At least not for customers of First Global Credit's 'Bitcoin as collateral' stock trading services who now have the option of using their new Currency Switch Service to move that collateral into one of four Fiat currencies (USD, EUR, GBP of CHF.) This means shrewd investors can hold onto their profitable stock market trades while moving their margin capital into fiat currency, buying back their Bitcoins at a more advantageous price later on.

First Global Credit clients are really using the value of their Bitcoins in 2 ways at the same time, maximizing the asset's potential. The stock or commodity positions the customer holds do not need to be closed to perform the Currency Switch; the existing trades will just now be secured by the Fiat currency in the account instead of Bitcoins. When the trader feels the moment is right they can switch back into Bitcoins at the current rate. A modest transaction commission of 0.1 percent is charged if the trader is a price maker; placing an offer above the market or a bid below the market, or 0.2% if the order is 'at market,' wherever the market is currently trading.

Bitcoin's price has recently been subject to substantial volatility and has at times in the last few weeks lost or gained as much as 20% of its value in a single day. This can expose those holding Bitcoins to considerable risk if they can't divest themselves quickly enough to protect their portfolio's value.

"The Currency Switch Service provides a benefit over other Bitcoin Exchanges by allowing our customers to actively trade both stocks and Bitcoin movements with the same collateral, doubling their opportunities and increasing the potential for portfolio growth," stated Marcie Terman, Communications Director at First Global Credit. "This service supports both customers that want to enhance their returns and customers that are concerned about short term exposure to Bitcoin's price fluctuations."