The Excitement That Turned into Regret

I started copy trading with big hopes. I saw some lead traders with crazy ROI — 100%, 200%, even more! Without thinking too much, I followed them. I thought, "If they're making this much profit, I can too!" But I was wrong — badly wrong.

Mistake #1: Only Looking at ROI

The first thing that attracted me was ROI. But I didn’t know that someone who makes 100% profit can also lose just as much. Later, I realized ROI doesn’t show the full picture. What matters more is MDD (Maximum Drawdown) — how much loss they can go through. A high ROI with high MDD is risky.

Mistake #2: Ignoring the MDD

I didn’t check the MDD of the trader I followed. Turns out, their MDD was massive. That means they had big ups and downs. When their trade went wrong, I was stuck with a huge loss.

Mistake #3: Not Checking Lock-up Period

Another mistake: I didn’t notice there was a 30-day lock-up period. That means I couldn’t unfollow the trader even if I wanted to. I was stuck, watching my balance fall and couldn’t do anything.

Mistake #4: Copying High-Leverage Portfolio

I copied a portfolio with high leverage and didn’t even place a stop-loss. That was just asking for trouble. When things went south, they went really south. One time, I dropped from $100 to $40, then back up to $90. I thought I was recovering. But I got greedy and didn’t close the trade. Minutes later — liquidation. Account gone.

What I Learned:

Always check MDD. Choose traders with MDD under 10%.

Always set stop-loss and take-profit. Have a clear mindset — how much profit is enough.

Never get greedy. If you hit your target, exit

.

Avoid portfolios with lock-up periods.

Use lower leverage than the trader. 2x to 3x is safer.

Check their performance over 180 days, not just the last 7 days.

Pick traders who trade with discipline, not wild risk-takers.

Final Words:

I shared all this so you don’t repeat my mistakes. Copy trading looks easy, but one wrong move can wipe your funds. Stay smart, trade safe, and always do your homework.

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Would you follow a trader just based on ROI? Or do you

check MDD too?

Let’s talk in the comments!