Bitcoin Binary Options
Combining two modern financial products, bitcoin binary options appeal to both aspiring crypto investors and experienced traders. In this guide, we explain how bitcoin binary options trading works, including the advantages and drawbacks. We’ve also listed the best brokers for bitcoin binary options trading below.
Top Bitcoin Binary Options Brokers
Here is a short overview of each broker's pros and cons
- Capitalcore - Capitalcore has expanded its suite of trading products, introducing binary options on forex, metals and crypto with payouts up to 95%. Geared towards short-term traders, contract lengths range from 1 minute to 1 hour. It’s a snap to place trades on the intuitive web platform, requiring just the click of the button – ‘Call’ if you think the price will rise and ‘Put’ if you think it will fall.
- IQCent - IQCent offers binary options with above-average payouts up to 98%. The broker supports an online platform with basic analysis tools but a wide range of timeframes, from 1 minute to 1 month, catering to short and long term trading strategies. Considering the negatives, there are no binaries on stocks.
- Videforex - Videforex continues to offer binary options with 20% payouts on crypto and up to 98% on less volatile assets, beating many competitors. A wide range of contract lengths are also supported from 5 seconds up to 1 month. New users will appreciate the welcome deposit bonus.
- CloseOption - CloseOption offers binary options trading on 30+ fiat and digital currencies through an easy-to-use web-based platform. 15 contract timeframes are available from 30 seconds to 1 month, suiting both short-term and long-term traders. New users also get a joining gift.
- RaceOption - RaceOption offers 100+ binaries with decent payouts up to 95% and ultra-fast expiries from 5 seconds. With a $250 minimum deposit, clients can enjoy free deposits, fast withdrawals and a range of trading bonuses.
- AZAforex - AZAforex offers binary options trading with time-dependent payouts that can be taken out from 30 seconds to 1 day. Over 50 binary options are available with a $1 minimum stake and payouts up to 90%.
Capitalcore
"The major selling points of Capitalcore are its high leverage options up to 1:2000 and zero commission or swap fees. However, its weak regulatory oversight from the IFSA and non-existent education place it far behind the top brokers."
Christian Harris, Reviewer
Capitalcore Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | 40% Deposit Bonus up to $2,500 |
|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $10 |
| Payout % | 95% |
| Expiry Times | 1 minute - 1 hour |
| Copy Trading | No |
| Platforms | WebTrader, Pro |
| Instruments | Forex, Metals, Stocks, Cryptos, Futures Indices, Binary Options |
| Account Currencies | USD |
Pros
- Capitalcore is one of the only brokers to charge zero swap fees, which may appeal to Islamic traders looking to comply with Islamic Finance.
- The Capitalcore platform provides comprehensive charting tools and a wide range of 150+ technical indicators, ideal for detailed market analysis.
- Capitalcore has added binary options trading on 30+ currency pairs, metals and crypto with one-click trading and payouts up to 95%.
Cons
- Capitalcore is not regulated by major financial authorities and has an unproven reputation, raising concerns about the safety of client funds.
- Platform support is limited to proprietary software, so there's no integration with the market-leading MetaTrader or cTrader, which offer built-in economic news and support automated trading.
- The web platform was inconsistent during testing, with occasional technical glitches that meant the trading platform wouldn’t load.
IQCent
"IQCent will appeal to day traders looking for a straightforward binary options and CFD trading platform with low fees, a range of accounts, and copy trading. Getting started takes less than 1 minute and a $250 deposit. "
Jemma Grist, Reviewer
IQCent Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | 20% to 200% Deposit Bonus |
|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $250 |
| Payout % | 98% |
| Expiry Times | 5 seconds - 1 month |
| Copy Trading | Yes |
| Platforms | Online Platform, TradingView |
| Instruments | Binary Options, CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR |
Pros
- Keen traders can take part in trading contests with cash prizes
- CFD trading fees are competitive based on tests, including 0.7 pips on major forex pairs such as EUR/USD
- The broker's 24/7 customer support is fast and reliable, responding within 1 minute during tests
Cons
- IQCent trails binary brokers like Quotex with its narrow investment offering of around 100 assets with no stocks
- The market analysis is very basic with limited technical summaries and insights from analysts
- IQCent charges a punitive $10 monthly inactivity fee if you fail to place at least 1 trade per month
Videforex
"Videforex will serve traders looking for a no-frills, easy-to-use platform to speculate on the direction of popular financial markets through binaries. With a sign-up process that takes a matter of minutes and a web-accessible platform, getting started is a breeze. "
Videforex Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | 20% to 200% Deposit Bonus |
|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $250 |
| Payout % | 98% |
| Expiry Times | 5 seconds - 1 month |
| Copy Trading | Yes |
| Platforms | TradingView |
| Instruments | Binary Options, CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, RUB |
Pros
- Videforex is one of the few brokers with 24/7 multilingual video support, providing comprehensive assistance for active traders.
