Key Mistakes to Avoid When Trading Crypto Futures in a Bull Market
The crypto bull market is an exciting and rare occurrence. The surge in prices feels like a thrilling roller coaster ride, and every trade seems to generate significant profits. Traders eagerly share their exceptional returns on social media and within their personal networks, contributing to an overwhelmingly positive market sentiment. However, the exuberance of a bull market can lead to mistakes.
In a happy and successful time when markets are doing well, it’s important to be aware of possible problems. Even though the fear of making mistakes shouldn’t stop you from investing, it’s smart to learn from history and other people’s experiences to make good investment decisions.
Here are some mistakes that crypto traders often make in a good market, and how best to avoid them.
1.Avoid High Leverage Trading
One of the most important rules for successful crypto trading in a bull market is to avoid high leverage. While leverage trading can amplify potential profits, it also significantly increases the risk of substantial losses. Leverage allows traders to borrow money to increase their position size, potentially leading to higher returns. However, it comes with the inherent risk of liquidation if the market moves unfavorably.
Leverage magnifies both gains and losses, making it a double-edged sword. When using leverage, traders need to be vigilant about their liquidation threshold — the point at which the exchange may forcibly close their position to recover borrowed funds. High leverage increases the likelihood of liquidation, especially during volatile market conditions.
For example, some of the most significant crypto hedge funds, such as 3ac and Alameda, collapsed due to factors like high leverage. Retail traders should take heed from these institutional failures and prioritize the safety of their investments over the allure of quick gains.
2. Falling in Love with Your Coins
Another common mistake in a bull market is falling in love with your coins. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of a particular narrative or investment trend, but it’s essential to differentiate between investing based on narrative and fundamental value.
Investing based on narrative involves following the latest trends or hypes, such as decentralized finance (DeFi), gaming coins, or metaverse projects. While narratives drive market sentiment, they can be short-lived, and investments based solely on them may lead to losses when the hype fades.
Fundamental value, on the other hand, involves assessing factors like project valuations, team performance, token revenue share, and overall project viability. Successful long-term investments require a clear plan, including take-profit targets, stop-loss levels, investment time frames, and risk management strategies.
3. Trying to Catch the Bottom or Top
Timing the market, specifically trying to catch the bottom or top of a trend, is a common mistake made by both novice and experienced traders. Predicting market highs and lows accurately is extremely challenging, and attempting to do so can lead to missed opportunities and increased risk.
Rather than trying to time the market, a more prudent strategy is dollar-cost averaging (DCA). DCA involves regularly investing a fixed amount over time, reducing the impact of market volatility on overall returns. This approach helps mitigate emotional decision-making and ensures a more disciplined investment strategy.
4. Changing Asset Allocation Based on Recent Returns
During a bull market, the temptation to change asset allocation based on recent impressive returns can be strong. However, this decision should be approached with caution, as market conditions can change rapidly.
Asset allocation is a long-term strategy that should be based on careful consideration and financial goals. Making impulsive changes to asset allocation based on short-term market movements can expose investors to unnecessary risks. Instead, investors should establish a well-thought-out allocation plan and make adjustments judiciously.
5. Withdraw from the Crypto Exchange After Trading
Truth is, cryptocurrency exchanges, regardless of how secure they might be, are still notorious for security vulnerabilities. With examples of hacks, mismanagement, exit scams, or unexpected regulatory interventions, currently happening it is important to withdraw your funds from the exchange after completing your trades. The common saying “not your keys, not your Bitcoin” emphasizes the importance of securing your assets independently to mitigate potential losses.
6. Don’t Use Trading Signal Services
Be wary of trading coaches and signal services that emerge during bull markets. While some may offer courses and signals, many are scams that lead to significant financial losses. Instead of relying on unverified services, opt for safer learning methods, such as free courses, reading educational materials, and practicing on demo accounts to develop your trading skills independently.
7. Perform In-Depth Research
The cryptocurrency industry, being relatively young, attracts scammers seeking to exploit inexperienced retail investors. Conduct thorough research before investing in any project or token. Learn from the mistakes of past bull markets, where scams and dubious investment opportunities proliferated. Due diligence is crucial in understanding the legitimacy and potential risks associated with any investment.
Wrapping Up
Navigating a crypto bull market requires a combination of vigilance, security measures, and informed decision-making. By avoiding these common mistakes, investors can better position themselves to capitalize on opportunities while minimizing risks. Also, a strategic and disciplined approach, coupled with continuous learning and adaptability, is key to navigating the dynamic world of crypto trading.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of the writer and not of this platform.
