Trading is a business
The masses have the wrong ideas about Trading. It is a business and just like others it involves risk. We grow, we learn, earn and scale up. Crafting a plan is essential to success and character also play a key role here.
In this business, risk is an inherent part of the equation. Just like any other enterprise, trading exposes you to challenges and setbacks, but it's how you manage these risks that can differentiate a thriving business from one that falters. Careful risk management—whether through proper position sizing, stop-loss strategies, or diversification—is the foundation that helps protect your capital while you grow your business over time.
Crafting a trading plan is essential. This plan should not only outline your entry and exit strategies based on rigorous analysis but also incorporate a framework to evaluate your performance critically. A well-crafted plan serves as a roadmap, guiding your decisions in both favorable and challenging market conditions. Moreover, it creates a discipline that protects you from emotional reactions that can often lead to impulsive decisions—a common pitfall in trading.
Character plays a crucial role as well. In trading, psychological fortitude, resilience in the face of losses, and the humility to learn from mistakes are qualities that separate the successful from the rest. Many people mistakenly believe that a few big wins can offset a series of missteps; however, it is the consistent, calculated, and disciplined approach that leads to sustainable growth. This business mindset—acknowledging that each trade is a learning opportunity and a step in scaling up your efforts—is what ultimately propels traders to long-term success.
In essence, re-framing trading as a business fosters a mindset where every decision is taken seriously, every mistake is analyzed for improvement, and every trade is seen as a building block for growth. This approach not only minimizes unnecessary risks but also enables you to scale up with confidence.
I'm curious—what elements of your trading plan do you find most effective at keeping your business mindset in check, and are there aspects you'd like to refine further?
Trading Psychology
Are You Taking the Right Risks in Trading? RISK Per Trade Basics
What portion of your equity should you risk for your trading positions?
In the today's article, I will reveal the types of risks related to your position sizing.
Quick note: your risk per trade will be defined by the distance from your entry point to stop loss in pips and the lot size.
🟢Risking 1-2% of your trading account per trade will be considered a low risk.
With such a risk, one can expect low returns but a high level of safety of the total equity.
Such a risk is optimal for conservative and newbie traders.
With limited account drawdowns, one will remain psychologically stable during the negative trading periods.
🟡2-5% risk per trade is a medium risk. With such a risk, one can expect medium returns but a moderate level of safety of the total equity.
Such a risk is suitable for experienced traders who are able to take losses and psychologically resilient to big drawdowns and losing streaks.
🔴5%+ risk per trade is a high risk.
With such a risk, one can expect high returns but a low level of safety of the total equity.
Such a risk is appropriate for rare, "5-star" trading opportunities where all stars align and one is extremely confident in the positive outcome.
That winner alone can bring substantial profits, while just 2 losing trades in a row will burn 10% of the entire capital.
🛑15%+ risk per trade is considered to be a stupid risk.
With such a risk, one can blow the entire trading account with 4-5 trades losing streak.
Taking into consideration the fact that 100% trading setups does not exist, such a risk is too high to be taken.
The problem is that most of the traders does not measure the % risk per trade and use the fixed lot.
Never make such a mistake, and plan your risks according to the scale that I shared with you.
❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analysis.
What happens to markets when the dxy rallies?!Scanning through the markets during these turbulent times has me, wondering what would happen when the dollar index rallies to new highs? Will the real estate market be higher? Will Gold be higher? Will inflation be higher? With the great reset well underway and the sheep buying the left- right blame game, what will happen to our beloved investments?
What on Earth Is a Circuit Breaker?!Every couple of days since April 2nd, everybody's been talking about a stock market halt all day. You're left there trying to Google it so you're not the only person in the group chat who doesn't know what's going on. But actually, nobody else in your group chat knows what's going on either. They're low-key Googling it under the desk. You don't have to know everything in the market to be a "seasoned" trader. What does get disappointing is when people guess instead of providing facts or a direct link to an article about market halts.
So, this is your quick-but-detailed-read article/ guide to market halts and circuit breakers. Send it to your friends in that group chat. Why today's dump happened in the first place? More on that later. It's a long story. 🥹
What is a circuit breaker?
