Indices are essentially statistical measures that track the performance of a group of assets. Learn more here.

From the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA, or simply the Dow) to the Hang Seng Index (HSI), the world’s major stock market indices are vital benchmarks that reflect the performance of leading companies across regions. For beginning and veteran traders alike, such indices act as overarching market bellwethers that provide deeper insights into market trends and serve as tools for trading strategies, risk management and portfolio diversification.

Given their mass popularity, indices are widely traded in the forms of futures, options and 

 (ETFs), enabling traders to effortlessly hedge against volatility or speculate on market movements through their preferred instrument. In this article, we’ll explore the world’s biggest market benchmarks, their composition, significance in trading and their role in shaping global financial markets.

Indices are essentially statistical measures that track the performance of a group of assets. For example, by referring to the three major US indices, we can immediately tell how a particular segment of the market is performing, thanks to the snapshot provided by these indices. 

At their core, these indices provide a way to gauge market trends, manage risk and diversify portfolios by offering a broad view of different sectors or asset classes. They’re widely used in financial markets for investment strategies, and as benchmarks for evaluating performance.

While more popular indices typically track the prices of stocks, traders may also consider trading indices that take into account the performance of other asset types, such as commodities and fixed-income instruments (e.g., bonds).

How indices work — mechanics, composition and weightage

Beyond simple tracking, indices also serve as the basis for numerous financial products that enable traders to participate in broad market movements without needing to purchase individual assets. This unmatched level of accessibility makes indices crucial for both institutional and retail traders. To go one step further, the construction of an index — including the specific assets being included, and their weighting — can significantly impact the index’s behavior, and the extent to which it effectively represents its target market.

Overall, understanding these construction methodologies is vital for traders who want to accurately interpret index movements and make informed decisions. We’ll go into more detail on the inner workings of index trading in the subsequent sections of this article.

Index trading involves speculating on the price movements of a group of assets without directly owning them. This is typically achieved through financial instruments, such as contracts for difference (CFDs), futures or options. The following section provides a detailed explanation of the mechanics involved.

As previously mentioned, indices are composed of various assets, such as stocks, commodities or bonds, and their performance is tracked using different weighting methods. The most common methods include the following.

Now that you’re familiar with the technicalities involved with index composition, let’s dive deeper into the instruments involved with the trading of indices.

New to trading indices? No worries. Here’s a quick four-step process to help you get started.

In summary, index trading provides a way to participate in broad market movements through various financial instruments. It offers diversification and flexibility but requires careful 

, given the volatility associated with index trading.

Trading indices offers several compelling advantages that make them an attractive option for both novice and experienced traders. The following reasons are worth considering.

Indices can be categorized based on their coverage, weighting method and focus. 

Following are some of the main types of indices.

Index prices are influenced by a variety of factors that can be broadly categorized into economic indicators, company performance, market sentiment and external events. These factors interact dynamically, influencing the overall performance of indices and shaping market trends.

For traders looking to get started with index trading, 

 with deep liquidity and competitive spreads. For a limited time (from Mar 13 through Apr 12, 2025), we’re running a 

 in which traders can enjoy zero fees on selected index pairs, making it even more cost-effective to explore index trading.

Ultimately, trading indices can seem daunting, given their depth of assets and the mechanics involved. For example, the S&P 500 comprises hundreds of stocks, each with different amounts of weightage. If mega-cap stocks like Tesla were to face some form of volatility, there would definitely be an impact on the index. As such, beginning traders who are new to index trading must 

 prior to transacting with indices, given the risks involved with the use of leveraged instruments.

For those with a longer time horizon in mind, trading indices can certainly be useful, especially if you’re intending to 

 your entries over time when building up your position. Given the extent of diversification involved and the sheer amount of liquidity present, it certainly would make sense for any trader with a long-term bullish inclination to trade indices and hold their ETFs for the long haul.

