How to Calculate Price Changes for Crypto Assets

Understanding Price Change Metrics in Crypto Trading

When trading crypto assets, monitoring price movements is essential. Most trading platforms display a "24-hour price change" metric to help users track performance. While terminology may vary (e.g., "price change" vs. "gain/loss"), the core calculation method remains consistent. This guide explores how these metrics work and how to interpret them.

1. Calculation Standards Across Platforms

Different exchanges use varying benchmarks to calculate price changes:

• OKEx: Uses rolling 24-hour windows
• Huobi: Calculates from Beijing time 00:00 daily
• International exchanges: May use UTC or local time zones

The rolling 24-hour method provides continuous real-time data without timezone restrictions, making it the most widely adopted standard.

👉 Compare trading platforms' calculation methods

2. Step-by-Step Calculation Methods

For Rolling 24-Hour Calculations:

Current Price - Price 24 Hours Ago
---------------------------------- × 100%
       Price 24 Hours Ago

Example:
If EOS trades at $23 now versus $25 exactly 24 hours ago:

($23 - $25)/$25 × 100% = -8%  

This shows an 8% decline.

For Fixed-Time Calculations (e.g., 00:00 Daily):

Same formula using the day's opening price as the baseline.

3. Key Considerations

1. Price discrepancies: Identical assets may show different percentages across exchanges due to:

   • Varying calculation standards
   • Local price differences
2. Real-time vs. snapshot data: Rolling calculations reflect continuous market movement better than periodic benchmarks.

FAQ Section

Q1: Why do exchanges show different percentages for the same asset?

A: Variations occur due to different calculation timeframes and local market prices.

Q2: Which calculation method is most accurate?

A: The rolling 24-hour method better reflects real-time market conditions without timezone bias.

Q3: How often do these percentages update?

A: Continuously—every price change affects the calculation instantly.

Q4: Do stablecoins show 0% change?

A: Ideally yes, but minor fluctuations (<0.1%) may occur due to market dynamics.

Strategic Implications for Traders

1. Context matters: Always check which standard an exchange uses before interpreting percentages
2. Cross-platform analysis: Compare metrics from multiple exchanges for comprehensive insights
3. Trend awareness: Focus on sustained movements rather than temporary spikes

👉 Master crypto trading strategies

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.