It's simple: a circuit breaker is a 15 minute OR whole-day market-wide HALT when the market reaches 1 of 3 decline levels. It all depends on the level, how fast the decline is, and potentially other factors that we are not aware of. Keep in mind this is not something we have to deal with often.
When does it happen? And what stock does it track?
Good question. The halt is triggered following declines in the S&P 500 only . That is: AMEX:SPY SP:SPX $CME_MINI:ES1!.
If these level 1 & 2 are reached before 3:25 PM EDT , there is a 15 minute market-wide trading halt. Meaning you cannot enter or exit positions. If level 3 is reached at any time in the day, the entire day's trading will come to an end.
Level 1: -7.00% | 15 minute halt
Level 2: -13.00% | 15 minute halt
Level 3: -20.00% | Entire day halt
So when the S&P 500 index reaches -6.98%, be sure a halt is coming very soon at -7.00%. Sure, like today, "they" might pump it and use that as support and prevent a halt (we got very close to -6.35% on CME_MINI:ES1! if I'm not mistaken). But it's good to be vigilant and make sure you're not in any daytrades.
Does CME_MINI:NQ1! NASDAQ:QQQ CBOT_MINI:YM1! trigger the halt also?
No. The halt is only triggered by the S&P 500. The Nasdaq Composite famously moves much more than S&P 500, so a 7% drop in S&P is way more dramatic than a 7% drop in Nasdaq and it's highly likely at -7% in S&P that Nasdaq would be at -8% or -9%. Although, both are undoubtedly decimating for any long positions.
Why does this rule exist?
This was introduced after Black Monday of 1987 where the market was free falling ( DJ:DJI dropped 22.6%) with no safety stops in place to prevent a market-wide disaster. This prevents further panic selling and massive stop loss raids, and also gives institutional traders time to zoom out and see the bigger picture.
How close did we get recently?
Today we got within 0.7% of getting a 15 minute halt.
See for yourself:
And the intraday 15 minute chart:
FUN FACT: What if I shorted the top on CME_MINI:ES1! ?
Assuming your time machine goes back 24 hours (some time machines only go back 10 years minimum), you'd have booked 1500 ticks at $12.50 per tick. So around $19k per contract. You know that's not too bad. It's almost a Toyota Camry per contract. Do better! 😆
How do I trade this?
Do you really have to? Please do not FOMO & catch a falling knife. Trade light. The market is open for the rest of the year. Trade with a stop loss, and remember, if you FOMO'd and bought at -3% just because it's down 3%, you'd have gotten decimated. Use the charts not the % on your screen. 🔥
Hit the follow button for free educational content because knowledge is free. KD out.
Why I Only Buy Dips / Sell Rallies When I Trade GoldWhen it comes to trading Gold (XAUUSD), I’ve learned one key truth: breakouts lie, but dips/rallies tell the truth.
That’s why I stick to one rule that has kept me consistently profitable:
I only buy dips in an uptrend and only sell rallies in a downtrend.
Let me explain exactly why this approach works so well—especially on Gold, a notoriously tricky market.
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1. 🔥 Gold is famous for fake breakouts
Breakouts on Gold often look amazing… until they trap you.
You enter just as price breaks a key level—then suddenly it reverses and stops you out.
This happens because Gold loves to tease liquidity. It breaks highs or lows just enough to activate stop losses or attract breakout traders, only to reverse.
Buying dips or selling rallies protects you from these traps by entering from value, not hype.
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2. ✅ I get better stop-loss placement and risk:reward
When I buy a dip, I can place my stop below a strong level (like a support zone or swing low).
That gives me tight risk and allows for big reward potential—often 1:2, 1:3 or more.
Breakout trades, on the other hand, often require wider stops or result in poor entries due to emotional execution.
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3. ⏳ I get time to assess the market
False breakouts happen fast. But dips usually form more gradually.
That gives me time to analyze price action, spot confirmation signals, and even scratch the trade at breakeven if it starts to fail.
This reduces emotional decisions and increases my accuracy.
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4. 🎯 Gold respects key levels more than it respects momentum
Even in strong trends, Gold often retraces deeply and retests zones before continuing.
