Bitcoin halving 2024: what to know
The next bitcoin (BTC) halving is likely to occur in April 2024 and could have a dramatic impact on the cryptocurrency’s price. Discover everything you need to know about the next bitcoin halving – including what it is, why it’s happening and how you can trade it.
Cryptocurrency trading is only available to professional traders on the international account.
Call 010 344 0053 or email helpdesk.za@ig.com to talk about opening a trading account. We’re here 24 hours a day, from 9am Saturday to 11pm Friday.
Contact us: 010 344 0053
Why trade bitcoin with us?
Choose a FTSE 250-listed, established provider, and benefit from 45 years’ trading expertise
Preserve your capital with negative balance protection and guaranteed stops3
Open a free account quickly and easily – you could be set up and trading bitcoin today
Get friendly, expert support 24 hours a day from 6am Saturday to 10pm Friday
What are the benefits of trading bitcoin?
Go short as well as long
Trade on bitcoin's price falling or rising
No need for an exchange account
Get the best prices - which we source - from multiple exchanges
Pay no tax
Offset losses against gains with CFDs
React to volatility
Remember, when trading bitcoin, you aren't taking ownership. Find out more about how leveraged bitcoin trading works.
Bitcoin full product details
How to trade Bitcoin with us
When you trade bitcoin with us, you'll be speculating on its price with derivatives such as CFDs.
These products make it possible to take a position on bitcoin's price without owning any physical coins - which means you can go short or long, depending on the market trend.
To go short on bitcoin, you'd select 'sell' and expect the price to fall. To go long, you'd select 'buy' and expect the price to rise.
As well as bitcoin, we offer other cryptocurrencies including bitcoin cash and ether - all of which you can trade with CFDs.
Bitcoin CFD example
Our bitcoin market takes its price from the value of bitcoin against the dollar. So when you trade on bitcoin with us, you’ll be betting an amount of money on every dollar of movement in its price.
Let’s say you're interested in trading bitcoin via a CFD. Our price is currently 10,400 to sell bitcoin or 10,438 to buy it (the difference between prices is due to the spread).
You believe that bitcoin’s price will fall against the dollar, so you sell five contracts at 10,400 – giving you a total exposure of $52,000 (equivalent to selling five bitcoins at $10,400).
Bitcoin’s price falls and our new prices are 10,312 to sell or 10,350 to buy. You decide to take your profit by buying at 10,350.
Bitcoin moved 50 points in your favour (10,400 - 10,350) so your gross profit is $250 ($50 x 5 contracts).
If the market had rallied 50 points instead, your gross loss would be $250.
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*Demo accounts are only available for spread betting and CFD trading.
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Fast execution on a huge range of markets
Enjoy flexible access to 17,000 global markets, with reliable execution
React faster with powerful technology
Our platform and apps are intuitive and highly responsive, so trading opportunities are always within reach
Grow your confidence with an established provider
We’re a FTSE 250 company that’s been leading our industry for nearly 50 years, so our expertise is second to none
*Demo accounts are only available for spread betting and CFD trading.
Open an account now
Open an account now
Fast execution on a huge range of markets
Enjoy flexible access to 17,000 global markets, with reliable execution
React faster with powerful technology
Our platform and apps are intuitive and highly responsive, so trading opportunities are always within reach
Grow your confidence with an established provider
We’re a FTSE 250 company that’s been leading our industry for nearly 50 years, so our expertise is second to none
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FAQs
When is your bitcoin market available?
Our bitcoin market is available around the clock, from 8am Saturday until 10pm Friday (UK time).
Do I need a bitcoin wallet to trade bitcoin with IG?
You won’t need a bitcoin wallet to trade with us because you’ll be speculating on the price of bitcoin, rather than taking direct ownership. Any profits will be paid into your bitcoin trading account, and you can withdraw them in cash from there.
Can I trade bitcoin on the MT4 platform?
You can trade bitcoin on the MT4 platform, either through a desktop version of MT4 or with an MT4 VPS. When you download MT4 from IG, you’ll get instant access to our range of free indicators and add-ons.
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1 Based on revenue (published financial statements, 2022).
2 Tax laws are subject to change and depend on individual circumstances. Tax law may differ in a jurisdiction other than the UK.
3 Negative balance protection applies to trading-related debt only, and is not available to professional traders.
4 Excludes any daily funding charges.