The profitability of futures trading depends on the choice of strategy, risk management, and market conditions. Here are the key success factors:
1. Trend following
Trading in the direction of the dominant trend increases the chances of profit. Use indicators such as moving averages (SMA) or ADX to identify trends. For example, crossing the 50-day SMA above the 200-day indicates the beginning of an upward trend. An adaptive trend-following strategy allows for position adjustments as market conditions change.
2. Breakout of levels with volume confirmation
Entering a trade upon the breakout of key support/resistance levels with increased volume raises the probability of success. For example, a breakout level against the backdrop of rising volume and an impulse candle often indicates a continuation of movement.
3. Counter-trend trading after divergence
Reversal signals, such as RSI or MACD divergence, allow entry into a counter-trend position. For example, if the price updates the maximum but the indicator does not, this may foreshadow a correction.
4. Use of calendar spreads
Professional traders earn on the price difference of futures with different expiration dates. For example, in contango (longer contracts are more expensive than shorter ones), one can sell the longer and buy the shorter.
5. Risk management
Be sure to set stop-losses (for example, 2% of capital per trade) and monitor the variation margin, which is recalculated daily. Maintaining a sufficient balance in the account helps avoid margin calls.
Cryptocurrencies for long positions in 2025
Market analysis and expert reports highlight the following crypto assets with growth potential:
1. Bitcoin (BTC)
- Reasons: Growth is expected after the April 2024 halving, which historically triggered bull markets. Institutional demand is supported by approved BTC ETFs.
- Forecast: The price could reach $180,000 by the end of 2025.
2. Ethereum (ETH)
- Reasons: The transition to Ethereum 2.0 improved scalability and reduced fees. The growth of the DeFi and NFT sectors strengthens demand.
- Risks: Volatility due to market overheating.
3. Solana (SOL)
- Reasons: High transaction speed (up to 65,000 TPS) and recovery from the 2022-2023 crisis. SOL capitalization is steadily growing.
- Forecast: The price could reach $515.
4. Mantra (OM)
- Reasons: Tokenization of real assets (RWA) is a key trend of 2025. In the first quarter, OM showed a 62% growth.
- Forecast: The price could exceed $8.
5. Hybrid stablecoins (USDe, PAXG)
- Reasons: USDe from Ethena is backed by BTC/ETH futures, which reduces volatility. Gold-backed stablecoins (PAXG, XAUT) are growing against the backdrop of record gold prices (+19% since the beginning of the year).
Recommendations for traders
- For futures: Use trend strategies for BTC or ETH if growth is expected after the halving or network updates. For counter-trend, consider overheated assets such as meme coins.
- For cryptocurrencies: Diversify your portfolio — combine low-risk BTC/ETH with high-potential SOL or OM. Keep an eye on news regarding regulation and technological updates.
- Preparation: Analyze pre-market, test strategies on historical data, and keep a trading journal.
Remember that even promising assets require strict risk management. For example, for Solana, despite its high potential, increased volatility is characteristic.