That means entries near key levels—on a dip or rally—are more reliable than chasing price.
I’d rather wait for the zone than jump in mid-air.
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5. 🔁 Even in aggressive trends, Gold often reverts to the mean
Lately, Gold has been trending hard—no doubt.
But even during explosive moves, it frequently pulls back to key moving averages or demand zones.
That’s why mean reversion entries on dips or rallies continue to offer excellent setups, even in fast-moving markets.
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6. 🧠 I benefit from retail trader mistakes
Most traders get excited on breakouts.
But what usually happens? The breakout fails, and the price returns to structure.
By waiting for the dip/rally (when others are panicking or taking losses), I can enter at a discount and ride the move in the right direction.
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7. 🧘♂️ This strategy forces patience and discipline
Waiting for dips or rallies requires patience.
You don’t jump in randomly. You plan your entry, your stop, your take profit—calmly.
That mental discipline is a trading edge on its own.
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8. 📊 I align myself with probability, not emotion
In an uptrend, buying a dip is logical.
In a downtrend, selling a rally is natural.
Trying to “chase the breakout” is emotional—trying to get in on the action, fearing you'll miss the move.
I trade with the trend, from the right zone, and with a clear plan.
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9. 🕒 I can use pending limit orders and walk away
One of the most underrated benefits of trading dips and rallies?
I don’t need to chase the market or be glued to the screen.
When I see a clean level forming, I simply place a buy limit (or sell limit) with my stop and target predefined.
This saves time, reduces overtrading, and keeps my emotions in check.
It’s a set-and-forget approach that fits perfectly with Gold’s tendency to return to key zones—even during high volatility.
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🔚 Final thoughts
There’s no perfect trading strategy. But when it comes to Gold, buying dips and selling rallies consistently keeps me on the right side of probability.
I avoid the emotional traps. I get better entries. And most importantly, I protect my capital while maximizing reward.
Next time you see Gold breaking out, ask yourself:
“Is this real… or should I just wait for the dip/rally?”
That question might save you a lot of pain.
Global Markets Crashing: What Now?⚠️ Global Markets Crashing: What Now?
Don't panic , this is a worldwide event . Even big players are affected.
The important thing is to be patient and focus on future opportunities . We're hoping for a recovery in 2025.
We're holding on! ⏳
If you're experiencing losses right now , don't get discouraged, almost everyone is in the same boat . Even the largest funds managing billions of dollars are in trouble. Trillions of dollars are being wiped out from the world economy. Every country and every stock market is crashing. If you're thinking, 'My altcoin is dropping,' just look at how much ETH has fallen (18% in just one day).
Everything across the globe is falling , so it's natural that our market and investments will also fall. Don't feel bad if you didn't sell at the top in November or December; these are learning experiences for the future. Remember to take profit in the next uptrend.
Right now, all we can do is wait and hope for global issues to be resolved. Interest rate cuts and printing more money could bring a recovery in 2025.
S tay strong and make sure to take your profits if we see a big pump towards the end of the year.
We are also holding all our assets and waiting.
The Trump PatternWhen Donald Trump took office in 2017, the U.S. stock market experienced dramatic fluctuations—marked by steep declines followed by eventual rebounds.
This pattern, which we'll call the "Trump Pattern," repeated itself during his presidency and is now emerging again as a point of interest for investors.
While the specific causes of these market shifts varied, key factors—particularly tariffs, inflation concerns, and Federal Reserve (FED) actions—played critical roles in the market's rise and fall during Trump’s presidency.
The Trump Pattern: The Market Fall and Recovery
🏁 1. The Start of the Trump Presidency (2017)
When Donald Trump was elected in 2016, the market responded with a combination of excitement and uncertainty. Initially, the market surged due to tax cut expectations, deregulation, and optimism about a business-friendly administration. But as Trump's presidency fully began in January 2017, concerns over trade wars and tariff policies began to dominate investor sentiment.
The market initially dipped after Trump began pursuing a protectionist trade agenda, especially with China.
As concerns about tariffs escalated, stock markets reacted negatively to potential trade wars.
