or floating margin and feature low trading fees.
Furthermore, BitMEX provides an insurance fund to shield traders from unexpected volatility in the market. This is vital because traders may feel overwhelmed by sudden shifts in cryptocurrency prices.
BitMEX uses a multisignature deposit/withdrawal system. This ensures that every address associated to an account is multisignature, which means that no one can access funds from the exchange unless they have the right private keys.
BitMEX also stores most funds in cold storage to prevent hackers from exploiting a system-wide breach. Furthermore, BitMEX utilizes an external service to verify every deposit address sent to its platform.
BitMEX is not without its flaws, but it is still a popular choice among cryptocurrency derivatives traders because of its simple interface, low trading fees, and 100x leverage.
Downside Profit Contracts on BitMEX
BitMEX is one of the oldest crypto exchanges, providing investors with a range of trading tools. It is known for its high leverage trades, low trading fees, and makes it an attractive option for traders.
However, BitMEX does have some drawbacks. BitMEX lacks regulatory compliance, and its founders are facing criminal charges in the U.S. Furthermore, customer support is only ticket/email based, which means issues may take a long time to be resolved.
The platform doesn’t accept fiat currency deposits. This is an inconvenience for those who want to trade in local currencies.
A fee structure for an exchange might not be appropriate for beginners. It is essential to understand these charges since they can accumulate quickly.
You will need to have a valid email address, and a password in order to open an account at BitMEX. After verification, you will be able to deposit cryptocurrency to your account in order for you trade on the platform. You can also use their mobile app for trading and managing your positions on the go.
Leverage available on BitMEX
BitMEX is a global cryptocurrency derivatives exchange founded by an experienced team of finance and trading professionals in 2014. Four years later, Samuel Reed, Ben Delo and Arthur Hayes launched BitMEX in 2014.
Bitmex is a world-class leveraged trading platform that offers leverage up to 100x on a variety of derivatives.
Experienced traders may find this type of leverage beneficial, but it also has the potential for huge losses if not used responsibly. Inexperienced traders should be aware that leverage can pose risks to their investments.
Leverage is available on Bitcoin, Ethereum and Monero contracts and can be applied to futures and spot trading activities.
Bitmex provides more than leverage to its users. Bitmex’s sophisticated margin- and liquidation system ensures that traders’ margin balances are never below zero.
BitMEX offers traders access to its testnet, which allows them to practice the platform. This is a great opportunity to learn about all its features and how to place orders.
Supported Cryptocurrencies
BitMEX supports many crypto assets. It provides margin trading as well as derivatives – swaps. These contracts track an asset’s price without expiration date. They can be leveraged up 100x for certain contracts.
The exchange’s most sought-after product is the perpetual swap, which functions similarly to a futures contract. These can be purchased for various cryptocurrencies and have up to 100x leverage.
Futures contracts are agreements to purchase or sell an asset at a specified price in the future. Because they track the price of the underlying asset, futures contracts offer greater liquidity than spot trading.
BitMEX offers other derivatives, including futures and swaps. These include perpetual swaps that have no expiry dates and trade near the underlying reference Index Price.
The platform also provides a crypto converter, allowing users to convert cryptocurrency to fiat currencies quickly and efficiently. You get a free quote before making a transaction, too. Users can also withdraw Bitcoins to their BTC wallet addresses. Furthermore, it records profits and losses in BTC for ease of accounting purposes.
Trading Fees
BitMEX is a highly-respected margin trading exchange. It offers sophisticated investors a wide range of products and features.
One of the key differentiators for BitMEX is its competitive fees. The platform charges a maker fee of just 0.025%, which is quite low for a crypto exchange.
Traders can also generate extra income by promoting the exchange using affiliate programs. Each time a user refers new customers, commissions are paid.
BitMEX’s trading charges are extremely competitive and negligible in comparison to the potential profits of experienced operators. Taker fees start at 0.075% and decrease with increased 30-day trading volume, while Makers receive a rebate of 0.01% on each trade.
BitMEX is a Seychelles-based cryptocurrency exchange established in 2014 by an experienced team of finance, trading and web-development specialists. The platform has quickly become popular among experienced traders seeking professional trading platforms with deep liquidity and advanced dashboards.
Is BitMEX Legit & Safe?
