How is it prices vary so much across the exchanges?

[blade87]

Newbie here!

I was watching BTC-e and Mt.Gox BTC prices over the past day. Mt.Gox was consistently $100 higher. Chinese exchanges were supposedly $200 higher. What I don't understand is, how is this even possible? What is stopping players from buying from the cheaper exchanges and selling on the more expensive ones? But I guess it's not happening else all the exchanges would be roughly even in price. What gives?

[mufa23]

What is stopping players from buying from the cheaper exchanges and selling on the more expensive ones?

Time.

No really, by the time I buy on Bitstamp, it could take an hour before I get the Bitcoins to MtGox. And I may never be able to withdraw my USD from MtGox. Lots of people don't have any issues getting money into Gox. Getting it out is another question. It's a risk and liability.

And China is on the other side of the world.

[SaltySpitoon]

Getting USD into BTC-E is impossible, so there is a shortage of USD there, so price is lower. You can get money into Gox, but not out, so more USD than there is BTC (Not really, but more USD than at BTC-E)

[2double0]

Access to btc and funds is a large reason!