I lost over 10 USDT while trading ERA — that kind of sudden loss can be frustrating, especially if it happened in a flash. Let's break down possible reasons and how you can avoid it next time:
⚠️ Why You Might Have Lost So Fast:
1. Low Liquidity / High Slippage
ERA may not have deep liquidity on all exchanges. If you placed a market order, even a small trade can cause a large price swing, resulting in buying high and selling low instantly.
2. High Volatility / Pump-Dump Movement
ERA might be exposed to pump-and-dump schemes — big players (whales) spike the price and sell quickly, leaving small traders stuck.
3. Leverage Trading
If you were trading with leverage (e.g., 10x or 20x), even a 1% move against you could liquidate your position in seconds.
4. Fake Breakouts / Bot Activity
Bots can front-run or react to fake technical patterns, causing spikes or crashes in low-cap tokens like ERA.
5. Spread Between Bid/Ask Prices
If the token has a wide spread, you might buy high and sell low immediately, especially using market orders.
✅ How to Avoid Future Losses:
Use Limit Orders instead of Market Orders — it gives you more control over price execution.
Check Liquidity: Look at order book depth and 24h volume before trading.
Avoid Overleveraging: Especially on volatile or lesser-known tokens.
Start Small: Test the behavior of a coin with small amounts before scaling up.
Study Token Patterns: Some coins show repeat behaviors. ERA may be prone to "fake-out" rallies or bot-influenced spikes.
✍️ Pro Tip:
Always assume the first few minutes of a sudden spike or dip are risky — avoid trading those unless you're an expert scalper.