- Crypto copy trading has become increasingly popular among younger retail traders.
- This form of social trading lowers the barrier to entry for crypto trading.
- However, traders should be aware of the pitfalls, like copying traders with no skin in the game or choosing the wrong platforms.
Trading in crypto and traditional markets are becoming increasingly popular among a younger retail crowd. Consequently, this new crop of traders is making its mark on the investment world.
This likely accounts for the rise of social trading, where groups of traders share insights with a community. Communities like Wall Street Bets are cropping up left to cater to traders increasingly looking for a social experience. This new development has also led to the rise of “trading influencers” and copy trading.
Copy trading is a type of investment in which traders and investors can automatically copy the trades of successful and experienced traders. This offers an excellent option for traders still learning about the crypto market.
Recently, copy trading has become a massive phenomenon in the crypto market as well. Leading crypto exchange Bitget revealed it has over 80,000 influencer traders and more than 380,000 follower traders on its platform.
However, copy trading in the crypto market also has its drawbacks. This guide will cover the main benefits and risks of copy trading in the crypto market. Moreover, it will offer some tips on maximizing the advantages and reducing the risks associated with copy trading in crypto.
Advantages of Copy Trading
Copy trading has a few interesting features that set it apart from other types of crypto trading. Many of these features will likely appeal to traders just starting with crypto trading.
It Makes It Easy To Start Trading
Becoming a successful crypto trader takes time and effort. The amount of research required to become a competent trader can seem overwhelming. Faced with that daunting task, many traders don’t even start.
With copy trading, traders can start right away. Picking an experienced trader to copy is much easier than doing all that research.
It’s Hands-Off
In addition to requiring a lot of research, active trading also takes time. Traders must stay on top of all market news and constantly consider their positions. This makes trading not worthwhile for traders that don’t have a lot of capital.
By contrast, copy trading allows traders to leave all that work to those they follow. They can benefit from the hard work others do in market research, devising strategies, and more.
It’s a Great Way to Learn
Copy trading is also an excellent way for new traders to learn about the crypto markets. By following experienced traders, new traders can gain valuable insights into how trading works.
Copy trading also enables traders to get insights from professional traders directly. Good trader influencers will share their data and insights with their followers. They will readily give insights into each trade they are making. This makes copy trading a great way to learn and eventually start trading independently.
Risks in Copy Trading – and How to Avoid Them
While copy trading has its advantages, it also comes with potential pitfalls for new traders. Every trader should be aware of the potential risks and ways they can mitigate them.
Picking a Trader Based Solely On Past Performance
When logging into a copy trading platform, traders will see the return on investment (ROI) numbers for each trader influencer. Some may be tempted just to choose the one with the biggest returns. That is rarely the optimal strategy.
The fact is, many crypto traders are just lucky. Traders with the riskiest positions often have the biggest gains in the short run.
Everyone is a genius in a bull market, but this success rarely lasts. Inevitably, market conditions change, and some of the best performers may lose it all.
Instead of just looking at the ROI numbers, traders should also review each trader’s strategy and pick one that makes the most sense to them.
Not Doing Any Research
While copy trading is hands-off relative to other trading strategies, it still requires some due diligence. Copy traders should be familiar with the basics of crypto trading before they invest significant amounts of money.
Knowing the basics will allow them to distinguish between traders with a workable strategy and those relying on excessive risk. Doing the basic due diligence will pay off dividends in the future.
Picking a Trader With No Skin in The Game
Before copying someone’s trades, traders should always check how much skin they have in the game. Has the trader put significant capital behind his trades? If not, traders should likely avoid copying that trader.
Unfortunately, the crypto space is filled with unsavory characters. That’s why traders must be mindful of trusting people who do not have their best interests in mind.
The best way to prevent that is to follow traders that trade with their capital on reputable platforms.
Choosing the Wrong Platform
Picking the right platform could make or break a copy trader’s performance. Between platform security, fees, and ease of use, the platform is one of the most important aspects of copy trading.
Traders should consider a few factors when choosing their copy trading platform. For one, traders should look at platform fees and whether there are specific fees for copy trading.
Another critical factor is the ease of use. Both new and seasoned traders benefit from an intuitive platform. For instance, leading crypto exchange Bitget offers “One-Click Copy Trade” as an easy and intuitive way to start copy trading in the spot and derivatives market.
Traders should look for platforms with the biggest community of crypto influencers. The more pro traders there are on a platform, the better the chances for a copy trader to find one with a strategy that aligns with theirs.
Finally, finding a platform with the right instruments is also essential. For most crypto traders, spot trading is likely more familiar than derivatives. These traders could look at platforms like Bitget, the largest copy trading platform for the crypto spot market.
Getting Out Too Early
According to billionaire Peter Lynch, in investing, the stomach is more important than the brain. That’s because it takes guts to stick with a strategy when one’s portfolio is down.
Too many people get out of a position as soon as their performance drops. However, research suggests that that’s exactly the opposite of what they should do.
According to a paper by Dalbar, the average investor consistently underperforms the market. This is because average investors get in after an asset rises in value and doesn’t stay invested long enough to see long-term gains. To reap the best gains, investors should pick the traders they like and stick with them.
On the Flipside
- Copy trading could face increasing competition from bots and machine algorithms. Both of these technologies are becoming increasingly popular in crypto trading.
Why You Should Care
Copy trading is an interesting option for retail traders who want to jump into the world of crypto or are looking for a more diversified trading strategy.
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