With a reliable platform like Bybit Gold&FX, you’ll practically be spoiled for choice when it comes to navigating the diverse world of indices and other financial instruments. By empowering traders with access to real-time data, advanced charting tools and a user-friendly interface, Bybit Gold&FX helps traders make informed decisions when analyzing market trends and execute trades with precision.

Whether you're interested in tracking the performance of major stock market indices, exploring commodity indices or diversifying your portfolio with forex and gold, Bybit Gold&FX offers the necessary resources and support. The platform's focus on security and transparency provides traders with peace of mind, allowing them to concentrate on their investment strategies and capitalize on market opportunities. In essence, it transforms the complexities of index trading into an accessible and sleek experience.

Intermediate

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Indices: Trading the world’s biggest market benchmarks

In this tutorial, we’ll explore how you can complete a series of tasks in Prosper for Bybit Web3 Airdrop Arcade.

In this tutorial, we’ll explore how you can complete a series of tasks in Prosper for 

Task: Stake at least 20 PROS on the Prosper DApp on BSC

 and connect your Bybit Wallet by clicking on the 

button at the top-right corner of the page and selecting 

: Type in the amount of PROS tokens you would like to stake. You’ll need to stake at least 20 PROS tokens to complete this task.

If you notice the available amount shown for the connected wallet is incorrect or unexpected, simply click on the “refresh” icon to update your token balance. Also, please ensure that you’re connected to the BNB Smart Chain (BSC) network.

 to approve both the application permissions and the stake amount via your Bybit Wallet. 

Once both interactions have been completed, you’ll have successfully staked PROS!

: You’ll be prompted to add rePROS (receipt for staked PROS) to your Bybit Wallet (for display purposes) after you finish staking. These tokens effectively serve as a receipt for your staked PROS.

Beginner

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How to complete Prosper tasks for Bybit Web3 Airdrop Arcade

Bybit celebrated the second anniversary of the Bybit Card at its Dubai headquarters, highlighting its rapid growth with over 1.5 million cards issued since launch.

The S&P 500 dropped 1.39%, entering correction territory amid Trump’s tariff threats and trade war concerns. Gold surged to a record $2,988, driven by trade uncertainty, recession fears, and Fed rate cut expectations. The Coindesk Indices, which tracks the broader crypto market, fell by 0.90%, with Bitcoin and Ether down by 3.36% and 2.63% in the past 24 hours. Trade these markets and more with up to 500x leverage on Bybit MT5 using this 

Today’s top performer is S, up 7.9% after 0xGasless launched AgentKit on Sonic, enabling AI-powered, gasless on-chain automation.

Sonic Labs (S), established in 2018, is an EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain built from Fantom, delivering over 10,000 transactions per second. Its native token, S, replaces FTM at a 1:1 ratio. The network prioritizes high performance, interoperability, and developer incentives. 

, enabling AI agents to execute on-chain actions with NLP-powered automation and gasless transactions via smart wallets. Developers can use Sonic AgentKit to build DeFi copilots or automate blockchain tasks and contribute custom tools through its open-source GitHub.

Check out the latest prices, charts, and data of 

Bybit celebrated the second anniversary of the 

 at its Dubai headquarters, highlighting its rapid growth with over 1.5 million cards issued since launch. The exchange announced a limited-edition Premium Metal Card coming in 2025, alongside enhanced user experience features such as an improved rewards program, stronger fraud protection, and wearables connectivity. Backed by Mastercard’s global network, the Bybit Card supports multiple cryptocurrencies and offers seamless payments at any Mastercard-accepting merchant. Bybit reaffirmed its commitment to expanding crypto financial solutions and bridging digital assets with everyday transactions.

Yesterday, BTC Spot ETFs saw $180.9M in net outflows, with GBTC losing $12.7M and non-GBTC funds dropping $168.2M.

 $EDGE tokens to active traders on Solana and EVM chains. Users who traded on Jupiter, Odos, Hyperliquid, and more can check eligibility and claim by depositing funds and trading $1K spot volume via TWAP. Airdrop claims open in 19 days, with a raffle for 500 users to win 100K $EDGE tokens.

