What does the 'margin' column mean?

[abrogard]

 My friend just bought some crypto coin.  The pc screen shows a display about her investment and there's a column there called 'margin' and it has a value in it.

 What is that all about?  She couldn't have been tricked into buying on margin at all could she?

 Are there dangers to be watched out for with these bitcoin setups?

p.s. it was't 'bitcoin' as such. it was a crypto currency I don't know which one.  Is it okay for me to ask such questions here ?

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[franky1]

maybe its as you said

it might also be that the site logged her purchase. and is comparing the purchase price to the price today and is displaying the +/- profit or loss of that purchase

where its just an indicator of if she is at a gain or loss if selling today. and not an account balance or anything to worry about if not interested in selling today

only way to know for sure is ask your friend to(which the should have done before purchase) research the site they use and find out what they are using the term margin in regards with

[abrogard]

 Thanks, Frank.  "do your own research" .  I get it.  I will.  She won't.  I'll do it for her.  Find out which outfit it is and read whatever they offer. Perhaps contact them.

 should have done all that before coming here. it was a knee jerk. sorry.

 

[franky1]

its ok to ask questions. but without you knowing the basics its not as helpful to then help you

EG if u knew the site she used. we could have looked up the glossary of terms page of terms of service to help work out what "margin" meant

on balance of utility.. there are many websites that just use the word as a estimator of profit or loss if the user was to sell at that moment comparing to their purchase price

where as the so called "buying on margin"(loan) they prefer to use "leverage" or "shorting" as the term

so odds are its just a profit estimator if that person was to sell today and nothing to worry about

but without knowing the site you speak of we cant be sure (as a very few silly sites are badly translated or coded by someone that doesnt know the best economic words to use)

[mk4]

While margin mostly refers to collateral in the context of trading, do you mind showing us a screenshot? Or at the very least tell us what specific exchange was used.

[Hispo]

While margin mostly refers to collateral in the context of trading, do you mind showing us a screenshot? Or at the very least tell us what specific exchange was used.

I am afraid Op's friend (perhaps for accident) did not actually just buy bitcoin with their spot balance or in the spot market but rather placed a leveraged order in the futures market using the money they intended to use to buy in the spot market as collateral to the futures order.

It is something that in any way, shape or form a newbie should be doing on an exchange, for obvious reasons.

[mk4]

I am afraid Op's friend (perhaps for accident) did not actually just buy bitcoin with their spot balance or in the spot market but rather placed a leveraged order in the futures market using the money they intended to use to buy in the spot market as collateral to the futures order.

It is something that in any way, shape or form a newbie should be doing on an exchange, for obvious reasons.

Seems to likely be the case, unfortunately. This is why exchanges should always display a sort of "normie mode" by default, like how Coinbase has the very simple buy/sell button; whereas the more experienced users can opt in for the "pro" mode.

[abrogard]

 I just got in and saw your posts.

  It is coming.  I have been in touch with her.  She's worried about the screenshot showing private info so she's doing one on her smartphone and going to edit it and then send it to  me.  I will pass it on.

 

 thanks for the interest, guys.

Here it is.  Doesn't have that column on it that she was asking about and showed me before...  is it of any help?

I've asked her for a copy of the original thing she showed me.

Well...........  I can't find a way to put the image in here.... ??

i put it up on imgur to get a link... maybe now..
https://imgur.com/a/EYWLEpY

[odolvlobo]

https://imgur.com/a/EYWLEpY

From your image, it looks like "free margin" indicates how much she can borrow to buy more coins.

[abrogard]

'borrow' ?  from whom?  at what interest rate?  etc.  mystery to me.  this is usual?

She gave me another couple of screenshots and I've put them up.  They're at the same place, should be, accessible at the same url.

[Oshosondy]

'borrow' ?  from whom?  at what interest rate?  etc.  mystery to me.  this is usual?

That is what margin trading is. Assuming you have $100, you can use it to borrow depending on the leverage you used. Assuming you have $100 and go for 3x, you will have $300 to trade, but there are an amount of money that you will pay after you finish trading with the money borrowed.

On all the exchanges that I gave used, you can be able to know the amount of coins you have on all your accounts on your exchange account, like main, trading, future and earning account. This can be done when you click on wallet or asset on the exchange, depending on the exchange you are using.

What is that all about?  She couldn't have been tricked into buying on margin at all could she?

Which exchange is that? No exchange reputable exchange will let you unknowingly make use of margin trading, even you will have to transfer your asset from your spot or trading account into a margin account.