The market always operates with two prices, much like a bank or currency exchange:
Ask price: The price at which you buy an asset.
Bid price: The price at which you sell an asset.
The Spread is the difference between the Ask and Bid prices.
Example
If BTC/USD has two prices:
Ask: $68,240 (Buy price)
Bid: $68,230 (Sell price)
The spread is $10 ($68,240 Ask – $68,230 Bid = $10 Spread).
The spread is not fixed and fluctuates continuously with market movements. The spread cost is factored into your trade's initial profit/loss from the moment it opens.
Which price is used on the chart and how do I change it?
Charts can be displayed using either the Bid (sell) price or the Ask (buy) price. You can change the chart display mode directly within the terminal:
Desktop application: Click the directional arrow icon in the top right corner of the chart and select your preferred price display mode from the dropdown menu.
Mobile app: Tap the directional arrow icon at the top of the chart screen and select your preferred price display mode.
Key execution rules
To avoid confusion, keep these execution mechanics in mind:
Buy trade:
Opens at the Ask price
Closes at the Bid price
Sell trade:
Opens at the Bid price
Closes at the Ask price
Useful tips
Automatic chart adjustment: When you open a position, the chart automatically switches to display the price used to close that trade. For example, if you open a Buy trade (at the Ask price), the chart will display the Bid price.
Closing a Buy position: Since a Buy trade closes at the Bid price, evaluate your exit level using the Bid chart.
Closing a Sell position: Since a Sell trade closes at the Ask price, evaluate your exit level using the Ask chart.