Bitget TradFi 101: What is an Index?
Welcome to the Bitget TradFi 101 series. This series is made for crypto users and explains traditional finance (TradFi) in plain language. With just USDT and one Bitget account, you can easily trade global indices, gold, forex, and more—no brokerage account needed and no fiat exchange needed. Today, let's talk about indices—super straightforward and easy to understand!
What is an index?
Imagine you want to know how the overall stock market is doing today, but there are thousands of stocks out there—you can't check one by one. An index is a tool that "packages and summarizes" the market for you. It's like a big basket that holds dozens to hundreds of representative stocks. It then calculates their overall performance and tells you with one number:
● If the number goes up, the market is generally rising.
● If the number goes down, the market is generally falling.
For example:
Instead of buying shares in Apple, Microsoft, Google, and every other stock, you can just trade the index and get exposure to the entire U.S. tech sector at once.
On Bitget TradFi, you can trade index CFDs (contracts for difference) directly with USDT, with leverage of up to 500×. You can open a position with just a few USDT, making it very beginner-friendly.
Key indices to watch
As a beginner, focus on these major market benchmarks—they represent the world's most influential and active economies:
| Ranking | Index name | Region | Companies in index | What it reflects | Tradable on Bitget TradFi? |
| 1 | Dow Jones Industrial Average index | United States | 30 mega-corporations | Performance of the oldest and most prestigious 30 companies | Yes |
| 2 | S&P 500 index | United States | 500 largest companies | The average performance of the overall U.S. stock market; the most representative | Yes |
| 3 | Nasdaq index | United States (Technology) | Over 3000 companies, primarily technology-focused | The "report card" for tech, internet, and AI companies | Yes (commonly Nasdaq 100) |
| 4 | Nikkei 225 index | Japan | 225 leading companies | Japan's premier stock market benchmark, performing strongly lately | Yes |
| 5 | Hang Seng index | Hong Kong, China | Around 80–90 top firms | Performance of top Chinese mainland and Hong Kong companies (many China stocks included) | Yes |
● The U.S. big three—the world's most popular and influential benchmarks:
S&P 500: It tracks 500 top U.S. companies (Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, etc.). It's widely seen as the barometer of the U.S. economy. Current level: 6966.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: As the classic, longest-running index, it follows 30 giants (Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, etc.). Current level: 49,504.
Nasdaq 100: It concentrates on 100 leading tech stocks (NVIDIA, Tesla, etc.), where you find high-growth momentum. Current level: 23,671.
● Japan's Nikkei 225:
It represents Japan's economic powerhouse with firms like Toyota and Sony. Already in Tokyo? You won't miss it then. Current level: 51,940.
● Hong Kong's Hang Seng index:
It captures major Hong Kong companies, including top Chinese names like Tencent and Meituan. It connects Chinese mainland with global markets, known for its dynamic moves. Current level: 26,232.
Tips:
Open the Bitget app, go to the TradFi section, and view real-time quotes and charts for all these indices.
How to trade traditional indices on Bitget
Bitget TradFi brings these global indices to you in a familiar futures format, all settled in USDT. No extra overseas accounts, no forex hassle. With Bitget TradFi, you can:
● Go long or short on S&P 500, Nasdaq, Nikkei 225, Hang Seng, and more—using only USDT.
● Start small—even 10–20 USDT can get you in (use leverage wisely and manage risk).
● Switch seamlessly in one account: trade Bitcoin in the morning, watch the Nikkei in the afternoon, and catch U.S. stock indices at night.
Bottom line:
An index essentially tells the market's overall performance. If you understand index, you understand the overall market. With Bitget TradFi, crypto traders can easily tap into global market trends through a wide range of indices.
