TL;DR:
A negative FIAT balance is normal when following CoinTracking’s recommended portfolio management method. It represents the amount you’ve spent on crypto (your cost basis) minus any realized FIAT gains—not the actual fiat held on your exchange.
Why Am I Seeing Negative FIAT?
When you log trades without adding corresponding FIAT deposits, CoinTracking interprets the outflow of FIAT as an expense toward your crypto purchases.
Example 1 – Buying BTC:
You buy 1 BTC for $1,000 (no USD deposit entered).
Result:
+1 BTC (= $1,000)
-1,000 USD (= $1,000 spent)
Total value: $0
The negative USD shows you’ve invested that amount into crypto, not that you “owe” it.
Example 2 – Selling BTC:
You later sell that BTC for $1,650.
Result:
0 BTC
+650 USD (profit after recovering initial investment)
Total value: $650
Your FIAT balance moves from negative to positive as you realize gains.
What the Negative Value Represents
It is: Your cumulative fiat spent on crypto minus realized FIAT gains.
It is not: Your actual cash balance on exchanges.
This method accurately tracks investment performance but may display a “red bar” for FIAT balances.
Alternatives If You Don’t Want a Negative FIAT Display
Enter FIAT deposits manually for each exchange to offset trades (not recommended for performance tracking accuracy).
Enable FIAT imports in API jobs by editing the API settings and toggling the “Import FIAT transactions” option on.
Recommendation
Stick with the negative FIAT method for accurate gain/loss tracking, even if it looks counterintuitive—it’s the most precise reflection of your investment history.