Welcome to Margin Trading on Stocks, ETFs and ETCs

Disclaimer: Margin Trading on Stocks, ETFs and ETCs is not available for UK users.

Welcome to your central hub for Margin Trading on Stocks, ETFs, and ETCs at Bitpanda! Whether you want to amplify your market exposure or learn how to manage your leverage safely, this guide provides a brief overview of how the product works, along with direct links to our in-depth Helpdesk articles.

Note: Margin Trading on Stocks, ETFs, and ETCs is currently not available for UK users or business accounts.

What is Margin Trading on Stocks, ETFs, and ETCs?

Margin Trading lets you open a leveraged long position on selected stocks, ETFs, and ETCs from our universe. Unlike standard spot trading where you pay 100% of the purchase price upfront, Margin Trading allows you to multiply your market exposure:

1
Your InvestmentYou fund a portion of the position value using your own fiat wallet.
2
Bitpanda’s BoostBitpanda lends you the remaining amount in EURCV (at a stable 1:1 EUR-to-EURCV ratio) to complete the purchase.

Real Asset Ownership: This is not a CFD or a derivative. You actually acquire the underlying stock, ETF, or ETC, which is securely held in your Security Custody Account. However, while the loan is active, the asset is pledged as collateral to Bitpanda.

Because you are trading with borrowed funds, both your potential gains and your potential losses are amplified. This makes risk management your absolute top priority.

Important Risk Reminder

Do Your HomeworkEducation Requirement

Please make sure you read all of our deep-dive guides below, and make sure you fully understand how the product works and all of its associated risks. We want you to feel completely informed and confident before you start testing out this new feature!

Magnified LossesLeverage Risk Factor

Margin trading carries a high level of risk. Because it uses borrowed funds, both gains and losses are amplified. You can lose your entire initial investment in a position.

Always trade responsibly and only invest what you can bear to lose.

Deep-Dive Guides

To help you navigate every stage of your trading journey, we have broken down the specifics into six comprehensive guides. Click on any topic below to learn more:

1. Getting Started

Ready to take your first steps? Learn about user eligibility (available to retail users in the EEA and CH), the mandatory Appropriateness Test, and the step-by-step process to open your very first leveraged position.

2. Opening & Managing a Position

Understand what you are seeing on your trade screen. This article details how to interpret your total position value, monitor your "Available to Borrow" limits, and utilise Take Profit and Stop Loss orders to automate your strategy.

3. Risk Management & Liquidations

Leverage is a powerful tool, but it comes with amplified market risks. Learn how your Margin Level is calculated, what the green, orange, and red risk indicators mean, and how Bitpanda handles automatic liquidations if an asset's price falls.

4. Repayment & Debt Management

You don't always have to sell your assets to clear your loan. Learn about Direct Repayment (using EURCV or fiat to pay off your balance 24/7) and find out what happens during a grace period if a market gap leaves you with an outstanding debt.

5. Fees, Taxes, & Documents

Stay completely transparent on costs. Review our daily borrowing fees (0.18% per day, accrued every 4 hours), the 0% Buy Fee promotion running until December 2026, and where to find your official statements.

6. Corporate Actions

Company events like dividends, stock splits, or mergers can directly affect the value of your pledged collateral. Learn how these occurrences influence your margin level, what steps you might need to take, and when Bitpanda might restrict trading or close a position to keep things secure.

Troubleshooting Tips

Account Restrictions
Why is my stock trading blocked or locked?
The Cause:

When you try to buy stocks, ETFs, or ETCs for the first time, you must complete a quick, mandatory profile update to comply with financial regulations. Trading will remain locked until your details are fully updated.

  • Missing Tax Info: Your Tax Identification Number (TIN) must be up to date in your settings.
  • Pending Details: You need to verify your current name, date of birth, address, and citizenship. (Note: Most users do not need to use an ID document for this step, though some older accounts in Germany may require a brief video verification).
Important Tax Warning:

During this update, you will be asked: "Are you a US taxable person?". Please answer this carefully. Selecting the wrong option by mistake will block your trading access and can lead to a temporary restriction on your account.

Product Access
Why can't I access margin trading for stocks?
The Cause:

Advanced features like margin trading carry specific risks. To keep your investing safe, regulations require you to complete a brief questionnaire (an appropriateness test) inside the app to ensure you understand how leveraged stock products work before you can place a trade.

The Fix:

Simply click on the asset you wish to trade and follow the on-screen prompts to answer the quick questionnaire. Once you complete it, the feature will unlock, giving you full access to both standard stock investing and margin trading features.