I’ve already written about avoiding losses in futures trading, but the past few weeks have been a real eye-opener for me. With the market going through extreme volatility, I faced my fair share of losses. But instead of giving up, I adapted, learned, and bounced back stronger. So today, I want to share some of my updated strategies—things I’ve experienced firsthand and insights I’ve picked up from experts along the way.



The Current Market: A Rollercoaster Ride


1. Manage Your Margin Wisely

This was a game-changer for me. I’ve made it a rule to only use half (or even less) of my wallet as margin. For example, if I have $1,000, I’ll trade with $500 and keep the rest untouched. Why? It drastically lowers my liquidation price and gives me breathing room if the market moves against me.

The goal isn’t to hit massive wins in one trade. It’s about staying in the game long enough to build consistent gains.

2. Leverage: Know When to Push and When to Pull Back

Leverage can be a double-edged sword. Through trial and error, I’ve found that sticking to 7x leverage is a sweet spot for most trades—it’s aggressive enough to see solid gains but not so risky that I lose sleep at night.

However, there are times when I feel confident after thorough analysis. In those rare cases, I might use 15x leverage, but only on short-term trades and only with money I’m prepared to lose. If you’re new to trading, keep it safe with 3x–5x leverage, especially in this unpredictable market.

3. Picking the Right Coins

Here’s where I’ve learned to play it smart. In high-volatility markets, I avoid low-cap coins that whales can manipulate. Instead, I stick with BTC and ETH because they’re more predictable and have higher liquidity.

When the market stabilizes, I’ll consider coins like BNB or XRP, but during wild swings, I’m all about those blue-chip cryptocurrencies.

Indicators That Helped Me Turn Things Around

I’ve grown to rely heavily on indicators—they’ve become my trusted companions for both short-term and long-term trades.

For Short-Term Trades (5-Minute Charts):

  • EMA (20 and 50): I use these to spot trends and catch entry or exit points when they cross.

  • RSI: If RSI drops below 30, I know it’s a great opportunity for a long position.

  • Volume Oscillator: It helps me avoid fake breakouts by confirming the actual momentum.

For Long-Term Trades (1-Day Charts):

  • MACD: A lifesaver for identifying trend reversals.

  • Fibonacci Levels: These show me the most critical support and resistance zones.

Bollinger Bands: They help me figure out if a coin is overbought or oversold.

Mastering the Psychology of Trading

I’ve come to realize that trading success isn’t just about charts and numbers—it’s about your mindset. Here’s what has worked for me:

  • Patience is Key: I used to jump on every opportunity, but now I wait for the right setup. FOMO (fear of missing out) only leads to bad trades.

  • Stick to Your Plan: Before entering a trade, I set my entry, stop-loss, and take-profit levels. Once I’m in, I follow the plan no matter what.

  • Focus on Small Wins: I’ve stopped chasing life-changing gains in one trade. Instead, I aim for small, consistent profits that add up over time.

Psychological Traps I’ve Avoided (or Learned to Control)

  • Greed and Overconfidence: After a couple of wins, it’s easy to feel unstoppable. But that’s when I’ve made my worst mistakes. Staying humble is essential.

  • Revenge Trading: I’ve fallen into the trap of trying to win back losses immediately. It doesn’t work. Now, I step away, reset, and come back with a clear mind.

  • Social Media Influence: Fake PNL screenshots are everywhere. I’ve stopped comparing my journey to others and focused on my own progress.

Bouncing Back from Losses

I won’t sugarcoat it—I’ve made mistakes. Just recently, I ignored my stop-loss, thinking the market would reverse in my favor. It didn’t, and I ended up losing more than I should have.

But instead of letting that loss define me, I scaled back, focused on smaller trades, and regained my confidence slowly but surely.

Final Thoughts

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that trading is about survival. The market is ruthless, but with proper risk management, smart leverage, and a clear head, you can thrive.

These are my personal lessons, shaped by my own experiences and the advice of seasoned professionals.