Shorting & leverage in U.S.A.

[whofarted75]

I'm not so much interested in leverage but I am interested in ability to short. I do know I could use Kucoin and I believe I could use kraken. But is it legal for US citizens to use leverage or to short Bitcoin? I've recently come across some information that says, apparently starting last year, it became illegal. Does anyone know?

I'm going to check for a support email on both sites and ask them, but I was just curious because I've been trying to find out what exchanges I can short Bitcoin on and I every time I come across one it says that I can't use that exchange. (us location) So I'm wondering is this a nationwide thing or is it an individual exchange thing?

[1715414993]

1715414993

[1715414993]

1715414993

[1715414993]

1715414993

[1715414993]

1715414993

[Charles-Tim]

I remembered over a year ago when I read on binance that US citizens are restricted to trade future derivatives. So I think US citizens will not be able to trade future derivatives. I remembered sometimes ago when Coinbase removed margin trading all because the organization wanted to comply with some regulatory body in US that against leveraging. I understand that you do not have it in mind to leverage, you only want to short but I doubt if this will be possible without margin and future trading.

Note: this is just based on my experience, I may not be totally right.

[JeromeTash]

It's illegal. I believe if you use Kraken derivatives platform. You will first have to verify your accounts, and you won't be able to trade derivatives once they know your account is owned by a US citizen.
The same might be for Kucoin though they are not strict right now but anytime they can change the rules just like Binance and Bitmex did

[whofarted75]

Thanks for the info.

I think you're right. I think it's a nationwide thing not a exchange thing.

[Ararbermas]

I'm not so much interested in leverage but I am interested in ability to short. I do know I could use Kucoin and I believe I could use kraken. But is it legal for US citizens to use leverage or to short Bitcoin? I've recently come across some information that says, apparently starting last year, it became illegal. Does anyone know?

I'm going to check for a support email on both sites and ask them, but I was just curious because I've been trying to find out what exchanges I can short Bitcoin on and I every time I come across one it says that I can't use that exchange. (us location) So I'm wondering is this a nationwide thing or is it an individual exchange thing?

if you want to do shorting with bitcoin probably binance will be the good option since they have futures trading for shorting and good leverage as well but it requires an amount to avail such features mate. If i remember it correctly you need significant amount something like that for each leverage.

[JeromeTash]

Thanks for the info.

I think you're right. I think it's a nationwide thing not a exchange thing.

I know that initially I had said that it might not be possible to legally trade derivatives in the US, but recently I discovered that FTX has a fully licensed platform dedicated to the US citizens
- https://derivs.ftx.us/

I haven't used the platform before. Please read the TOS and explore it before sending them money. This is not an endorsement by me.

[Charles-Tim]

if you want to do shorting with bitcoin probably binance will be the good option since they have futures trading for shorting and good leverage as well but it requires an amount to avail such features mate.

Binance.com or Binance.us?

US citizens can not trade on Binance.com

Binance.us do not support future or any other means of leverage trading.

If i remember it correctly you need significant amount something like that for each leverage.

Significant amount of what? Hope not money? Traders should trade with the amount they can afford to lose.

[JeromeTash]

If i remember it correctly you need significant amount something like that for each leverage.

Significant amount of what? Hope not money? Traders should trade with the amount they can afford to lose.

Certain traditional derivatives platforms, mostly to do with stocks and other markets, don't want retail traders. So they require one to have a huge amount of equity. For example, if it was offering trading Bitcoin futures, the minimum order size would be one contract and 1 Contract would be equivalent to 10 BTC

This would definitely not favor retail traders.