Crypto trading 101: A beginner’s guide to profit making

Trading crypto involves buying and selling coins and predicting their future price movements. It is done using a CFD (Contract for Difference) trading account or exchange. This post will examine all of the paths a cryptocurrency trader can take. It describes and weighs the pros and cons of day trading, high-frequency trading (HFT), futures trading, dollar-cost averaging, and scalping. For anyone wondering how to learn crypto trading, this post is the answer.

Understanding the basics of crypto trading

In recent years, many key financial institutions have included crypto in their portfolios. As a result, cryptocurrencies seem to increasingly be making an appearance in the investment portfolios of individuals too. Given this scenario, it’s high time you get your basics of crypto trading sorted. And we’re here to help you do just that.

What is crypto trading?

Cryptocurrency trading or crypto trading is essentially the buying and selling of cryptocurrencies via an exchange. However, the term also refers to speculative trading, where you don’t actually hold the asset but earn by speculating correctly about its future price movement.

Types of crypto trading strategies

There are many strategies a trader could use to begin trading in crypto. We discuss some of them below.

1. Day trading: Day trading in crypto is when you enter and exit a market position quickly on trading hours of the same day. Because deals are frequently initiated and completed within a single day, they are also referred to as intraday trading.

2. Arbitrage trading: To benefit from their cryptocurrency trading tactics, traders rely on arbitrage possibilities. In the arbitrage trading strategy, a trader buys crypto via one market and sells it in another.

3. Crypto futures trading: This type of trading involves an agreement between two parties. Each party agrees to purchase/sell a certain amount of the base crypto at a preset future value on a preset date and time.

4. HODLing: The name of this investing strategy stems from a misspelling of “hold.” The strategy entails people purchasing cryptos and holding them for an extended period.

5. High-Frequency Trading (HFT): To facilitate a crypto asset’s quick entrance and exit, this technique requires the development of trading bots and algorithms.

6. Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA): This strategy involves traders gaining from market advances without putting their assets at risk. They invest some predetermined money at periodic intervals but in modest increments.

7. Scalping: Scalpers profit from market inefficiencies by increasing trade volume to turn a profit.

Getting started with crypto trading

Finding a reputable crypto exchange platform and setting up an account are the initial steps in cryptocurrency trading. Before selecting a platform, there are numerous things to consider, including security, usability, the number of supported assets, and many more.

Choosing a crypto exchange

There are so very many crypto exchanges out there to choose from. It can be pretty confusing to know which one to pick. Here are some steps to guide you while choosing one.

1. Safety and security

Despite the abundance of technological advancements, the crypto business is still in its infancy. And in India, it is unregulated. So you need to take steps to ensure you pick an exchange that has been in the business for a while and has taken measures to ensure the safety of your crypto. This is especially crucial because many exchanges don’t let you withdraw the crypto you buy/move it to another platform. Make sure they also have a KYC procedure because it shields you to some extent.

Also, check if your exchange has an insurance policy to secure traders in the event of a hack.

2. Verify how many coins you can trade

Exchanges usually do not host every single crypto out there. So while selecting a reliable crypto exchange, look for a site that supports most of the popular cryptos and the ones you are keen on trading.

3. Know the fiat currency support available

Some trading platforms may not support some fiat currencies. Therefore, you must ensure that the exchange you choose supports the fiat currency of your choice.

4. Make sure you are familiar with the fee structure

Customers can anticipate fees of some kind for crypto exchange transactions. This covers trading, balance transfers, deposits, and withdrawals. You can read more about the fees involved here.

5. Ensure regulation adherence

Knowing where the crypto exchange is authorized to function in your area is another essential factor to consider.

Setting up a crypto wallet

If your exchange lets you move your holdings or store your private key externally, looking for a good crypto wallet is your next step. Creating a crypto wallet is quick and easy. And it only involves a few basic steps.

1. Choose a software wallet application.

Finding and selecting the best software wallet provider is the first step. Such solutions tend to come with varying levels of security, accessibility, customer service, and cost. Look into each of these factors before making your decision.

2. Install the wallet app on your PC or smartphone.

The next step is installing the wallet application on your computer or smartphone. This shouldn’t take too long, and most apps guide you through.

3. Create a profile

The good thing about many electronic wallets is that setting up an account is not too complicated. The first time you open the app after installing it, a prompt to guide you will usually appear.

4. Transfer property/assets

After creating your wallet, you may add BTC or some other crypto. This frequently entails moving the crypto from an exchange to your digital wallet.

Setting up risk management and profit-taking strategies

Risk management should not be something you do later in the game. You should start with a few tips in mind. We discuss a few basic ones below.

1. Employ a variety of time frames: Newbies frequently work with a single time frame without recognizing the overall market trend. Using various time frame analytical methods helps prevent tunnel vision.

2. Position Measurement: Position size, or trade volume, is another strategy used to keep safe in crypto trading. To determine the position size that’s right for you, look at the perceived risk and account size. More about this here.

3. Use stop-loss: Stop-loss orders can help close off unsuccessful trades before there is too much damage. Investors use this type of order to control the impact of negative outcomes.

You can read about other risk management strategies here.

Understanding market analysis and technical indicators

Looking for crypto trading tips can aid in removing biases from your decision-making. But rather than relying on the judgment of others, it sure helps if you could analyze the market somewhat objectively yourself. The two most common approaches to help traders do this are crypto technical and fundamental analysis.

Fundamental analysis is about examining a project, its founders, and its history. You can learn more about it here.

Technical analysis, on the other hand, relies on technical indicators. The fundamental idea behind using these indicators is that studying past price behavior may provide clues as to how the market will behave in the future. You can learn more about it here.

You don’t need to ace these techniques when you’re starting out, but having a basic understanding of how to use them will surely help.

Advanced techniques for maximizing profit

Cryptos are gaining popularity every day. And if you’re already in the game, it’s critical that you comprehend how to optimize your income—whether you’re mining cryptocurrencies or selling them on marketplaces.

Employing margin and leverage in crypto trading

When you feel a little more confident about your trades, you could use these options to increase the amount you trade with. Margin trading involves borrowing money from a broker for investing.

Using an algorithmic trading bot

You could look at an algorithmic trading bot to up your trading game. Such trading robots operate on computer code. They can create and carry out buy and sell recommendations in financial markets.

Keeping up with the latest crypto market news and developments

As an advanced trader, you definitely want to keep up with the latest news and developments in the financial world. Every change can impact the price of your crypto and should be factored into your strategy. While doing this, ensure you pick reliable news sources such as Decrypt, CoinDesk, and The Block.

Conclusion

When it comes to crypto trading, there are no best and worst methods. What might work for you may not work for someone else. So it would be good to initially concentrate on your personal financial goals You could begin with day trading and use some good software to trade cryptocurrencies. Pick the trading signs you want to employ and familiarize yourself with the basics of crypto trading.

Also, always be conscious of the equities in your portfolio and the amount of risk you are comfortable with.

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