Futures trading has become one of the most popular ways to profit from the cryptocurrency market — and Bybit stands out as one of the top exchanges for traders looking to leverage their positions and trade like professionals. Whether you’re new to crypto or transitioning from spot trading, learning how to trade futures on Bybit can open up exciting opportunities for both short- and long-term gains.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know — from creating an account to placing your first futures trade — in a simple, step-by-step format.
What Is Bybit?
Bybit is a leading cryptocurrency derivatives exchange founded in 2018. It offers a secure and user-friendly platform for futures trading, spot trading, options, and earning products.
What makes Bybit stand out is its focus on speed, precision, and transparency. The exchange handles up to 100,000 transactions per second, ensuring that trades are executed instantly — a crucial feature in the fast-moving world of crypto.
Key Benefits of Trading on Bybit:
- Up to 100x leverage on selected contracts.
- No downtime — Bybit’s matching engine ensures stability even in volatile markets.
- Advanced charting tools powered by TradingView.
- 24/7 customer support and educational resources.
- Secure trading environment with cold wallet storage and multi-signature protection.
What Is Futures Trading in Crypto?
Before diving in, let’s clarify what futures trading actually means.
A crypto futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a cryptocurrency at a predetermined price on a future date. On Bybit, you don’t actually own the underlying crypto — you’re speculating on its price movement.
Two Key Types of Futures on Bybit:
- Perpetual Contracts:
These are the most common type of futures contracts on Bybit. They have no expiration date, meaning you can hold your position indefinitely as long as your margin requirements are met. - Inverse and USDT Contracts:
- USDT Contracts are settled in Tether (USDT), a stablecoin.
- Inverse Contracts are settled in the base cryptocurrency itself (e.g., BTC, ETH).
With futures, you can:
- Go long (buy) if you expect prices to rise.
- Go short (sell) if you expect prices to fall.
This flexibility allows traders to profit from both bull and bear markets.
Step 1: Create and Verify Your Bybit Account
To start trading futures on Bybit, you’ll first need an account.
- Go to Bybit.com.
- Click Sign Up and enter your email address and password.
- Verify your email with the confirmation code sent by Bybit.
For security and compliance, complete KYC (Know Your Customer) verification. Upload a valid ID and proof of address to unlock full access to trading and withdrawal features.
Tip: Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) immediately to protect your funds.
Step 2: Deposit Funds Into Your Account
Once your account is set up, you’ll need to deposit funds.
Option 1: Deposit Cryptocurrency
- Go to Assets → Deposit.
- Choose the cryptocurrency you want to deposit (e.g., BTC, ETH, or USDT).
- Copy your deposit address and send funds from your external wallet.
Option 2: Buy Crypto with Fiat
Bybit also supports credit/debit card purchases and P2P trading, allowing you to buy crypto directly with your local currency.
After the deposit, your balance will appear in your Spot Wallet. You can then transfer funds to your Derivatives Account for futures trading.
Step 3: Understand the Bybit Futures Interface
The Bybit trading interface might look complex at first, but it’s intuitive once you understand the layout.
Main components include:
- Market Data Panel: Displays live prices and order book information.
- Chart Window: Interactive price chart powered by TradingView.
- Order Zone: Where you place your buy or sell orders.
- Positions & Orders: Shows open positions, unrealized profits/losses, and margin usage.
Spend time exploring these features to become comfortable with the trading environment before placing real trades.
Step 4: Choose the Type of Futures Contract
Bybit offers two primary types of futures contracts:
1. USDT Perpetual Contracts
- Settled in USDT (stable value).
- Easier for beginners since profits and losses are calculated in USDT.
- Available for popular pairs like BTC/USDT, ETH/USDT, SOL/USDT, etc.
2. Inverse Perpetual Contracts
- Settled in the base cryptocurrency (e.g., BTC or ETH).
- Margin and P&L are calculated in crypto, not USDT.
- Best suited for experienced traders familiar with BTC or ETH holdings.
Step 5: Set Your Leverage
Leverage allows you to control a larger position with a smaller amount of capital.
On Bybit, you can set leverage from 1x up to 100x, depending on the asset and market volatility.
For example:
- With 10x leverage, a $100 investment lets you control a $1,000 position.
Caution: Higher leverage means higher potential profits and higher risk of liquidation. Beginners should start with 2x–5x leverage.
Step 6: Place Your First Futures Order
You’re now ready to open your first trade!
Order Types on Bybit:
- Market Order: Executes instantly at the best available price.
- Limit Order: Executes only when the price reaches your set level.
- Conditional Order: Executes when specific conditions are met (great for automation).
Example:
- You expect Bitcoin’s price to rise.
- Select BTC/USDT Perpetual.
- Choose Long (Buy).
- Enter your order size, set leverage, and confirm.
Once executed, you can monitor your position’s entry price, liquidation price, P&L, and margin ratio in the dashboard.
Step 7: Manage Your Position
Effective position management is key to long-term success.
Important Tools:
- Stop-Loss Order: Automatically closes your trade if the market moves against you beyond a set point.
- Take-Profit Order: Locks in profits once the market reaches your target price.
- Trailing Stop: Adjusts automatically as the price moves in your favor, securing profits dynamically.
Bybit makes it easy to modify or close positions manually anytime through the trading panel.
Step 8: Understand Funding Rates and Liquidation
Funding Rate
In perpetual futures trading, funding rates are periodic payments between long and short traders to keep contract prices close to spot prices.
- When funding is positive, long traders pay short traders.
- When funding is negative, short traders pay long traders.
These rates typically occur every 8 hours on Bybit.
Liquidation
If the market moves too far against your position, and your margin balance falls below the required maintenance level, Bybit will liquidate your position automatically to prevent further losses.
To avoid liquidation:
- Use low leverage.
- Always set stop-losses.
- Monitor your margin ratio closely.
Step 9: Withdraw Profits
Once you close a trade and earn profits, you can withdraw your funds easily.
- Go to Assets → Withdraw.
- Select the cryptocurrency you want to withdraw.
- Enter your wallet address and confirm via 2FA.
Withdrawals on Bybit are processed multiple times a day for security.
Step 10: Keep Learning and Practicing
Like any trading strategy, futures trading requires experience, discipline, and education.
Bybit Resources for Learning:
- Bybit Learn: Educational hub with articles, videos, and tutorials.
- Demo (Testnet): Practice trading with virtual funds to improve your skills.
- Community: Join Bybit’s Telegram or Discord for market updates and discussions.
The more you learn, the better equipped you’ll be to make data-driven trading decisions.
Pro Tips for Beginners
- Start with small trades and low leverage.
- Avoid emotional decisions — stick to a trading plan.
- Keep a trading journal to analyze wins and losses.
- Never risk more than 1–2% of your capital per trade.
- Stay updated with market news and Bitcoin trends.
Remember, the goal isn’t to win every trade — it’s to manage risk and grow steadily over time.
Final Thoughts: Mastering Futures Trading on Bybit
Bybit is an exceptional platform for anyone looking to explore futures trading in crypto. With its powerful trading tools, low latency, and high liquidity, it offers an ideal environment for both beginners and experts.
While the potential for profit is significant, so are the risks. Always trade responsibly, use leverage wisely, and prioritize risk management above all.
With patience, practice, and strategy, you can confidently navigate the Bybit futures market — and take full advantage of the exciting opportunities the crypto world has to offer in 2025 and beyond.