Lessons from Losing Capital in Futures Trading.
My futures trading account was completely wiped out after engaging in four trades. The first was in "Hive," yielding a 385% return, making it a very profitable trade. The second was in "Solana," which also showed good performance. The third was in "Sui," where I made some profits. However, the fourth and final trade was in "Bitcoin," which led to my account being zeroed out because I didn't set a stop loss. Initially, this trade saw a 112% increase, but I left the trades unattended while dealing with personal matters, neglecting to set a stop loss for the Bitcoin trade, which ultimately resulted in a total loss of capital.
How to Avoid Such Mistakes:
Use Stop Loss Orders:
Always set a stop loss for each trade to protect your capital from sudden market swings. You can specify a price level at which your trade will automatically close to minimize losses.
Risk Management:
Don't invest in trades beyond what you can afford to lose. Diversify your capital across multiple trades rather than putting it all into one to reduce risk.
Continuous Monitoring:
Don't leave trades unchecked. Use trading alerts or applications to warn you of significant price movements. If you're preoccupied, ensure you have a stop loss in place so trades close automatically if prices move against you.
Market Analysis:
Before entering any trade, analyze the market carefully. Understanding current trends and news that could affect prices can help in making more accurate decisions.
Updating Portfolio Balances and Trades:
In the event of a loss, regularly update your portfolio balances. Use tools provided by trading platforms to download current data and update balances. For open trades, consider closing them promptly or updating the stop loss if one isn't set.
By implementing these strategies, you can avoid significant losses and enhance your performance in cryptocurrency trading.