Short selling

Short crypto on Kraken Pro

Borrow, sell, buy back lower. Up to 10x leverage on eligible pairs. Available to retail traders in eligible US states. No accredited investor status needed.

Available on

Up to 10x leverage on eligible pairs. No accredited investor requirement.

Kraken Pro is one of the few platforms where eligible US retail traders can go short on crypto with CFTC regulated spot margin.

Explore pairs

Now available to US retail traders.

Kraken Pro is one of the few CFTC-regulated platforms where eligible US retail traders can go short on crypto with spot margin. Up to 10x leverage on eligible pairs. No accredited investor requirement.

Kraken Pro short selling interface on desktop

Kraken Pro short selling interface on mobile

Crypto collateral. Not just USDC.

48+ eligible crypto assets as collateral. Not just USDC. Trade with leverage using what you already own.

Regulated US shorting.

Coinbase US and Robinhood don't offer spot margin shorting. Kraken Pro does. Trade all your positions from a unified platform.

24/7. No expiry. No forced rolls.

Trade Spot Margin any time, on your schedule. No contract expiry, no forced position resets.

No qualification barrier to trade with leverage

Spot, margin, futures. One platform.

Everything in one place. Start with spot, add Spot Margin, progress to futures — without switching platforms or accounts.

Open a short position

Use 48+ eligible crypto assets as collateral for your short position, not just USDC. Your position size updates in real time as you adjust your leverage. Posted collateral, required margin and available balance are always visible in the interface.

Monitor price movement

On a short, losses are theoretically unlimited if price rises against you. Your liquidation price is shown in the interface before you open. Set a stop-loss to cap your downside exposure.

Close and collect profits

Open your short and trade on your terms. Live P&L, 24/7 access, no expiry. Close by buying back the borrowed asset whenever you're ready or set a trailing stop to manage your exit.

Start trading

How short selling works on Kraken Pro

Borrow, sell, buy back lower.

Open the short — Pick your pair, set your leverage (up to 10x), and post eligible crypto as collateral. Kraken Pro borrows the asset from the liquidity pool and sells it at the current market price. Position live.

Monitoring P&L and margin health on a short position

Maintain the position — Monitor P&L, liquidation price, and margin health in real time. A rollover fee accrues every 4 hours on the borrowed amount for as long as the position stays open.

Buying back to close a short position on Kraken Pro

Buy back to close — Buy the asset back to return it to the pool. If price fell, you keep the spread, minus fees. 24/7, no expiry, no forced rolls.

Ready to start?

Unleash your trading potential.

Start trading

Short selling FAQs

Can you short crypto on Coinbase or Robinhood?

No. Coinbase US and Robinhood do not offer spot margin shorting. Kraken Pro is one of the few platforms where eligible US retail traders can short crypto with up to 10x leverage on CFTC-regulated spot margin, no accredited investor requirement.

What does it cost to hold a short position on Kraken Pro?

Two fees apply: an opening fee charged when you enter the position, and a rollover fee charged every 4 hours on the borrowed amount for as long as the position is open. Rates vary by pair, but the current rates are listed in the Kraken fee schedule.

What is a liquidation price and how do I avoid it?

Your liquidation price is the asset price at which your collateral no longer meets the maintenance margin requirement. For a short, liquidation triggers if price rises above this level. To avoid a liquidation, keep leverage modest, maintain a buffer above maintenance margin, and use a stop-loss to exit before you reach it.

What collateral can I use?

Kraken Pro accepts 48+ eligible crypto assets as collateral — not just USDC. This includes BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, and other major assets. Check the Kraken Pro interface for the current list.

Is spot margin trading available in my region?

Spot margin trading on Kraken Pro is available to eligible clients in most supported regions. Availability varies by jurisdiction — certain regions, including Canada and New Zealand, are excluded. In the US, spot margin trading is provided via NinjaTrader Clearing, LLC d/b/a Kraken Derivatives US, a CFTC-registered Futures Commission Merchant. Eligible Counterparties (ECPs) may also access margin trading. Check your account settings in Kraken Pro to confirm eligibility in your region.

Learn more

What is a margin call?

Cross vs isolated margin on Kraken Pro

Trailing stop orders on Kraken Pro

Margin trade Bitcoin

¹Short selling via Spot Margin involves substantial risk and is not suitable for everyone. Losses on short positions are theoretically unlimited if the asset price rises against you. You may lose all or more than the initial investment. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.

Spot margin trading is provided by NinjaTrader Clearing, LLC d/b/a Kraken Derivatives US, a CFTC-registered Futures Commission Merchant and NFA Member (NFA ID: 0309379), with financing provided by Payward Accredited LLC. View Disclosures.