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You may have heard about crypto hedge trading but never had the time to figure it out.
How does it differ from traditional trading, and is it a reasonable investment strategy for you?
This guide will explore the key differences between the two and help you make an informed decision about your investment approach.
This guide is on an advanced level. Start with our free crypto trading guide for beginners if you find it too complicated.
Understanding the basics of traditional trading
➤Traditional trading involves buying and selling assets such as stocks, bonds, and commodities you believe will increase in price.
➤You can also short selling if you believe in a bearish market.
The goal is to profit by buying low and selling high or holding onto assets that increase in value over time.
In other words, traditional trading is easy-to-define and easy to execute.
Still, finding winners can be a tough job, and there is always a risk that your bet will turn out to be a losing bet.
In addition, there are additional risks when you have market exposure against unfavorable significant market movements.
Here, crypto hedge trading is coming into play since it primarily aims to protect your crypto portfolio against losers and sudden unexpected market movement.
Understanding the basics of crypto hedge trading
➤Crypto hedge trading is a type of investment strategy that involves risk management to protect the portfolio against sudden and unpredicted moves in the market.
In the above image, the red chart symbolizes your original trading position. The green chart illustrates your hedging position, which moves in another direction. Here, timing is crucial for closing and opening new positions.
In a perfectly hedged portfolio, unexpected, sudden volatile market moves will not cause much damage and can be favorable.
It sometimes requires more complex strategies, such as short selling and margin trading.
A trader involved in hedge trading must understand how all markets are connected to be able to take the benefit of hedging the portfolio.
Otherwise, crypto hedge trading can introduce new risks rather than manage the current threats.
Examples of other crypto trading strategies are crypto arbitrage trading and scalping trading.
Level of Risk and Volatility
➤As previously outlined, the critical difference between crypto hedge trading and traditional trading is the level of risk and volatility involved.
While traditional trading can also be risky, the volatility of cryptocurrencies is often much higher, with prices fluctuating rapidly and unpredictably. This can make predicting market trends and making informed investment decisions more difficult.
Additionally, the lack of regulation in the crypto market can increase the risk of fraud and other financial crimes.
Here, taking advantage of a crypto hedge strategy can be beneficial to minimize the stakes in the crypto market.
Read more about crypto trading risk management.
Market accessibility and liquidity
➤Another critical difference between crypto hedge trading and traditional trading is the level of market accessibility and liquidity.
Traditional markets, such as the stock market, have a much larger pool of investors and traders, making buying and selling assets quickly and at a fair price more accessible.
In contrast, the crypto market is still relatively new and has a smaller pool of investors, which can make it more difficult to find buyers and sellers for certain assets.
Additionally, the lack of regulation in the crypto market can make it more difficult to ensure fair pricing and prevent market manipulation.
Read more about liquidity and crypto exchanges by trading volumes.
Choosing the right investment strategy for your goals
When selecting between crypto hedge trading and traditional trading, it’s essential to consider your investment goals and risk tolerance.
Tradition trading can offer higher potential returns but also comes with higher risk due to the volatility of the crypto market.
Crypto hedge trading may offer more stability but not have the same potential for high returns. Still, hedge trading is a complex strategy since it’s crucial to understand how the market is interconnected to each other to be able to take advantage of this trading method.
Therefore, it’s essential to research well before making any investment decisions.
