Symbol (Ticker Symbol)
What is a Ticker Symbol?
A ticker symbol is a concise code that represents various tradable assets, such as stocks or cryptocurrencies. For example, "AAPL" stands for Apple Inc., and "BTC" for Bitcoin. These symbols facilitate quick identification and transactions on trading platforms. Emerging in the 19th century with ticker tape machines that printed stock prices on paper strips, ticker symbols continue to play a crucial role in the modern digital financial world.
Spot Symbols
The spot market is where cryptocurrencies are directly traded. Currency pairs on this market are denoted in the BASE/QUOTE format, where BASE is the base currency, and QUOTE is the quote currency. Examples include:
BTC/USDT- BTC as the base currency, USDT as the quote currencyETH/USDT- ETH as the base currency, USDT as the quote currency
Perpetual Futures (Perpetual Swap) Symbols
Perpetual Futures are a derivative instrument that allows traders to speculate on the price movement of an underlying asset. Cryptocurrency pairs in this market are denoted in the BASE/QUOTE:SETTLEMENT format, where BASE is the base currency, QUOTE is the quote currency, and SETTLEMENT is the settlement currency. Examples include:
BTC/USDT:USDT- BTC as the base currency, USDT as both the quote and settlement currencyETH/USDT:USDT- ETH as the base currency, USDT as both the quote and settlement currency
Inverse Perpetual Futures
These are similar to standard Perpetual Futures but with the settlement currency different from the quote currency. Examples include:
LTC/USDT:BTC- LTC as the base currency, USDT as the quote currency, BTC as the settlement currencyXRP/USDT:BTC- XRP as the base currency, USDT as the quote currency, BTC as the settlement currency
Delivery Futures (Delivery Swap) Symbols
Delivery Futures are a derivative instrument with a set expiration date. Cryptocurrency pairs in this market are denoted in the BASE/QUOTE:SETTLEMENT-DELIVERY format, where BASE is the base currency, QUOTE is the quote currency, SETTLEMENT is the settlement currency, and DELIVERY is the delivery date. Examples include:
BTC/USDT:USDT-240925- BTC as the base currency, USDT as both the quote and settlement currency, with a delivery date of 240925ETH/USDT:USDT-240925- ETH as the base currency, USDT as both the quote and settlement currency, with a delivery date of 240925
This information is designed to assist users in understanding the various symbols used in cryptocurrency trading, enabling effective navigation of the markets.