Bitcoin Limit Orders: Definition & How It Works

The advantage of a limit order is that if the order is executed, it will be done at a specified price. However, the disadvantage of this type of order is that there is no guarantee that the order will ever be executed or filled.

A buy limit order is an order to purchase an asset at or below a specified price, giving traders control over the price they pay. A buy limit order guarantees that the trader only pays their desired price. The drawback is that if the desired cryptocurrency does not reach the designated price, the order will not be filled, and the trader could miss out on the trading opportunity.

Limit orders can eliminate the possibility of a “bad fill”. A bad fill can happen when the market appears to be trading a specific price but then moves quickly (in either) direction when a market order is placed. Limit orders can also be strategically used to place what are known as “stink bids.” Stink bids are orders that are placed well outside the normal trading range of an asset. A stink bid can be used strategically to take advantage of “flash crashes” when the price of an asset swings wildly and then immediately recovers.

In most circumstances, limit orders are generally appropriate for traders using a passive trading strategy. Limit orders can require the patience of traders who might have to wait for trades to execute, assuming the trades execute at all. Limit orders are often not suitable for traders with a very aggressive trading strategy. When using an aggressive trading strategy, order execution is often more important than short ticks in price, meaning that high-frequency traders might not find limit orders useful.

If the bid-ask prices for Bitcoin are $10,000 and $10,500 with 5 Bitcoins available at the asking price, then if a trader places a market order to buy 10 Bitcoins at $10,500, the first 5 Bitcoins will execute at that price. The remaining 5 Bitcoins will not be filled, and the order will remain as an open limit order until filled or canceled.

Using a limit order would allow the user to ensure that the trade will only execute at a fixed price, providing a trader more control over the price they would be willing to pay for the final 5 Bitcoins. This is different from a market order that would fill the remaining 5 Bitcoins at the next best-asking price, which is dictated by the market and not the trader.

For step-by-step instructions on placing a Limit Order on NDAX, Click here.

If you are based in Canada and looking for a Canadian Bitcoin exchange, then take a look at  NDAX. NDAX is an easy-to-use, beginner-friendly exchange that can give you easy access to trade Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, XRP, Litecoin, Cardano, Dogecoin, EOS, and Stellar.