Trading cryptocurrencies can be wild, but sometimes too wild. Traders of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, and all the rest need volatility for opportunities but can suffer from shocking moves that come out of the blue and find them unprepared.
Here are the times to trade, starting with weekdays:
Very busy but not that risky
Asian morning, but not too early: 1:00 to 7:00 GMT
A significant amount of crypto trading takes place in South Kore, and so does a lot of news that moves the markets. The action, driven by regulators in Seoul, by crypto-exchanges, or by other market-moving events, can be wild in the first hours of the morning and more specifically, just as Korean banks open at 9:00 local time which is 00:00 GMT.
Starting a trading session an hour later reduces the risks of jawdropping gaps on the charts or any shocking news that may send prices down or up within seconds. Nevertheless, the high volume of trading during working hours in Korea and Asia in general, provide a good environment for two-way action.
At 7:00 GMT, European traders get ready for the day, and they may examine events in Asia and perhaps take a different view. While we may have trading opportunities also at these times, moves may be somewhat less predictable.
Medium sized action when the focus is elsewhere
European mid-morning to the American mid-morning: 9:00 to 16:00 GMT
Forex traders know that these may be the busiest hours and that the release of American news around 13:30 and 15:00 GMT can be perilous. But in the world of virtual coins, these hours can consist of lower volume when Asians slow down in the evening and Americans are mostly awake only on the East Coast. The news may flow, and so prices of coins may fluctuate, but there is a lower chance for nasty surprises.
From 16:00 GMT, forex trading may slow down, but the West Coast is wide awake. Everything that has happened beforehand is digested, and new developments may arise. A significant part of the activity in virtual currencies occurs in the Bay Area.
Relatively quiet
American afternoon to early American evening 18:00 to 23:00 GMT
After a significant part of the action calmed down in the West Coast and Asia is deep in the night, things may quiet down. For some, it may be too calm to provide trading opportunities, but the risk of unpleasant surprises is also diminished. Closer to the Asian morning, as Australia and New Zealand, wake up, there may be additional action, but the risk of surprises jumps only when the cycle reaches its completion and Koreans are busy once again.
Weekends - Warnings around Asian times still apply
Trading in cryptocurrencies differs with forex in that markets are open also on the weekends. During Saturday and Sunday, we may again see high volatility, but shocking moves depend more on surprises. In general, there is a higher chance of surprises when Asia is awake.
As an extra measure of caution, the time span between 23:00 GMT and up to 3:00 GMT may be messier. In general, the trading volume may be somewhat lower, and air pockets can appear due to low liquidity.
Caution is warranted at all times on the weekend, but 3:00 to 23:00 GMT may be a wiser time to trade.
More: 5 most predictable cryptocurrencies
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended Content
Editors’ Picks
Gold trades near record-high, stays within a touching distance of $3,100
Gold clings to daily gains and trades near the record-high it set above $3,080 earlier in the day. Although the data from the US showed that core PCE inflation rose at a stronger pace than expected in February, it failed to boost the USD.
EUR/USD turns positive above 1.0800
The loss of momentum in the US Dollar allows some recovery in the risk-associated universe on Friday, encouraging EUR/USD to regain the 1.0800 barrier and beyond, or daily tops.
GBP/USD picks up pace and retests 1.2960
GBP/USD now capitalises on the Greenback's knee-jerk and advances to the area of daily peaks in the 1.2960-1.2970 band, helped at the same time by auspicious results from UK Retail Sales.
Donald Trump’s tariff policies set to increase market uncertainty and risk-off sentiment
US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies are expected to escalate market uncertainty and risk-off sentiment, with the Kobeissi Letter’s post on X this week cautioning that while markets may view the April 2 tariffs as the "end of uncertainty," it anticipates increased volatility.
US: Trump's 'Liberation day' – What to expect?
Trump has so far enacted tariff changes that have lifted the trade-weighted average tariff rate on all US imports by around 5.5-6.0%-points. While re-rerouting of trade will decrease the effectiveness of tariffs over time, the current level is already close to the highest since the second world war.
The Best brokers to trade EUR/USD
SPONSORED Discover the top brokers for trading EUR/USD in 2025. Our list features brokers with competitive spreads, fast execution, and powerful platforms. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, find the right partner to navigate the dynamic Forex market.