For instance, investors and traders now have easier access to cryptocurrency derivatives such as futures and options contracts, which allow them to long or short bitcoins and other digital currencies. They can also use these products to hedge their positions or speculate on cryptocurrency prices, with a leverage of up to 125 times.
(Dec 2): Interest in bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies seems to be waning, according to Google Trends. There was a sharp spike in interest when bitcoin hit an all-time high of about US$20,000 in December 2017, but it declined within six months and flattened in 2Q2018 when the price fell 85% from its peak.
Nevertheless, this has not stopped the cryptocurrency market from evolving. Industry players have continued to provide investors and traders with more ways to utilise their digital tokens.
