Forex vs. Crypto: What's Hot for Traders?
Welcome to the clash of the financial markets giants: forex vs. crypto!
In the blue corner, we have the world's largest and most liquid financial market, with trillions of dollars exchanged daily.
The digital darling is in the red corner with explosive growth and huge volatility.
Both forex and crypto offer great potential, but which one is right for you?
In this article, we'll explore the two markets, their similarities and differences, so you can decide which is right for you!
What is the forex market?
Did you know that the forex market is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily turnover of over $7 trillion? That's more than the GDP of some small countries! But what exactly is the forex market, and how does it work?
At its core, the forex market is all about buying and selling currencies. Traders exchange one currency for another to profit from changes in exchange rates. For example, if you buy GBP/USD at an exchange rate of 1.2000. You will make a profit or loss when the exchange rate moves above or below 1.2000 respectively.
Participants in the market range from banks and financial institutions to individual traders like you and me. With trading taking place 24 hours a day, 5 days a week, the forex market may provide opportunities to both long or short-term traders.
What makes the forex market truly unique is the monetization of credit. Banks and financial institutions can borrow and lend money to each other, using currencies as collateral. This creates a vast network of credit relationships underpinning the global economy.
But don't let all that talk of credit and collateral scare you off! The forex market is also home to some fun and fascinating facts.
Did you know that the British pound is the oldest currency still in use today, dating back to Anglo-Saxon times?
What is the crypto market?
In the last few years, the world has been captivated by the rise of cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin, the first and most famous cryptocurrency, was created in 2009, and since then, thousands of other digital currencies have emerged. With a market cap of over $1 trillion, the crypto market has become a force to be reckoned with. But what exactly is the crypto market?
It's a decentralized digital marketplace where people buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies. Unlike traditional financial markets, the crypto market operates 24/7 and is not regulated by any central authority. They are created through mining, where professional mining systems use complex calculations to verify transactions and add new coins to the market.
Fun fact: In 2010, Laszlo Hanyecz famously spent 10,000 Bitcoins on buying two Papa John's pizzas.
Why compare forex and crypto markets?
Traders and investors see both markets as having huge potential, and each comes with its risks and rewards.
Forex is a more traditional market that has been around for centuries, while crypto is a newer market that has exploded in popularity recently.
Another reason to compare these markets is to determine which is right for you. Do you prefer the stability and predictability of forex, or are you willing to take on the wild volatility of crypto due to its potential for large price movement?
For these reasons, we need to compare both markets, which brings us to the next section.
Similarities between forex and crypto markets
First, let's see what both markets have in common.
Trading hours
Unlike traditional stock markets that only operate during certain hours, forex and crypto are open for business around the clock. The forex market is open 24/5, while the crypto market is available 24/7. This means you can take advantage of market movements anytime or at night.
USD main currency
In the forex and crypto markets, USD takes the central stage. All major forex pairs like EUR/USD, USD/JPY, and GBP/USD has USD, and they are the ones that get the most trading volume. Cryptos with USD as a pair get more trading volume in crypto markets like BTC/USD, ETH/USD, and others.
Analysis
Both forex and crypto traders rely on various types of analysis to identify trends and predict market movements.There are two types of analysis traders use; technical and fundamental.
Technical analysis is a popular tool both forex and crypto traders use to analyze price charts and identify patterns. RSI (relative strength index) is among the most popular indicators for forex and crypto traders.
RSI on the chart
On the other hand, the fundamental analysis examines macroeconomic and geopolitical factors that may affect the value of forex pairs or cryptocurrencies.
Differences between forex and crypto markets
While forex and crypto markets share some similarities, the two have more differences. Here are some of the key dissimilarities:
Liquidity
Forex is the world's largest financial market, with daily trading volume surpassing $7 trillion. This means that forex is highly liquid and allows traders to enter quickly and exit trades anytime, with low spreads and high leverage.
On the flip side, crypto is a much smaller market with a daily trading volume of less than $100 billion. This means that crypto is less liquid and can be subject to sudden price swings, especially in response to news or events. For instance, more than $70 billion was recently wiped from the crypto market in less than 24 hours.
Volatility
Forex is generally considered a more stable market, with fluctuating currency values within a predictable range. This makes it easier for traders to make informed decisions based on technical and fundamental analysis.
The crypto market is highly volatile, with prices that can swing wildly within hours or minutes. For example, in 2021, the price of Bitcoin went from around $29,000 to nearly $65,000 before plummeting to $19000 in 2022.
