XAUUSDT (Gold Crypto) vs XAUUSD (spot gold): what is the difference?

The short answer

	XAUUSD (spot gold, CFD)	XAUUSDT (gold perpetual future)
Where it trades	Forex/CFD brokers, quoted over the counter	Crypto derivatives exchanges
Settled in	Your account currency	USDT (a dollar stablecoin)
Size	Usually 1 lot = 100 troy ounces	Usually quoted in ounces; check the contract specification
Holding cost	Overnight swap	Funding payments, typically every few hours
Trading costs	Spread (+ commission on some accounts)	Maker/taker fees on each side + spread
Expiry	None	None (perpetual)
Main risks	Leverage, broker risk	Leverage, liquidation, funding, exchange and stablecoin risk

Why the prices differ a little

A perpetual's price is kept close to spot gold by the funding rate: when the perpetual trades above spot, buyers pay sellers, and the other way round. The gap is usually small, but it means levels, highs and lows can differ by a few dollars from a broker's XAUUSD chart, and more at weekends or in fast markets. When you use levels from an XAUUSD analysis, compare them with your own chart before placing orders.

Position size works the same way

The principle doesn't change: decide the money you can lose, then let the stop distance set the size. On a 100-ounce lot, a $1 move is $100 per lot. On a contract quoted in ounces, a $1 move is $1 per ounce. Include the fees: on exchanges they are a percentage of the position value on each side. Our position size calculator handles both, including percentage fees.

Liquidation and funding

• Liquidation: if losses eat into your margin far enough, the exchange closes the position automatically, sometimes before your stop is reached if leverage is high.
• Funding: holding for days adds or subtracts funding payments. For short-term trades it is usually minor; for swing trades it adds up.

Rules for traders in India

Residents of India may not trade forex or CFDs, including spot gold CFDs, through offshore platforms under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, and the RBI publishes an Alert List of unauthorised platforms. Crypto is not banned in India: exchanges serving Indians must register with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND), gains on crypto assets are taxed at 30%, and 1% TDS applies to many transfers. Some FIU-registered exchanges, such as Binance, list USDT-settled contracts like XAUUSDT and BTCUSDT. Regulation of crypto derivatives is still evolving, so check what is permitted for you and speak to a tax professional. More detail: Is forex trading legal in India?

Mentioning an exchange is not an endorsement or a recommendation to use it.

Practise before you commit money

Our free paper trading simulator uses live XAUUSDT and BTCUSDT prices with exchange-style fees, so you can practise sizing, stops and funding-free entries with virtual money first.