BitMEX, a well-known exchange in the cryptocurrency market, is known for its high-leverage trading opportunities. Users can leverage their assets up to 100 times on its Bitcoin, Ethereum and Monero contracts as well as spot and futures trading.
BitMEX requires you to have an email address and a password. Once you have completed the verification process, trading and depositing will be possible without restrictions.
To protect your trades and crypto funds, the exchange uses multi-signature access and two factor authentication (2FA). Furthermore, it has a multi-party computation (MPC) system in place which helps stop hackers from stealing your digital assets.
Security is a top priority for anyone investing in cryptocurrency, and BitMEX takes this issue very seriously. BitMEX operates Amazon Web Services secure servers with two-factor authentication. It also performs stringent security checks on withdrawals and deposits to ensure maximum protection.
BitMEX provides cold storage and multi-signature wallets to ensure your crypto funds are safe. Two employees also audit every withdrawal. BitMEX also encrypts transactions using SSL encryption and has a risk control system.
Customer Support
BitMEX’s customer service is one of the best in business. They offer industry-standard email support and ticketing, as well as live support channels for social media channels such as Telegram, Discord and Telegram.
Their multilingual support is an indication of a well-run customer service department, with the site available in English, Chinese, Russian and Turkish. This will make it much easier to answer questions no matter where you are located.
A cryptocurrency trader requires access to high-quality customer support. A trustworthy exchange should be able to answer questions about minimum amounts, security features, liquidation and other basic functionality so you can maximize your profits. Not all exchanges are the same. Some have been accused of manipulating markets and were brought to trial by regulatory agencies like the FBI or SEC. Thankfully there are plenty of other trustworthy crypto exchanges available to choose from.
How To Get Started
BitMEX is an exchange offering a variety of products for trading cryptocurrency. Its primary service is margin trading, though it also provides spot trading in certain coins. BitMEX is the most trusted platform for cryptocurrency trading thanks to its intuitive interface and transparent pricing policies.
Register for a BitMEX account to start trading. All that’s required is an email address and password, after which the exchange will send you a verification email to confirm your identity. Afterward, you can begin depositing cryptocurrencies into your BitMEX wallets to begin trading.
Crypto Converter is a tool that allows users to easily convert their cryptocurrency into USD or Tether. Its conversion process is instantaneous, without fees, and offers you a free quote before executing the transaction.
BitMEX also provides multilingual customer support and supports multiple payment gateways. BitMEX’s robust security system protects customers against cybercrime such as hacking and malware threats.
It’s for Whom?
BitMEX was established in 2014 by a team of finance, trading, and web-development professionals. Although registered in Seychelles, its operational centers are located in Hong Kong and the United States. BitMEX offers services to traders who are experienced in trading cryptocurrency derivatives, such as futures and margin trading.
Perpetual swaps, which are contracts that never expire, are one of BitMEX’s most popular derivatives products. These are a great way for investors to speculate on price movements and protect themselves against market volatility without actually owning cryptocurrency.
For traders who want to purchase or sell a specific cryptocurrency, but don’t have the capital to invest in it long-term, the company offers quarterly futures contracts that are settled in Bitcoin. These contracts are a great option for anyone looking to make short-term profits on cryptocurrency investments.
BitMEX’s Margin Calculator helps traders evaluate the risk associated to a trade. It estimates profit or loss based on entry and exit prices, enabling them to decide when it’s best to withdraw funds.
BitMEX also provides a range of support services. Its customer support team is composed of experienced professionals who handle inquiries from users on a daily basis. They help users organize their cryptocurrencies efficiently and explain the platform’s key features clearly and promptly.
FAQs
BitMEX, a trusted exchange, offers access to many crypto assets. Its mobile app is easy to use, making trading even easier than ever.
Arthur Hayes, Ben Delo and Samuel Reed founded the company in 2014 with funding from family and friends that allowed them to get started in the industry.
You can choose between traditional futures or perpetual contracts. These are derivative forms that allow you to agree to purchase or sell at a certain price at a particular date in the future. Either way, you gain money if prices rise; conversely, if they drop, you lose it.
Futures and perpetual contracts have risks so be aware of these before you trade. Before you trade, make sure to take the time to study all details.
The website provides detailed information about the exchange and how to use it effectively. It also has live updates and an announcement box to keep you informed of any significant changes that could affect your trading activity. Moreover, you can access a site-wide chat room where you can interact with other traders in real-time.