Arbitrage Trading Basics: How to Make Stable Profits in the crypto market?

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Many people ask me if there is a way to make money in the crypto world without guessing the rise and fall. Yes—Arbitrage trading is such a method.

What is Arbitrage? Simply put, it means exploiting price differences.

The price of the same asset varies in different markets. You buy where it is cheap and sell where it is expensive, earning the difference in price. For example, if BTC is priced at 30,000 dollars in the spot market and 30,100 dollars in the perpetual contract market, you can go long on the spot market and short on the contract simultaneously, locking in that 100 dollar profit margin.

Two Common Arbitrage Strategies

1. Financing Fee Arbitrage (Most Stable)

Perpetual contracts incur funding fees. When the funding fee is positive, long positions pay money to short positions. Smart arbitrageurs:

  • Spot buy 1 BTC
  • Short contract for 1 BTC
  • Earn financing fees while sitting, with annualized returns of 10%-30%

It's like you are borrowing and lending the same thing at the same time, earning the interest difference.

2. Price Difference Arbitrage (Quick Money)

When the contract price is higher than the spot price, directly:

  • Spot buy BTC
  • Short sell BTC
  • When the contract expires, the price automatically returns to the spot market, earning the convergence difference.

What should you pay attention to in actual operations?

Risk Points:

  • It is not 100% risk-free. If the order quantities on both sides do not match, there will still be a risk exposure.
  • The smart balance function can help you automatically adjust your positions, but it may also result in additional slippage.
  • You need to actively manage your positions yourself; this tool is just for convenience in placing orders.

What to do next:

  • Combination of spot + perpetual or spot + futures
  • Open Smart Balance (the system checks every 2 seconds and will automatically cancel unfilled orders after 24 hours)
  • Monitor financing rates or price difference rankings at all times
  • Remember to manually close positions or manage your positions, the tool will not do it for you.

When is the best time to take action?

✓ When the price difference is particularly large (for example, due to a sudden fall/rise in the market creating arbitrage opportunities) ✓ When financing fees are particularly high (indicating the market is extremely bullish, and short sellers are being taken advantage of) ✓ When you need to execute multiple orders simultaneously (for example, to close multiple positions)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use arbitrage to close positions? A: Yes. But the tool itself does not help you manage positions; you have to operate it yourself.

Q: Can small accounts be used? A: Yes. As long as you open a unified trading account (UTA), over 80 types of assets can be used as margin.

Q: Is the risk of liquidation high? A: If both sides complete the transaction, the risk is low. But if the transaction quantities are inconsistent, there will be risks, so it is essential to open smart balancing.

Q: What will happen if there are no transactions in 24 hours? A: Automatically canceled. The system assumes that this arbitrage opportunity has passed.

Final Words

Arbitrage seems very stable, but the premise is that you need to find real opportunities with a profit margin. Fees, slippage, and execution speed can eat into your profits. Beginners are advised to start with small amounts to test, and once familiar with the process, increase their positions. Also, don't forget that this is not an automatic money-making machine — you need to manage it actively, otherwise even the most stable strategies can cause you trouble.

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