In the fast-evolving world of cryptocurrency trading, understanding platform-specific rules is essential for both new and experienced traders. Bybit enforces a set of spot trading rules designed to prevent market manipulation, ensure fair execution, and protect user interests. These include price limits, per-order restrictions, and order quotas—key mechanisms that maintain market integrity across its spot and spot leverage trading services.
This guide breaks down each rule in detail, explains how they work, and helps you navigate them effectively to optimize your trading strategy.
Price Limits: Safeguarding Market Fairness
Price limits are crucial safeguards that prevent abnormal price movements caused by aggressive or erroneous orders. They apply differently depending on the order type and timing—especially during the launch of new tokens.
How Price Limits Work by Order Type
Market Orders
When placing a market order to buy or sell:
- If the expected execution price exceeds the allowed price limit, the超出部分 (excess portion) will be canceled.
- The entire order may be canceled if it completely breaches the limit.
- Market orders support up to 10,000 individual trades. Any portion beyond this threshold is automatically canceled.
👉 Discover how smart order routing enhances trade execution under price controls.
Limit Orders
For limit orders:
- If the specified price is above (for buys) or below (for sells) the current price cap, the order will be rejected outright.
- This ensures no single participant can place abnormally high or low bids that distort market perception.
Other Order Types
During the first 5 minutes after a new token listing:
- Market orders, conditional orders, take-profit/stop-loss orders, OCO (One-Cancels-the-Other), and strategy orders are not supported.
- After 5 minutes, standard price limit rules apply as defined by the system.
Price Limit Calculation
The calculation varies depending on whether it's within the first 5 minutes of listing or afterward.
First 5 Minutes After Listing
| Direction | Price Cap |
|---|---|
| Buy Orders | Up to 100× the opening price |
| Sell Orders | Minimum of latest traded price × (1 – 5%) |
This aggressive cap prevents extreme volatility during initial trading when liquidity is thin.
After 5 Minutes
Buy and sell price limits become more dynamic:
- Maximum Buy Price:
Min[Max(Index Price, Index × (1 + x%) + Avg Premium over Last 2 Min), Index × (1 + y%)] - Minimum Sell Price:
Max[Min(Index Price, Index × (1 – x%) + Avg Premium over Last 2 Min), Index × (1 – y%)]
Where:
x%andy%are asset-specific parameters set by Bybit.- The index price is used to avoid manipulation based on a single exchange’s data.
- The average premium accounts for short-term deviations between spot and index prices.
Understanding Average Premium Calculation
The average premium is computed every second over a rolling 2-minute window:
- Collect real-time spot trade data and index values.
- Calculate the mid-price:
(Best Ask + Best Bid) / 2 - Compute the basis (premium):
Mid-Price – Index Price - Average the 120 basis points from the past two minutes.
This dynamic adjustment helps smooth out temporary spikes and keeps trading within reasonable bounds.
💡 Traders using API integrations should refer to theGET /v5/market/instruments-infoendpoint withcategory=spotto retrievepriceLimitRatioXandpriceLimitRatioYvalues for precise automation.
Per-Order Trading Limits: Volume and Value Caps
To manage risk and ensure platform stability, Bybit imposes minimum and maximum thresholds on every spot order.
Key Parameters
Each trading pair has:
- A minimum order value (e.g., 1 USDT for BTC/USDT)
- A maximum order value (e.g., 8,000,000 USDT for BTC/USDT)
- A maximum order quantity (e.g., 71.73 BTC)
These limits ensure no single transaction overwhelms liquidity or creates systemic risk.
Why These Limits Matter
- Prevent accidental large-volume trades due to input errors.
- Mitigate front-running and wash-trading risks.
- Allow better load distribution across the matching engine.
🔁 These parameters are subject to periodic review based on market conditions and risk management policies. Always verify current limits via official channels.
Order Quotas: Managing Exposure on High-Risk Assets
Order quotas restrict how much of certain cryptocurrencies users can hold after buying in the spot market. This applies only to tokens listed in the Innovation Zone and Adventure Zone, which typically feature newer or more volatile projects.
How Order Quotas Work
The formula for available quota:
Available Quota = Total Allowed Value
– (Held Amount × Latest Price)
– Open Orders ValueOnce the quota is reached:
- No further buy orders are permitted.
- Sell orders remain fully functional.
- Increases in value due to price appreciation or deposits do not count against the limit.
Real-World Example: FLOKI Trading
Let’s say:
- FLOKI has an order quota of 100,000 USDT
- Current market price: $0.00017
Maximum purchasable amount: 100,000 / 0.00017 ≈ 571,428,571 FLOKI
After reaching this cap, you cannot buy more—only sell or wait for price drops that free up headroom.
👉 See how top traders manage position sizing within quota constraints.
You can monitor your current usage directly in the spot trading interface under the order panel.
How to Check Spot Price and Order Limits
All current price limits, order size caps, and quota details are published on Bybit’s official documentation page. Visit the Spot Trading Rules section regularly for updates, especially before trading newly listed assets.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Why was my market order only partially filled?
A: Market orders exceeding the dynamic price limit are partially or fully canceled to prevent unfair execution. Consider using limit orders with realistic pricing during high volatility.
Q: Can I increase my order quota?
A: No. Order quotas are fixed per asset and determined by platform risk policies. However, selling part of your holdings frees up space for new purchases.
Q: Do price limits apply to all trading pairs?
A: Yes, but values differ by pair. Newer or higher-risk tokens often have tighter controls, especially during launch phases.
Q: Are these rules different for leveraged spot trading?
A: While core principles remain, leveraged positions may have stricter margin and liquidation rules. Always review both spot and leverage policies together.
Q: How often are limits updated?
A: Adjustments occur based on market conditions, liquidity changes, and security assessments. There's no fixed schedule—monitor announcements regularly.
Q: Where can I find real-time limit data via API?
A: Use the GET /v5/market/instruments-info endpoint with category=spot. Look for fields like priceLimitRatioX, priceLimitRatioY, minOrderValue, and maxOrderValue.
Final Thoughts
Understanding spot trading rules—including price limits, order size restrictions, and holding quotas—is vital for successful crypto trading. These mechanisms aren’t barriers; they’re protections that promote fairness, reduce manipulation, and enhance long-term market health.
Whether you're trading established coins like Bitcoin or exploring emerging tokens in innovation zones, staying informed empowers smarter decisions. Regularly consult official sources for updates and refine your strategies accordingly.
👉 Stay ahead with advanced tools that help you trade within platform limits efficiently.