💶 2. The Tariff Crisis of 2018
The first major example of the "Trump Pattern" emerged in 2018 when Trump began implementing tariffs, particularly on Chinese imports, and announced new tariffs on steel and aluminum. This caused major market disruptions.
The S&P 500 fell dramatically during this period, dropping by as much as 8.6% from its February peak in 2019.
Companies that relied heavily on international trade, like Apple, General Motors, and Ford, experienced significant stock price declines. In fact, Apple’s stock fell 9.5% on days when new tariffs were announced, as their costs for manufacturing overseas rose.
The uncertainty surrounding the global economy, combined with rising tariffs, created fears of a trade war, leading to sharp market declines.
📈 3. Market Recovery: FED Rate Cuts and Tax Cuts
Despite the tariff-induced volatility, the market didn’t stay down for long. After significant market falls, the Federal Reserve (FED) began implementing interest rate cuts to combat slowing economic growth. These actions helped stabilize the market and even fueled a rebound.
FED rate cuts made borrowing cheaper for consumers and businesses, stimulating economic activity and boosting investor confidence.
Additionally, tax cuts, a cornerstone of Trump’s economic policy, provided further support, particularly for corporations.
As a result, after the initial market drop in 2018 and early 2019, the market rebounded, continuing to climb as investors reacted positively to these fiscal and monetary policies.
🎯 The 2024 and 2025 "Trump Pattern" Emerges Again
Fast forward to 2024 and 2025, and we’re seeing echoes of the "Trump Pattern" once again. New tariffs, introduced in 2025, have reignited concerns about a trade war. These tariffs, particularly on Chinese imports, have once again caused market volatility.
The stock market has fallen in recent months due to concerns about these tariffs and the impact they might have on global trade. For example, when new tariffs were introduced in early 2025, the market saw a sharp sell-off, with the S&P 500 falling by over 1.8% in a single day.
Companies that rely on international trade, like Tesla and Ford, have seen their stock prices drop in response to concerns about increased production costs.
The broader market decline, much like in 2018, was driven by fears that tariffs could slow down the global economy and hurt corporate profits.
However, there is optimism that the same pattern will unfold, where the market eventually recovers after these initial drops.
⚠️ 4. FED Rate Cuts Again?
As inflation concerns persist, the Federal Reserve is likely to step in once again. Like previous cycles, we expect the FED to cut interest rates to stimulate the economy. This would be aimed at reducing borrowing costs, encouraging investment, and helping businesses weather the impact of higher tariffs and global uncertainty.
The FED’s actions are typically a key driver of market recovery in the "Trump Pattern." Investors have come to expect that a market downturn triggered by political or economic disruptions can be offset by the FED’s supportive monetary policies.
⚖️ Navigating the Trump Pattern: What Should Investors Do?
The "Trump Pattern" highlights that during periods of heightened uncertainty, especially due to trade policies like tariffs, the market will often experience short-term declines followed by long-term recovery. Here are a few strategies investors might want to consider:
Stay Diversified : During periods of volatility, having a diversified portfolio can help cushion against the risks posed by market swings.
Invest in Domestic Companies : Companies that rely less on international supply chains might fare better during periods of trade policy changes and tariff uncertainty.
Focus on Growth : Once the initial market decline subsides, look for sectors that stand to benefit from a recovering economy, such as tech or consumer discretionary stocks.
Look for Inflation Hedges : Given the potential for inflation, consider investments that tend to perform well during these times, such as real estate or commodities like gold.
📝 Conclusion: The Trump Pattern in Action
The "Trump Pattern" demonstrates how the market tends to react in cycles during the early months of each presidency. Typically, the market falls at the start due to the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s trade policies, particularly tariffs. However, after these initial drops, the market often rebounds thanks to FED rate cuts and other policies aimed at stimulating the economy.
Looking ahead to 2025, we're already seeing signs of this pattern in action as tariffs are back on the table and market volatility has followed. However, history suggests that patience might pay off. Once the FED steps in and cuts rates, a market rebound is likely, following the same trend we saw in 2017-2019.