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Bybit marks Bybit Card’s second anniversary with new features and expansion plans

Dogecoin Spot ETFs would offer a regulated vehicle for investors to capture Dogecoin's price movements without directly managing the cryptocurrency themselves.

 is defying expectations, transitioning from a crypto punchline to Wall Street legitimacy. In a landmark shift, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has formally acknowledged Spot ETF applications for DOGE from heavyweight asset managers, including Grayscale and Bitwise, potentially catapulting the Shiba Inu–themed token into regulated markets. 

 (ETFs) would cement Dogecoin’s status as a serious investment vehicle, challenging perceptions of meme coins as fleeting novelties. 

This article delves into the mechanics of a Dogecoin Spot ETF, the current state of applications, their impact on the crypto market and the broader implications of such financial instruments.

A Dogecoin Spot ETF is a proposed exchange-traded fund that would directly hold Dogecoin as its underlying asset, allowing investors to gain regulated exposure to DOGE’s price movements without owning the cryptocurrency outright.

A Dogecoin Spot ETF would mirror the price movements of Dogecoin by holding the cryptocurrency directly, thereby enabling investors to capture its market performance without the complexities of purchasing, storing or managing the digital asset themselves.

Asset managers — in this case, Bitwise and Grayscale — would securely store actual Dogecoin tokens in 

 that often use cold storage solutions to reduce hacking risks. This responsibility is entrusted to custodians such as Coinbase Custody, which would safeguard Bitwise's Dogecoin holdings. These custodians specialize in cryptocurrency storage and employ robust security measures, such as multi-signature wallets and offline storage, to ensure the fund's value remains closely aligned with Dogecoin's current market price, while protecting the assets from potential threats.

Authorized Participants — usually large financial institutions — play a key role in maintaining this alignment by facilitating the creation and redemption of ETF shares. When demand surges, these institutions purchase Dogecoin from the open market and deposit it into the fund in exchange for newly issued shares. Conversely, they redeem shares by returning them to the fund for an equivalent amount of Dogecoin. This dynamic mechanism helps ensure that the ETF’s share price consistently reflects the underlying asset’s value.

Once issued, Dogecoin Spot ETF Shares would be traded on traditional stock exchanges, providing investors with an established and secure platform to gain exposure to Dogecoin. The ETF’s net asset value (NAV) would be determined by a comprehensive pricing mechanism that continuously reflects the current market price of Dogecoin. This process relies on the 

, which aggregates data from multiple reputable cryptocurrency exchanges. 

Using this standardized reference, the ETF ensures that fluctuations in Dogecoin's price — driven by market supply, demand and investor sentiment — are accurately captured. Consequently, the NAV is updated in real time, so it would provide investors with a transparent and precise representation of the fund’s true market value.

With this structured approach, a prospective Dogecoin Spot ETF promises a streamlined, regulated avenue for investors to participate in the dynamic cryptocurrency market, seamlessly integrating digital asset exposure with traditional financial systems.

In January 2025, REX Shares (in collaboration with Osprey Funds) filed with the SEC, seeking approval for a Dogecoin Spot ETF. The following month, Grayscale Investments advanced its crypto offerings by submitting SEC Form 19b-4 to launch its own Dogecoin Spot ETF, signaling an intent to diversify beyond traditional assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Shortly thereafter, Bitwise Asset Management, Inc. filed both S-1 and 19b-4 registration forms for a similar ETF, with its proposed fund set to hold Dogecoin as the primary asset and determine its net asset value using the CF Dogecoin-Dollar Settlement Price benchmark.

The SEC has officially acknowledged these filings, initiating a comprehensive review process. The Commission is known for its cautious approach in approving cryptocurrency-based ETFs, due to concerns over market volatility, liquidity and investor protection. However, this acknowledgment suggests a willingness to assess the potential of integrating Dogecoin into regulated financial products. The approval process is expected to be methodical, potentially taking up to 240 days from the initial acknowledgment. Bloomberg analysts 

Despite these promising regulatory developments, market reaction has been mixed. While the filing of Dogecoin Spot ETF applications has generated significant interest among investors, Dogecoin’s price experienced a decline after an initial increase following the announcements, indicating that investor sentiment could be influenced by broader market dynamics beyond ETF-related news.

