Bitcoin vs Micro Bitcoin
Same underlying, different size: one BTC equals 50 MBT.
Margins as of Specs checked as of How we source this
| BTC | MBT | |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange | Chicago Mercantile Exchange | Chicago Mercantile Exchange |
| Contract unit | 5 bitcoin | 0.1 bitcoin |
| Tick size | 5 | 5 |
| Tick value | $25 | $0.50 |
| One point | $5 | $0.10 |
| Initial margin | $97,066.20 | $1,941.50 |
| Maintenance margin | $88,242 | $1,765 |
| Settlement | Cash | Cash |
| Contract months | Jan (F), Feb (G), Mar (H), Apr (J), May (K), Jun (M), Jul (N), Aug (Q), Sep (U), Oct (V), Nov (X), Dec (Z) | Jan (F), Feb (G), Mar (H), Apr (J), May (K), Jun (M), Jul (N), Aug (Q), Sep (U), Oct (V), Nov (X), Dec (Z) |
| Front contract | BTCX26, roll by 19 Nov 2026 | MBTX26, roll by 19 Nov 2026 |
| Trading hours | CME Globex. Sunday open 17:00 CT, Friday close 16:00 CT, 60-minute daily maintenance break. | CME Globex. Sunday open 17:00 CT, Friday close 16:00 CT, 60-minute daily maintenance break. |
How they compare
Bitcoin (BTC) and Micro Bitcoin (MBT) track the same underlying on Chicago Mercantile Exchange. The difference is size. One point is worth $5 on BTC and $0.10 on MBT, so one BTC carries the same exposure as 50 MBT contracts. Ticks are 5 on BTC, worth $25, and 5 on MBT, worth $0.50.
Exchange initial margin is $97,066.20 for BTC and $1,941.50 for MBT, a ratio of 50.0 to 1. Margins are set product by product, so they don't always scale exactly with contract size. Both trade the same hours (CME Globex. Sunday open 17:00 CT, Friday close 16:00 CT, 60-minute daily maintenance break).
The practical difference is granularity. With MBT, position size moves in steps of $0.50 per tick rather than $25, which matters when the amount you are prepared to lose at a given stop isn't a whole number of BTC contracts. Commissions and exchange fees are charged per contract, so 50 MBT usually cost more to trade than one BTC; check both with your broker, along with liquidity at the times you trade.
Size a position on either with the BTC calculators or the MBT calculators.
Questions
- How many MBT equal one BTC?
- 50. One BTC point is worth $5; one MBT point is worth $0.10.
- What is the margin difference between BTC and MBT?
- Exchange initial margin is $97,066.20 for BTC and $1,941.50 for MBT (as of 27 Oct 2026).
- Do BTC and MBT trade the same hours?
- Yes.