Trump’s Tariffs & the Silent Setup — Why This Could Be Bigger ?Hello Traders 🐺
I hope you enjoyed yesterday’s Black Monday 😂 because honestly, it was brutal for all investors.
But corrections like this are always necessary — and I want to talk about that in this idea with a bit more detail.
Also, I’ll update you on the current situation of BTC.D, because as I told you in my last update, the market is about to create a bear trap on the BTC.D chart.
I already shared the proof for this prediction before the dump — you can check it here:
So now, let’s talk about the economic reason behind the dump, and then I’ll go over the technical side of the chart.
This idea I’ll explain how we can use macroeconomic data in our trading decisions.
So make sure to read it carefully and see how you can apply it to your strategy ✅
Do deep corrections always mean danger?
Not necessarily.
Let’s go back and remember some of the biggest crashes in financial history —
The COVID dump or even the famous Black Monday.
If you ask yourself now, “What was the smartest move back then?”
You’ll probably say:
Buy. Accumulate. Because that was the bottom — and we never saw those prices again.
And guess what?
The current state of the market is no different.
So why do I believe Trump’s new tariff policy could actually be bullish?
Let me break it down simply for you:
🔥 The Tariff War: Why it started
For years, most countries had easy access to the U.S. consumer market — the largest in the world — with little or no tariffs.
But U.S. manufacturers didn’t enjoy the same freedom when exporting abroad — they faced heavy tariffs, while also struggling with intense competition inside their own borders due to lack of import restrictions.
So what happened?
✅ The new tariffs brought two key benefits:
1️⃣ Forced negotiations:
Other countries now have to either remove or reduce their own export tariffs to keep trading with the U.S.,
or else they lose access to a market that’s extremely consumption-driven.
2️⃣ Advantage to U.S. domestic production:
If foreign exporters lose access, U.S. producers finally get room to breathe,
and can grow competitively inside their own market.
💰 What happened after tariff fears hit?
In the past month, markets reacted with fear.
A massive amount of capital flew out of financial markets and inflation-hedged assets,
the dollar strengthened, and recession fears grew.
But here’s the twist...
What if Trump had started printing money before this shakeout?
If liquidity was still high, printing more would’ve:
Crushed the dollar
Destroyed consumer buying power
Sparked inflation again
But right now, after money has already been squeezed out of markets and the dollar is strong,
the Fed has a clean path to restart QE (quantitative easing) without tanking the dollar’s value.
So what's next?
Lower interest rates, stimulus packages, subsidies — all will likely come soon.
This time, Trump can inject liquidity exactly where he wants it to go:
Straight into U.S. industry, not into meme coins and junk assets.
With fewer export tariffs, American factories will be more competitive,
U.S. exports could rise, and the country will rely less on foreign production.
And what does this mean for the markets?
Simple.
Once the Fed pivots back to easing, markets will react violently to the upside.
So, as I always say:
Don’t waste this opportunity. Use these prices wisely.
now let's come back into the chart :
As I told you before , BTC.D now is testing the blue monthly resistance line and also hit the rising wedge upward resistance line and in my opinion there is a big chance to see a massive bull market incoming...
I hope you find this idea valuable and as always remember :
🐺 Discipline is rarely enjoyable , but almost always profitable 🐺
🐺 KIU_COIN 🐺
Careful Trusting "News" | Fake News TradingOn Monday, April 7th, 2025 amidst incredible market volatility, you'd expect your most trusted news outlet to report on-the-minute news. But most importantly, accurate news .
With the markets down nearly 20% in ~4 trading days, every piece of information matters. But with the age of fast (social) media, news outlets will do anything possible to be the first to report. Even .... posting fake news. The way this works is they get news that's "probably true", they post it, then it's verified to be true. This may work often for them and when it doesn't, nobody really cares. But when you're talking about times of volatility unseen since COVID, all this nonsense gets exposed.
So - at roughly 10:10 AM EST, CNBC reported that there will be a "90-day pause on tariffs". A ground-breaking report that likely caused John Doe to buy $10M in NASDAQ:NVDA calls dated end of July because that's a no-brainer right? It surely cannot be false since CNBC is his go-to trusted news-source and there is just NO WAY that they would ever post any news without being 100% true and verified. ESPECIALLY news about TARIFFS -- the talk of the town (psh, the world actually) at the moment. 90 day pause? That's not something you report lightly. You know the ripple effect that'll have on the markets.