Current impact of Dogecoin Spot ETF applications on the crypto market

Following the ETF application announcements, Dogecoin's price experienced significant fluctuations. Initially, there was a surge in optimism, with 

 within 24 hours (as of Feb 14, 2025) as investors anticipated potential institutional adoption. However, this uptick was short-lived, and within a week, Dogecoin's price declined by over 7%. This retracement underscores the inherent volatility of the cryptocurrency market — and suggests that while ETF filings can boost confidence, they also introduce speculative dynamics that may lead to rapid price corrections.

This mix of enthusiasm and caution among investors reflects the duality of a market in transition, balancing prospects of institutional legitimacy and the realities of speculative volatility. On the one hand, potential approval of a Dogecoin Spot ETF is viewed as a gateway for mainstream and institutional investors to engage with DOGE, potentially leading to increased liquidity and market stability. On the other, the subsequent price decline following the ETF announcements indicates that the market remains sensitive to speculative trading and profit-taking behaviors. Investors are advised to approach such developments with a balanced perspective, considering both the opportunities and risks inherent in cryptocurrency markets.

What will it mean if a Dogecoin Spot ETF application is approved?

Should the SEC approve a Dogecoin Spot ETF, it would mark a significant milestone in legitimizing meme-based cryptocurrencies within a traditional financial structure. Such an ETF would allow investors to gain direct exposure to Dogecoin's price movements through traditional investment platforms, which in turn could lead to increased institutional participation as it provides a regulated and familiar investment vehicle for entities that may previously have been hesitant to invest directly in crypto.

The introduction of a Dogecoin ETF is anticipated to enhance the cryptocurrency's liquidity and market stability. By facilitating easier access for a broader investor base, the ETF could lead to higher trading volumes and reduced price volatility over time. The legitimacy conferred by regulatory approval could potentially bolster investor confidence and attract more capital inflows into Dogecoin.

Dogecoin Spot ETF approval could also set a precedent for other meme-based cryptocurrencies, such as 

 (SHIB), to pursue similar financial instruments. The Shiba Inu community has been actively advocating for a SHIB-based ETF, highlighting factors like strong diversification prospects and growing investor demand. Notably, after the Spot Ethereum ETF approvals in July 2024, Shiba Inu's pseudonymous lead developer, Shytoshi Kusama, hinted that SHIB could be next in line. 

As with a Dogecoin Spot ETF, the introduction of a Shiba Inu Spot ETF would provide investors with regulated exposure to SHIB, potentially increasing its adoption and market presence. However, the approval process for such ETFs is complex and subject to stringent regulatory scrutiny. While the SEC has approved ETFs for major cryptocurrencies Bitcoin and Ethereum, the path for altcoins like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu remains uncertain. Factors such as liquidity, market maturity and regulatory perspectives will play crucial roles in any approval process.

Looking to capture the market and trade DOGE tokens? Bybit offers the 

The approval of a Dogecoin Spot ETF would mark a watershed moment for meme cryptocurrencies, offering regulated access to Dogecoin’s price movements and potentially stabilizing its volatile market through institutional investments. While initial price surges and subsequent corrections highlight speculative risks, long-term benefits would likely include enhanced liquidity, legitimacy and broader investor adoption. This precedent could pave the way for altcoins like Shiba Inu to pursue similar ETFs, though regulatory hurdles and market maturity remain critical barriers. 

Ultimately, a Dogecoin Spot ETF would bridge meme-driven crypto culture with traditional finance, providing the much-beloved dog-themed Dogecoin with a previously unattainable level of credibility.

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Dogecoin Spot ETF: A giant leap for Dogecoin's legitimacy

Explainers

GameFi

Blockchain

Beam (BEAM) is a gaming-focused blockchain on Avalanche launched by Merit Circle, decentralized organization that supports and promotes web3 gaming platforms and initiatives.

