Arbitrage trading is one of the oldest and simplest trading strategies, and it works especially well in crypto. Because different exchanges often show slightly different prices for the same coin, traders can profit by buying low on one platform and selling high on another.
It’s not about predicting the future price. Instead, arbitrage is about exploiting inefficiencies in the market to lock in small but reliable gains.
In crypto, arbitrage means taking advantage of price differences across exchanges or markets. Since Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other coins trade globally, their prices are never exactly the same everywhere.
Traders use this to their advantage by:
Buying cheaper on Exchange A
Selling higher on Exchange B
Keeping the difference as profit
There are a few common types of arbitrage:
Exchange Arbitrage – Buying on one exchange, selling on another (e.g. Binance vs Kraken).
Triangular Arbitrage – Trading between three pairs within one exchange (e.g. BTC/USDT → ETH/USDT → ETH/BTC).
Geographic Arbitrage – Exploiting price differences in regional markets.
✅ Low directional risk — you don’t need to guess where the market will move.
✅ Works in any market condition — bullish, bearish, or sideways.
✅ Scalable with automation — bots and scanners can find and execute opportunities faster than humans.
Arbitrage isn’t risk-free. Some key challenges include:
Fees: Trading fees, withdrawal fees, and network fees can wipe out small profits.
Transfer times: While you’re moving funds between exchanges, the price gap may close.
Competition: Many traders and bots chase the same opportunities.
Capital requirements: You need funds distributed across exchanges for instant execution.
If you want to try arbitrage trading, here’s how to begin:
The more connected you are, the more opportunities you’ll find. Top options include:
Platforms and bots can scan dozens of exchanges in real time.
Holding stablecoins (like USDT or USDC) across multiple platforms allows instant trades.
Only go for trades where the spread comfortably exceeds fees.
TradingView helps visualize spreads and spot imbalances.
Imagine Bitcoin is trading at:
A trader can:
Buy 1 BTC on Binance for $100,100
Sell the same BTC on Kraken for $100,300
Profit: $200 (minus fees and transfer costs)
With larger amounts or faster execution bots, these small differences can add up quickly.
Stick to high-liquidity coins (BTC, ETH, stablecoins) to avoid slippage.
Start small to learn the process before committing larger capital.
Use exchange-native arbitrage bots or third-party platforms for automation.
Keep security in mind — always enable 2FA on all your accounts.
Arbitrage trading isn’t about predicting the future, it’s about being faster and more efficient than others at spotting short-term opportunities. While profits per trade are small, disciplined traders who use the right exchanges and tools can build steady gains over time.
👉 Ready to explore arbitrage trading? Get started with these trusted platforms:
Binance – Low fees & deep liquidity
OKX – Fast transfers & powerful tools
TradingView – Track spreads & market imbalances
Arbitrage can be a valuable addition to your crypto toolkit — especially when combined with other strategies like grid trading or swing trading.
Start using one strategy with discipline. Use TradingView to refine your skills, and read our next guides in the strategy series:
Also please make sure you read the following guides:
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⚠️ Risk Warning: Crypto trading is risky. Never invest more than you can afford to lose. Always do your own research.
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