Decision guide
Crypto spot vs crypto futures — what's halal?
Spot crypto and crypto derivatives are completely different products with completely different shariah verdicts — even though both live inside the same exchange app.
Spot crypto (buy and hold)
Permissible as digital property by most contemporary Western and Gulf scholars; impermissible by a minority citing volatility.
- You actually own the coin
- No interest, no debt instrument
- Avoid coins designed for impermissible use (gambling, riba protocols)
- Buy with intent to hold or use, not pure speculation
Crypto futures & perpetuals
Funding rate is riba, sale of what you don't own, and leverage that crosses into maysir.
- Perpetuals charge a 'funding rate' every 8 hours — riba
- No actual coin changes hands
- Typical 10x–125x leverage is textbook maysir
Our recommendation
If you have conviction about a coin, buy it spot on a regulated exchange and hold or use it. Stay out of futures, perpetuals, and lending platforms regardless of how shariah-friendly the marketing is.
Applying this with a broker
Liquid Brokers is our affiliate partner and the broker we document in most depth. Swap-free status must be requested and confirmed in writing — its published account table lists swap fees as enabled on all four standard account types.