Gaming is one of the fastest-growing niches within the blockchain industry. The 

) in 2021, continues to fuel growth in this highly competitive area. While blockchain gaming is currently dominated by the likes of

), there’s a brand-new contender on the block ready to take on these established giants.

Earlier this month, the gaming-focused decentralized autonomous organization (

) Merit Circle opened up public access to the Beam blockchain, its new platform. Beam aims to revolutionize the way blockchain games are developed and played. Operating as a subnet (subnetwork) of Avalanche, Beam offers fast execution times and low transaction fees for in-game asset trade and other common gaming-related operations.

 is a leading decentralized organization that supports and promotes 

 gaming platforms and initiatives. Using a completely decentralized governance model, the Merit Circle user community votes to invest treasury funds in various gaming projects and support the development of blockchain games. The DAO maintains four key verticals in its operations.

Beam (BEAM) is a gaming-focused blockchain recently launched by Merit Circle. One of the DAO’s major undertakings, Beam revolutionizes the way that blockchain is used for game development, player experience and gaming assets trade. Beam operates as a subnet on Avalanche (

). Since it’s integrated with LayerZero, an interoperability omnichain protocol, Beam allows the minting of all game assets as omnichain 

 so they can easily be transferred across chains.

Avalanche’s architecture can be used to launch subnet blockchains, which are sovereign network environments that leverage the base features of the Avalanche main chain yet are separate from it. The subnets maintain their own validator networks and core operational rules. At the same time, they utilize Avalanche’s core security mechanism and take advantage of the chain’s key features, such as fast transactions and low fees. Beam is among the most ambitious gaming projects launched as an Avalanche subnet.

The initial news of Merit Circle’s active work on a gaming platform surfaced in early 2023. In August, the DAO 

 to a limited cohort of game developers. Then, in early November, the project team announced the removal of a permissioned mode, with Beam finally becoming a public blockchain.

: Merit Circle’s Beam project should not be confused with an older crypto platform with the same name, BEAM (BEAM), a privacy-focused blockchain. The two projects use the same token ticker, BEAM, but differ with regard to the brand name capitalization (Beam for the focus of our article, and all-caps BEAM for the privacy platform).

Thanks to its leveraging Avalanche’s base architecture, Beam offers users an environment with fast processing times and low fees. Both advantages are critical for players and game developers alike, given the fast-paced nature of modern P2E games and the wide variety of in-game assets traded on them.

As a typical Avalanche subnet, Beam maintains its own set of validators. At the moment, there are only eight block validators on the platform’s 

. Since Beam has been open to the public for less than a month, the number of qualified validators will likely grow as the platform matures. While Avalanche subnets have their own validator sets, any validator on the vast public network can offer their resources to any subnet. As such, Beam might draw on the resources of the broader Avalanche platform to attract quality validators.

During the permissioned mode, when Beam was open to a select group of developers, it used the 

 (PoA) block validation method to process transactions. With PoA, a group of validators with a strong reputation or trusted credentials are given the responsibility of validating transaction blocks.

Early in its public mode era, Beam continues to operate as a PoA chain. Later in the year, Merit Circle plans to move the platform to the 

 (PoS) validation model, the default block validation method used by the Avalanche blockchain.

Being such a new platform, Beam currently has a small ecosystem comprising a few essential tools and applications. Over the coming months, as Beam grows and establishes itself on the market, its ecosystem will expand.

Despite being in its early stages of operation, Beam is already attracting pronounced interest from the gaming community. The blockchain’s 

 lists over 180 games, which will undoubtedly rise in number over the coming weeks and months.

The first game to launch live on Beam was 

, a card game set in a fantasy world. This was quickly followed by a rush of other titles and genres populating the platform. Currently, some of its popular games include 

, a move-to-earn (M2E) mobile game that encourages an active lifestyle; 

, an action role-playing game (ARPG) in which players traverse time and space; and 

, an AAA first-person shooter (FPS) whose players compete to survive and extract valuables in a band around the Earth known as The Zone.

