Understanding your trading performance starts with accurate cost tracking. In a Unified Trading Account (UTA), the Spot Cost serves as a critical metric for evaluating your real-time position in spot markets. It represents the average cost basis of an asset during a specific calculation cycle, helping traders assess profitability with greater clarity. This guide walks you through how Spot Cost is calculated, how to view it, and when and how you can adjust it—ensuring you maintain control over your trading analytics.
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What Is Spot Cost?
Spot Cost is the weighted average price at which you've acquired a particular digital asset across various trading methods within the UTA framework. It dynamically updates based on your trading activity and is used to calculate your unrealized Profit and Loss (P&L) and P&L %.
Key Features of Spot Cost
- Reflects trades from Spot Trading, Spot Margin Trading, Convert, and OTC.
- Excludes deposits, withdrawals, and transfers.
- Reset conditions: when asset balance ≤ 0 or Net Buy Qty. ≤ 0.
- Denominated in USD, with prices converted to USDT for uniformity.
This metric empowers traders to make data-driven decisions by offering a realistic picture of entry points and performance over time.
How Is Spot Cost Calculated?
The calculation follows a precise formula that accounts for trade volume, price, fees, and net position changes.
Core Calculation Formula
Spot Cost =
(Original Spot Cost × Original Net Buy Qty. + Last Buy Price × Last Buy Qty.) /
(Original Net Buy Qty. + Last Buy Qty. − Trading Fees)
Where:
Net Buy Qty. = Buy Qty. − Sell Qty. − Trading Fees
Rules Governing Calculation
- Stablecoins & fiat currencies: Not calculated; displayed as "--".
- Trading fees: Deducted from quantities, affecting both Net Buy Qty. and final cost basis.
- Price conversion: All buy prices are converted into USDT before computation.
- Cycle-based resets: A new cycle begins only when the asset balance exceeds zero after hitting zero or negative.
Profitability Metrics Derived from Spot Cost
| Metric | Formula |
|---|---|
| P&L | (Last Price − Spot Cost) × Net Buy Qty. |
| P&L % | (Last Price − Spot Cost) / Spot Cost |
These values update in real time, reflecting current market prices against your calculated cost basis.
Practical Example: Tracking BTC Spot Cost Over Time
Let’s follow Alice’s trading journey to see how Spot Cost evolves with different actions.
- Initial Deposit: Alice deposits 10 BTC.
→ No impact on Spot Cost (remains 0). - Spot Buy: She buys 1 BTC at 70,000 USDT (0.1% fee).
→ Net Buy Qty.: 0.999 BTC
→ Spot Cost: ~70,070.07 USD - OTC Sale: Sells 1 BTC for 80,000 USDT.
→ Net Buy Qty. drops below zero → resets to 0
→ Spot Cost resets to 0; cycle ends. - Convert Purchase: Exchanges 90,000 USDT for 1 BTC (no fees).
→ New cycle starts → Spot Cost = 90,000 USD - OTC Buy: Acquires 1 BTC for 30 ETH (valued at 99,000 USDT).
→ New weighted average: (90,000 + 99,000) / 2 = 94,500 USD - Transfer Out: Moves 1 BTC to Funding Account.
→ Balance still > 0 → Spot Cost unchanged - Further Transfer: Sends another 10 BTC out → balance drops to 0.999
→ Net Buy Qty. adjusts down to match available balance - Margin Sell: Sells 2 BTC via Spot Margin → balance goes negative
→ Spot Cost resets to 0; cycle ends - New Convert Buy: Buys 4 BTC for 400,000 USDT
→ New cycle begins → Spot Cost = 100,000 USD
This example illustrates how diverse trading behaviors influence cost tracking across platforms and products.
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How to View Your Spot Cost
Accessing your Spot Cost is simple and intuitive:
- Log into your trading app.
- Navigate to Trade → Spot.
- Scroll down and tap Assets.
- Locate the asset of interest—the Spot Cost, P&L, and P&L % will be displayed clearly.
You’ll also notice:
- Base and quote currencies always visible
- Tokens under 0.0001 BTC (~$8.20 at $82k/BTC) hidden
- Assets sorted by USD value (descending)
This layout ensures quick access to high-value holdings while maintaining clean interface usability.
How and When to Adjust Spot Cost
While the system auto-calculates Spot Cost using on-platform data since February 12, 2025, discrepancies may occur due to off-platform activity or manual record mismatches.
When Adjustment Is Possible
- Asset balance must be greater than zero
- You can modify both Spot Cost and Net Buy Qty.
- Net Buy Qty. cannot exceed available balance
Steps to Adjust
- Go to Assets section in the Spot tab.
- Tap the edit icon next to the Spot Cost value.
Enter new values for:
- Spot Cost (up to 18 decimal places supported)
- Net Buy Qty. (if needed)
- Tap Save.
- Confirm recalculated P&L and P&L % in the pop-up.
- Tap Confirm — adjustment is irreversible.
Once saved, your updated metrics will reflect immediately in your portfolio overview.
⚠️ Note: Manual adjustments are final. Ensure accuracy before confirming.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Does depositing crypto affect my Spot Cost?
A: No. Deposits do not count toward Spot Cost calculations. Only trades executed on the platform are included.
Q: Why does my Spot Cost show "--"?
A: This appears for stablecoins/fiat currencies or when the asset balance or Net Buy Qty. is zero or negative—indicating no active cycle.
Q: Can I adjust Spot Cost if I have no balance?
A: No. Adjustment is only allowed when your asset balance is greater than zero.
Q: Are OTC trades included in the calculation?
A: Yes, both OTC buys and sells are factored in, though no fees are applied for OTC transactions.
Q: How often is Spot Cost updated?
A: It updates in real time after every qualifying trade within the current calculation cycle.
Q: What happens if I transfer assets out?
A: As long as the remaining balance > 0, Spot Cost remains unchanged. If balance falls below Net Buy Qty., the latter adjusts downward accordingly.
👉 See how professional-grade tools streamline cost tracking and boost trading efficiency.
Final Thoughts
Mastering the concept of Spot Cost in a Unified Trading Account gives traders a powerful edge in managing their portfolios effectively. By understanding how it's calculated, knowing where to find it, and learning when manual adjustments are appropriate, you gain deeper insight into your true trading performance.
Whether you're analyzing long-term holdings or fine-tuning short-term strategies, accurate cost basis tracking is foundational. Use this knowledge to stay ahead of market movements and make smarter, more informed decisions—every time you trade.
Core Keywords:
Spot Cost, Unified Trading Account, Net Buy Qty, P&L calculation, spot trading metrics, average cost basis, trading fee impact