- Videforex regularly runs trading contests, offering practice opportunities and cash prizes to beginners and experienced traders, with position sizes from just ¢0.01.
- Traders can earn up to 98% payouts on 100+ assets with the broker’s binary options, bringing it in line with competitors like IQCent.
Cons
- Videforex lacks authorization from a trusted regulator, meaning traders may receive little to zero safeguards like segregated client accounts.
- The absence of any educational tools is a serious drawback for newer traders who can find blogs, videos and live trading sessions at category leaders.
- The client terminal needs improvements based on our latest tests, sporting sometimes slow and unresponsive widgets which could dampen the experience for day traders.
CloseOption
"CloseOption is a good pick for traders seeking a user-friendly binary options platform with high payouts and joining bonuses."
CloseOption Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | $10 Welcome Gift |
|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 |
| Payout % | 95% |
| Expiry Times | 30 seconds - 1 month |
| Copy Trading | No |
| Platforms | Own |
| Instruments | Binary Options on Forex & Cryptos |
| Account Currencies | USD |
Pros
- CloseOption offers weekly trading tournaments with cash prizes
- Free demo account
- The user-friendly platform is compatible with most web browsers
Cons
- Binary options are only available on fiat and digital currencies
- Clients need to deposit $50,000+ to qualify for the best payouts
- CloseOption is not regulated by a well-regarded trading authority
RaceOption
"RaceOption will appeal to investors looking for a feature-rich binary options trading experience with regular contests, account-based perks, and copy trading. The catch is its unregulated status, with little to zero investor protections available based on our investigations."
RaceOption Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | 20% - 200% Deposit Bonus |
|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $250 |
| Payout % | 95% |
| Expiry Times | 5 seconds - 30 days |
| Copy Trading | Yes |
| Platforms | TradingView |
| Instruments | Binary Options, CFDs |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, RUB |
Pros
- Payouts on popular underlying assets like EUR/USD can reach 95%, beating out most alternatives based on our evaluations, and increasing potential returns, while the first 3 trades are risk-free in Silver and Gold accounts.
- RaceOption is in the less than 1% of brokers that offers video chat, available 24/7 in multiple languages, although the knowledge of agents about trading and regulatory issues needs improvement from our direct experience.
- RaceOption makes account funding a breeze with fee-free and near-instant deposits via bank cards and cryptos, plus guaranteed withdrawals processing within 1 hour.
Cons
- RaceOption is one of the only brokers not to offer a demo account, which when considered alongside the absence of education, makes this broker a poor choice for beginners.
- While still affordable for many retail investors, the $250 minimum deposit raises the entry barrier, especially compared to Deriv and World Forex who are designed for budget traders.
- RaceOption is an unregulated, high-risk broker that doesn’t provide investor compensation or legal recourse options should you run into trading or withdrawal issues.
AZAforex
"AZAforex is best suited to active traders looking to make all-or-nothing bets on global markets through binary options and those looking for high leverage up to 1:1000 in return for weak regulatory safeguards."
AZAforex Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | 25% Crypto Deposit Bonus, 120% Loyalty Bonus, 30% Spread Rebate |
|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1 |
| Payout % | 90 |
| Expiry Times | 30 seconds - 1 day |
| Copy Trading | No |
| Platforms | Mobius Trader 7 |
| Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, Binary Options |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, MYR, IDR, CHF, RUB, THB, VND, UAH, CNY |
Pros
- Few brokers offer binary options as part of their portfolio. Still, AZAforex includes them, allowing you to speculate on short-term price movements with fixed risk and reward up to 90%.