The BEAM token is the Beam blockchain's native cryptocurrency. All the transaction fees on the network are paid in BEAM. When Beam fully transitions to the PoS validation model, BEAM tokens will also be used for staking. The platform's 

 rules specify that BEAM holders will be able to delegate funds to their preferred validator node and receive a portion of the block rewards generated.

Merit Circle DAO maintains its own crypto token, MC, which is crucial for the governance of the organization. However, upon launching Beam, Merit Circle announced a migration of MC tokens to BEAM at a fixed ratio of 1 MC to 100 BEAM. MC Holders will be able to migrate their funds to BEAM until Oct 26, 2024. After the migration is complete, BEAM token will acquire governance function as well, replacing MC in this capacity.

The BEAM crypto was launched on Oct 26, 2023, with a total supply of slightly less than 63 billion, of which over 44 billion are already in circulation. BEAM is a supply-capped token, with its maximum supply specified at exactly the same number as its total supply. In other words, minting additional BEAM isn’t in the cards of Merit Circle’s governance community.

As of Nov 24, 2023, the Beam token (BEAM) trades at $0.00853 (about $8.53 for 1,000 BEAM), which is 26.68% lower than its all-time high of $0.01163, attained on Oct 26, 2023, and 96.57% higher than its all-time low of $0.004338, registered on Oct 29, 2023.

BEAM is still taking its first steps in the market, but the token’s long-term outlook is already quite optimistic. DigitalCoinPrice 

 BEAM will reach $0.03 in 2025 and $0.089 in 2030, and CrowdWisdom 

 nearly the same rates ($0.0202 in 2025 and $0.0862 in 2030).

Is Merit Circle (BEAM) a Good Investment?

Although a very recent entrant in the market, BEAM is already shaping up as a major crypto gaming token. With a market cap of about $378 million, BEAM already features among the top 10 gaming-related cryptocurrencies — an achievement that has taken less than a month since its launch. Clearly, the gaming niche of the market is paying close attention to this newcomer. Some key factors pointing to the token’s good investment potential are as follows:

1. BEAM is among the first comprehensive gaming and game development platforms on the market. While projects like 

 space, these platforms are focused environments, dedicated to a single game. In contrast, the Beam blockchain is an all-in-one portal with scores of different games across a multitude of genres. The Beam platform is, therefore, well-positioned to become a major portal for P2E games, a kind of Google or Amazon of blockchain gaming.

2. Beam is also positioned to leverage the technical and cost efficiencies of the Avalanche environment. Most of the abovementioned crypto gaming platforms are based on 

 (ETH), a blockchain notorious for its network congestion and high gas fees.

3. Beam’s core business, crypto gaming, is an area poised for profound growth over the coming years. As the concept of the 

 matures and more games choose blockchain as their primary hosting environment, the BEAM token will benefit from this niche-wide expansion.

You can buy the BEAM token on Bybit, both on the Spot market (

). If you don’t yet have a Bybit account, you can easily 

 for one to trade hundreds of crypto assets and products in both Spot and Derivatives markets.

Beam by Merit Circle presents a novel way of using blockchain technology to facilitate game development and in-game asset management. This innovative project brings the capacity, expertise and ambition to act as a major crypto gaming portal/aggregator. Instead of focusing on one game, genre or category, Beam aims to become a comprehensive blockchain gaming universe. Supported by Merit Circle and its unique governance model, Beam is also poised to attract the interest of decentralization purists, crypto users and gamers who value truly community-driven platform management.

The market is already reacting positively to Beam's entry. In less than a month since its launch, Beam's market cap has skyrocketed to levels comparable to (if not yet the same as) established gaming coins. Early indicators are that Beam is about to take the market by storm. The year 2024 will be fascinating for Beam by Merit Circle — and the overall crypto gaming niche!

Beam by Merit Circle DAO (BEAM): The Ultimate Gaming Ecosystem

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