Result of that news report? The markets (e.g. CME_MINI:NQ1! ) jumped 6.60% in under 10 minutes.
Jane Doe likely saw that jump, looked at that news, and rebought her shares that she sold at the bottom earlier this morning.
Surely that news cannot be fake. It's a 90-day tariff pause. That's huge. Surely the White House will see "Yeah baby! We take credit for that".
Nope, at roughly 10:18 AM EST, the same CNBC reported that, "the 90-day pause on tariffs was fake news according to the White House". Results? Market right back down -6.5% in 20 minutes.
Suppose you FOMO'd into AMEX:SPY NASDAQ:QQQ calls.. well, you lost almost everything depending on the strike and date. In this market, manage your RISK and always hedge. Don't forget to thank CNBC, your most trusted news-source for that capital gain loss.
Welcome to trading in 2025. The age of report-first, verify-later. Welcome home.
Be careful listening to the news and take everything they say with a grain of salt. And as always, don't chase the news. KD out.
There's a Time to Trade and a Time to Watch Lately, the market has been in chaos – indices are dropping like there’s no tomorrow, and when it comes to Gold, what used to be a normal fluctuation of 100 pips has now turned into a 500-pip swing. In such a volatile environment, many traders feel compelled to be constantly active, believing that more trades mean more profit. But the truth is, there’s a time to trade and a time to watch.
Conservation of Capital is Essential 💰
The best traders understand that their capital is their lifeline. It’s not about making trades; it’s about making the right trades.
The market doesn’t reward effort; it rewards patience and precision.
Instead of jumping into mediocre setups, learn to appreciate the value of patience .
Every time you enter a trade that doesn’t meet your criteria, you risk your capital unnecessarily. And every loss chips away at your ability to capitalize on the real opportunities when they come. Capital preservation should be your priority.
Focus Only on A+ Signals 📌
Not every setup is worth your time and money. The goal should be to only enter positions that offer a clear edge – signals that you’ve identified as high-probability opportunities through your experience and strategy.
A + setups are those that offer:
• A clear technical pattern or setup you've mastered.
• A favorable risk-to-reward ratio, ideally 3:1 or better.
• Alignment with your overall strategy and market context.
If these criteria aren't met, it’s often better to do nothing. Waiting for the right setup and market conditions is part of the game.
The Power of Doing Nothing 🤫
Inaction is a skill. It requires discipline to avoid the urge to "force" trades. But the market will always be there tomorrow , and so will the opportunities.
By learning to watch rather than trade during uncertain or suboptimal conditions, you avoid unnecessary losses and conserve your capital for when the market truly presents an edge.
Conclusion 🚀
Trading is about quality, not quantity. Respect your capital and recognize that sometimes, the smartest move is to wait. Let the market be clear.
Remember, there’s a time to trade and a time to watch. Master this balance, and you’ll be miles ahead of most traders.
Your Best Trading Signal Formula Revealed (Forex, Gold)
If you are looking for a way to increase the accuracy of your trades, I prepared for you a simple yet powerful checklist that you can apply to validate your trades.
✔️ - The trades fit my trading plan
When you are planning to open a trade, make sure that it is strictly based on your rules and your entry reasons match your trading plan.
For example, imagine you found some good reasons to buy USDJPY pair, and you decide to open a long trade. However, checking your trading plan, you have an important rule there - the market should strictly lie on a key level.
The current market conditions do not fit your trading plan, so you skip that trade.
✔️ - The trade is in the direction with the trend
That condition is mainly addressed to the newbie traders.
Trading against the trend is much more complicated and riskier than trend-following trading, for that reason, I always recommend my students sticking with the trend.
Even though USDCHF formed a cute double bottom pattern after a strong bearish trend, and it is appealing to buy the oversold market, it is better to skip that trade because it is the position against the current trend.
✔️ - The trade has stop loss and target level
Know in advance where will be your goal for the trade and where you will close the position in a loss.