- AZAforex provides high leverage of up to 1:1000, allowing for potentially greater returns with smaller capital. While this comes with increased risk, it's an attractive feature if you are an experienced trader looking for aggressive growth strategies.
- AZAforex supports a huge and growing variety of payment methods, including bank transfers, credit/debit cards, e-wallets, and cryptocurrencies, providing flexibility for funding and withdrawals. This variety accommodates traders from different regions and preferences.
Cons
- AZAforex offers basic trading guides and a blog but lacks robust educational tools such as video tutorials, webinars, or interactive learning resources. This makes it less appealing for beginners who need comprehensive learning support. A lot of the content is outdated, too.
- While functional during testing, the Mobius Trader 7 platform is proprietary and not widely used by other brokers. This creates risks of potential price manipulation or discrepancies in market data, as there's no external verification like with MetaTrader or cTrader.
- AZAforex still operates without regulation from a recognized financial authority, which raises concerns about transparency, fund safety, and accountability. You may have no recourse in disputes, making it riskier than regulated brokers.
How Bitcoin Binary Options Work
Binary options are a form of fixed-odds financial betting. Depending on the outcome of a “yes/no” condition, there are typically just two possibilities: the trader either receives a payout or loses their stake. Usually, the trader bets on whether the price of an asset will be over or under a set strike price at a particular expiry time. If the trader is successful, the option is said to have expired “in the money”.
In bitcoin binary options trading, the underlying asset is, of course, bitcoin. Expiry times can last anywhere from 30 seconds to a whole day. As an example, imagine you bet $10 that bitcoin’s price will be above $60,000 by 11:00 AM. Your binary options broker offers you a payout of 80%. If you are correct, you receive $18 from the broker, else you lose your $10 bet. Binary options can also sometimes be closed before the expiration date with a reduced payout.
Bitcoin binary options trading is a high-risk, high-reward activity: losses usually outweigh potential returns. With a payout of 70%, traders need to be winning over 60% of the time to make money. Such a success rate is difficult to achieve without an effective trading strategy. After all, bitcoin binary options brokers function essentially like bookmakers – they need to turn a profit.
Bitcoin Explained
Bitcoin is the world’s most famous and widely traded cryptocurrency. Unlike traditional government-issued currencies, bitcoin exists only as a string of data stored on a blockchain. Bitcoin first pioneered blockchain technology, which now underpins all of the many digital currencies.
A blockchain acts as a ledger of every interaction on the bitcoin network. Users known as miners perform the calculations necessary to verify transactions, keeping the blockchain secure. As a reward for mining, they are paid in bitcoin currency (BTC).
Bitcoin has a volatile trading history, with its value going through several rallies and crashes since its inception in 2009. Despite not being accepted as legal tender in most countries, it remains a popular investment. There are now several ways to profit from the digital currency, including bitcoin binary options trading, which allows traders to bet on BTC’s short-term price movements.
How To Start Trading Bitcoin Binary Options
Step 1: Choose A Broker
Factors to consider when choosing a binary options broker include:
Payments
The best bitcoin binary options brokers offer accessible, low-cost deposits and withdrawals. Some brokers require a minimum deposit, typically ranging from $0 to $100. Crypto enthusiasts, on the other hand, may prefer a platform that accepts bitcoin. With that said, if a platform only uses BTC for deposits, be wary, as some dodgy brokers use this tactic to make them harder to trace.
Security
Unfortunately, the bitcoin binary options space is rife with scams. Some fraudulent platforms steal traders’ deposits while others manipulate trading conditions. As a result, it’s important to read platform reviews before registering for an account. It’s also worth being wary of brokers that offer huge profits with low risk.
Demo Accounts
Demo accounts can be a good way to get to grips with bitcoin binary options trading. These accounts allow traders to practice with a limited amount of virtual capital. Many bitcoin binary options brokers offer demo accounts free of charge to new clients.
Bonuses
Brokers often offer attractive deposit bonuses to new BTC binary options traders, however, it’s worth comparing the various promotions on offer. If a bonus seems too good to be true, it might be – only accept promotional offers from reputable firms. Untrustworthy brokers sometimes use deposit bonuses to prevent clients from withdrawing funds, so make sure you read the terms and conditions.