BTC/USD price chart Source: mitrade
Regulation
Forex is a highly regulated market, with rules and oversight from government agencies such as FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) and ASIC (Australian Securities and Investment Commission). This protects traders against fraud and manipulation and helps ensure a fair and transparent marketplace.
The crypto market is largely unregulated, with no central authority overseeing the market. While this may offer more freedom and flexibility, it exposes them to risk.
Market Size and Structure
Forex has been around for centuries, and its structure is well-established. It has a hierarchy, with banks on top of the pyramid. Us retail traders come at the bottom. The major forex pairs dominate the market and capture the most attention. Here's a quick fact: EUR/USD is the most traded forex pair. This balanced structure makes it easy for traders to understand and predict market movements.
On the other hand, crypto is a relatively new market constantly evolving, with new cryptocurrencies and tokens constantly being introduced. This makes it a more complex and challenging market, especially for new traders.
Participants
As mentioned above, the forex market is dominated by institutional players such as banks, hedge funds, and large corporations. This means that retail traders may face challenges competing with these powerful players.
Conversely, the crypto market is largely driven by retail traders, with a growing number of institutional players entering the sphere.
Key drivers
The key drivers of the forex market include macroeconomic indicators such as GDP, interest rates, and inflation. For example, USD strengthened in 2022 because of Fed Reverse's aggressive rate hikes.
In contrast, the crypto market is driven by various factors, including the adoption of cryptocurrencies, government regulation, and technological advancements. For instance, we saw a dramatic change in crypto prices in 2022 due to tight monetary policies from central banks around the world.
| Forex vs. Crypto | |
Which is better for day trading, forex or crypto?
Day trading can be thrilling and exciting but, at the same time, risky. So, you have to consider multiple factors when choosing which market is suitable. So, you have to look for the pros and cons of both markets.
When talking about the forex market,
It has high liquidity and volume, which is good for day trading.
It offers a wide range of currency pairs and plenty of day trading opportunities.
The Forex market has high leverage as compared to the crypto market.
The forex market is more predictable than crypto because several economic indicators can drive the market.
It has low volatility than the crypto market and may not provide frequent short-term opportunities.
Large players like banks and other financial institutions control the market, and retail traders can get the shorter end of the stick.
Now let's see what crypto has to offer for day trading:
It has high volatility, and you can have more winners quickly.
The blockchain technology many cryptocurrencies use has the potential for long-term growth.
However, crypto has lower daily volume and liquidity which can cause slippage and higher spreads.
Also, the crypto market isn't regulated, making it risky for day trading.
As you see, both markets have pros and cons, and both can benefit day trading. Before jumping in, comparing the markets and seeing which suits you is important.
Which is more profitable, forex or crypto?
Ultimately you want some cool profits, whether it's the forex or crypto market. The profitability of both markets' trading depends on various factors, including market conditions, trading strategy, and risk management. While both markets have the potential to be profitable, their differences in volatility, liquidity, and regulation can impact profitability.
As the world's largest and most liquid market, forex has the potential for high profits due to its size and predictability. However, the more stable nature of forex trading may limit the potential for short-term profits compared to crypto trading.
Moreover, in the forex market, traders often rely on leverage to increase their profits, which can also amplify losses.
On the flip side, crypto trading can offer the potential for high returns due to its volatility and rapid price movements.
However, the high volatility can also lead to significant losses. The decentralized nature of the crypto market can also make it more difficult to predict market movements.
Forex vs. Crypto: Which one is better for you?
The decision of which market is better depends on your preferences and goals.
Forex trading may be ideal if you do not prefer extreme price swing and are looking in longer-term investments. This is because the FX market is more predictable when you look at it through technical and fundamental analysis.
Conversely, the crypto market is highly speculative, and fundamental analysis does little here. But you can combine technical and fundamental analysis to reduce speculative risks in the crypto market. If you prefer short-term trading strategies and are comfortable taking higher risks, crypto may be your better choice.
You can also trade both markets at the same time. Hey, who said anything about not trading both markets?
Summary
The forex market is massive, offers high liquidity, has a larger trading volume, and is highly regulated.
The crypto market offers high volatility, and blockchain technology is constantly evolving and has good long-term potential.
For short-term strategies, crypto can be a good choice. For the long term, forex is a suitable option.
If you compare both markets, forex stands out due to its well-established structure. Also, it is less risky than crypto markets.
* The content presented above, whether from a third party or not, is considered as general advice only. This article should not be construed as containing investment advice, investment recommendations, an offer of or solicitation for any transactions in financial instruments.
