A limit order is a buy or sell order of a digital asset at a specific price. A buy limit order can only be executed at or below the limit price, while a sell limit order can only be executed at or above the limit price. A limit order is not guaranteed to be fulfilled. This means that by using a limit order instead of a market order, you protect yourself from buying at a higher price or selling at a lower price than you anticipated.
Limit orders enable traders to manage their trade prices by specifying and setting them. While an investor is guaranteed to buy or sell at a limit price or a better price, order execution is not guaranteed. The order is not completed unless the crypto's price meets the order qualifications.
Furthermore, limit orders are ideal for patient investors who want to accumulate digital assets at low prices. However, in the event of a market recovery, there is a risk of missing out. This means that if an order is not filled, an investor may miss out on a good trading opportunity.
What is a Buy Limit Order?
In this case, the order is carried out at a limit price or a lower price. For example, a trader wishes to purchase Bitcoin (BTC), and the buy limit order was set at $20,000. The order is executed as soon as BTC reaches or falls below $20,000.
What is a Sell Limit Order?
Here, the order is executed at or above the limit price. If the same trader wants to sell Ethereum (ETH), for example, they set the limit order at $1,400. The order is executed as soon as the price reaches or exceeds the limit price.
How Do Limit Orders Work?
Additionally, a limit order can be used in many situations. For example, when a coin or token is rapidly increasing or decreasing, or when the trader is concerned about market volatility, a limit order gives traders more control over the execution price, which is useful if they are hesitant to use a market order during periods of high volatility.
Furthermore, a limit order can be very useful when a trader cannot constantly monitor a stock but has a specific price in mind to buy or sell that cryptocurrency asset.
When placing a limit order, investors should also consider the order's expiration date. In cryptocurrency trades, limit orders typically last 24 hours. You may end up buying or selling at a less desirable price if you do not closely monitor the market because a faulty assessment of market price movement will result in the investor undervaluing the limit order. Investors and traders should review their open limit orders regularly to keep up with the ever-changing market conditions.
Why Use Limit order?
The most advantageous aspect of a limit order is that it allows the trader to execute a trade at a price that is appropriate for them. The trader can choose the rate at which they want to trade. A limit order also has the following advantages:
- One can determine the amount even when the digital asset has not yet hit the mark.
- It has been proven beneficial when one is trading at larger volumes.
- If a trader thinks that a token or coin is currently undervalued, they can buy the crypto and set a limit order to sell it once the price goes up. In contrast, traders who believe a digital asset is overpriced can place a limit order to buy crypto once that price falls.
- As limit orders are automated, traders don’t have to watch the crypto market 24/7 or worry about missing a buy or sell opportunity while they don't pay attention to it.
What is a stop-limit order?
A stop-limit order is a combination of a stop trigger and a limit order. When a trader sets a stop-limit order, a limit order is automatically set once the trigger price is reached, whether you are online or not. This arrangement allows traders to set the minimum amount of profit they can make and the maximum amount of loss they can bear. Traders can base their stop-limit orders on resistance and support levels as well as the associated volatility of the asset.