Step 2: Create A Strategy
Many brokers now offer several different contracts for bitcoin binary options trading:
- Over/Under: The classic binary options trade. Clients bet on whether bitcoin’s value will be over or under the strike price by the expiry.
- In/Out: The bet is placed on whether bitcoin’s price will fall inside or outside a particular range. Also known as the ‘tunnel’.
- Touch/No Touch: If bitcoin’s price ‘touches’ a set value before it expires, the trader receives an immediate payout.
- Ladder: Similar to up/down trades, the ladder has strike prices that are staggered up or down. These normally involve a substantial price move to reach. Payouts are often higher than in other contracts, though.
- Highline/Lowline: The trader wins if the Highline target price is higher than the current price, while the Lowline is lower than the current price.
It’s worth remembering that short-term fluctuations in bitcoin’s price are driven by supply and demand. The key to predicting the price movement of BTC is in deciphering the behaviour of other traders. To do this, it is helpful to know how to interpret important charts (like candlesticks) and be familiar with a few technical indicators.
Step 3: Take A Position And Time Your Entry
Is bitcoin’s price going to rise or fall before the option expires? This call will decide what type of binary option you buy. Once you’ve chosen a bullish or bearish position, the final step is timing your entry into the market. Deciding when to hit buy will depend on your strategy, and should be informed by technical analysis.
Pros Of Trading Bitcoin Binary Options
Advantages of investing in bitcoin binary options include:
- Simple, fixed-odds trading – Binary options have two outcomes: win or lose, with a set expiry time. This reduces the number of factors traders have to take into consideration, like when to sell.
- Limited losses – It is impossible to lose more than your initial stake when bitcoin binary options trading.
- Good for crypto experts – Traders familiar with the behaviour of cryptocurrency markets can use bitcoin binary options to exploit trends.
- High volume – Short-term BTC binary options trades can be repeated many times over the course of a single day.
- 24-hour trading – Crypto markets are always open, and the majority of binary options platforms offer round the clock trading.
Cons Of Trading Bitcoin Binary Options
Drawbacks of bitcoin binary options trading include:
- Risks – The payouts for most short-term bitcoin binary options tend to be small (less than 70%). Options which have larger payouts are unlikely to pay off. This means that the odds are generally stacked in favour of the broker.
- Limited trading tools – Many binary options trading platforms have a smaller range of trading tools than other brokers, although the situation is improving. Technical charts and indicators are often key to successful bitcoin binary options strategies.
- Possible scams – Dodgy brokers are common in the bitcoin binary options world. However, by taking the necessary precautions (outlined above), traders can avoid being defrauded.
Final Word On Bitcoin Binary Options Trading
Bitcoin binary options can be a lucrative tool in a trader’s toolbox: they are a simple, straightforward form of trading. By using a well-designed strategy, some bitcoin binary options traders can use their technical knowledge to turn a profit.
To avoid potential scams, traders should approach all new platforms with caution, making use of a demo account where possible. Head to our list of top bitcoin binary options trading brokers to get started today.
FAQs
Are Bitcoin Binary Options Legal?
Some territories, like the UK, have prevented brokers from offering bitcoin binary options trading. However, individuals from these countries can still trade BTC options by using a firm based abroad, though they may receive limited legal protection.
Are Bitcoin Binary Options A Good Investment?
Bitcoin binary options can be a good investment for experienced crypto traders. However, without an effective trading strategy, it may be difficult to turn a profit.
Are Bitcoin Binary Options Brokers Safe?
Fraudulent binary options brokers are all-too-common online. However, by taking precautions, traders can avoid falling prey to these scams. Always make sure that you check the registration status of any new firm.
Do Binary Options Brokers Accept Bitcoin?
A number of binary options brokers will let you deposit in bitcoin. Beware of brokers who only accept bitcoin, however, as this may make it difficult to get your money back.
Can I Trade Binary Options Using A Cryptocurrency Other Than Bitcoin?
Yes, several brokers offer binary options trading using cryptos other than bitcoin, including Pocket Option, Deriv, IQ Option and Quotex.