Crypto Futures Basis Tracker (Annualized)🧩 What is Basis Arbitrage
Basis arbitrage is a market-neutral trading strategy that exploits the price difference between a cryptocurrency’s spot and its futures markets.
When futures trade above spot (called contango), traders can buy spot and short futures, locking in a potential yield.
When futures trade below spot (backwardation), the reverse applies — short spot and go long futures.
The yield earned (or cost paid) by holding this position until expiry is called the basis. Expressing it as an annualized percentage allows comparison across different contract maturities.
⚙️ How the Indicator Works
This tool calculates the annualized basis for up to 10 cryptocurrency futures against a chosen spot price.
You select one spot symbol (e.g., BITSTAMP:BTCUSD) and up to 10 futures symbols (e.g., DERIBIT:BTCUSD07X2025, DERIBIT:BTCUSD14X2025, etc.).
The script automatically computes the days-to-expiry (DTE) and the annualized basis for each future.
A table displays for each contract: symbol, expiry date, DTE, last price, and annualized basis (%) — making it easy to compare the forward curve across maturities.
⚠️ Risks and Limitations
While basis arbitrage is often considered low-risk, it’s not risk-free:
Funding and financing costs can erode returns, especially when borrowing or using leverage.
Exchange or counterparty risk — if one leg of the trade fails (e.g., exchange default, margin liquidation), the hedge breaks.
Execution and timing risk — the basis can tighten or invert before both legs are opened.
Liquidity differences — thin futures may have large bid-ask spreads or slippage.
Use this indicator for analysis and monitoring, not as an automated trading signal.
Disclaimer: Please remember that past performance may not be indicative of future results. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions, the strategy may no longer perform as well as in historical backtesting. This post and the script don't provide any financial advice.
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