Before learning how to trade, it is important to understand that not all markets work the same way. There are two fundamental ways to participate in a financial market: the spot market and the derivatives markets.
Spot market (or cash market):
- You buy the actual asset at the current market price. If you buy Bitcoin at $33,000, that Bitcoin is yours.
- You can only lose what you invested — there is no mandatory leverage.
- It is the most direct and transparent way to invest.
Derivatives (futures, CFDs, options):
- You do not buy the asset — you buy a contract that bets on whether the price will rise or fall.
- They almost always include leverage: you control a position much larger than your capital, which amplifies both gains and losses.
- A 5% move against you could cause you to lose your entire capital in seconds — this is called liquidation.
CryptoSens operates exclusively in spot. When you buy a crypto in the simulator, that asset is yours — no leverage, no contracts, no liquidation risk. This module teaches you how to operate in this way: buying real assets in liquid markets.
You buy 0.1 BTC at $33,000 in spot: you pay $3,300 and own 0.1 BTC. If the price falls 50%, your position is worth $1,650 — you have lost $1,650, but you hold the asset and can wait. In futures with x10 leverage: with $330 you control the same $3,300 position. If the price falls just 10%, you lose the full $330 — liquidation.