The Excitement That Turned Into Regret

I started copy trading with high hopes. I saw lead traders showing off crazy returns — 100%, 200%, even more! Without thinking twice, I followed them. I thought, “If they can make that kind of money, I can too.”

But I was wrong — badly wrong.

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Mistake #1: Only Looking at ROI

ROI looked amazing, but I didn’t realize that high returns often come with high risk. Someone who can make 100% can also lose 100%. I later learned that ROI alone doesn’t tell the full story. What really matters is MDD (Maximum Drawdown) — how much the trader has lost during their worst period. A high ROI with a high MDD is a red flag.

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Mistake #2: Ignoring MDD

I didn’t check the trader’s MDD. Turns out, they had huge ups and downs. When one of their trades went bad, I was stuck in deep losses. If I had looked at their drawdown history, I might’ve chosen someone more consistent.

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Mistake #3: Not Checking the Lock-up Period

I had no idea there was a 30-day lock-up. That meant I couldn’t unfollow the trader, even when things were going south. I had to watch my balance drop, helplessly.

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Mistake #4: Copying a High-Leverage Portfolio

I copied a trader using high leverage — and I didn’t use a stop-loss either. Big mistake. My $100 dropped to $BTC $40, then climbed back to $BTC $90. I thought I was recovering. I got greedy. I didn’t close the trade.

Minutes later — liquidation. My account? Gone.

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What I Learned (So You Don’t Repeat This):

Always check the Maximum Drawdown. Stay under 10%.

Set stop-loss and take-profit levels. Know your limits.

Don’t get greedy. If you hit your target, take the profit.

Avoid traders or platforms with lock-up periods.

Use lower leverage than the trader — 2x or 3x is much safer.

Check their performance over 180 days, not just recent days.

Choose disciplined traders, not gamblers.

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Final Words:

Copy trading looks easy, but it’s not a shortcut to riches. One wrong move can wipe out your funds. I shared this to save you from making the same mistakes I did.

Be smart. Trade safe. Always do your homework.

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What do you check before copying a trader — ROI or MDD?

Let’s talk in the comments!

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