If you think that it is a good idea to buy gold now, but you have no clue how far it will go and where can be the target, do not take such a trade.
You should know your tp/sl before you open the trade.
✔️ - The trade has a good risk to reward ratio
Planning the trade, your potential reward should outweigh the potential risks. And of course, there are always the speculations about the optimal risk to reward ratio, however, try to have at least 1.3 R/R ratio.
Planning a long trade on EURNZD with a safe stop loss being below the current support and target - the local high, you can see that you get a negative r/r ratio, meaning that the potential risk is bigger than the potential reward. Such a trade is better to skip.
✔️ - I am ok with losing this trade if the market goes against me
Remember that even the best trading setups may occasionally fail. You should always be prepared for losses, and always keep in mind that 100% winning setups do not exist.
If you are not ready to lose, do not even open the position then.
✔️ - There are no important news events ahead
That rule is again primarily addressed to newbies because ahead and during the important news releases we have sudden volatility spikes.
Planning the trade, check the economic calendar, filtering top important news.
If important fundamentals are expected in the coming hours, it's better to wait until the news release first.
Taking a long trade on Gold, you should check the fundamentals first. Only after you confirm, that there are no fundamentals coming soon, you can open the position.
What I like about that checklist is that it is very simple, but you can use it whether you are a complete newbie or an experienced trader.
Try it and let me know if it helps you to improve your trading performance.
❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analysis.
Tariffs Didn’t Cause the Correction — It Was Coming Anyway🚩 Intro: Markets Correct — They Don’t Need Permission
Every time the market drops hard, the headlines rush in to explain it. This time, it was President Trump’s dramatic tariff announcement on April 2nd. The media called it a shock.
I didn’t.
I’ve been calling for S&P 500 to drop to 5,200, and NASDAQ-100 to 17,500, since early January.
Not because I predicted tariffs. But because the charts told the story.
The market didn’t fall because of politics — it fell because it had to.
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🔥 The Spark: Trump’s “Liberation Day” Tariffs
On April 2, 2025, Trump rolled out an aggressive trade agenda:
• 10% blanket tariff on all imports
• Up to 54% tariffs on Chinese goods
• 25% tariffs on imported cars and parts
• With limited exemptions for USMCA-aligned countries
Markets reacted instantly:
• S&P 500 dropped 4.8% — worst day since 2020
• NASDAQ-100 plunged over 6%
• Tech mega caps lost 5–14% in a day
Sounds like cause and effect, right?
Wrong.
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🧠 The Real Cause: A Market That Was Ready to Fall
Let’s talk technicals:
• S&P 500 had printed a textbook double top at the 6100–6150 zone
• NASDAQ-100 had formed a rising wedge, with volume divergence and momentum fading
• RSI divergence was in place since February
• MACD had crossed bearish and also deverging
• Breadth was weakening while indices were still pushing highs
• Sentiment was euphoric, volatility crushed — a classic setup
You didn’t need to guess the news. The structure was screaming reversal.
SP500 CHART:
NASDAQ CHART:
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🧩 Why Tariffs Made a Convenient Narrative
Markets love clean stories. And Trump’s tariffs offered everything:
• Emotional trigger
• Economic fear factor
• Political drama
• Global implications
But smart traders know better: markets correct based on positioning, not politics.
As soon as the wedge broke on NAS100 and SPX broke the double top's neck line the path was clear — risk off.
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📉 I Was Calling This Since Q1
The targets were public:
SPX = 5,200. NAS100 = 17,500.
And the logic was simple:
• Overextension in AI-led tech
• Complacent VIX environment
• Crowded long positioning
• Bearish divergences and fading momentum
Double Top and Rising Wedge on SPX and Nas100
We didn’t need a reason to drop. The market had been levitating without support. All we needed was a trigger — and we got one.
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🧭 Lesson: Trade the Structure, Not the Story
Here’s what I hope you take away:
✅ Setups come first. News comes later.
✅ If it wasn’t tariffs, it would’ve been CPI, earnings, Fed minutes, or a bird on a wire
✅ Don’t chase headlines. Anticipate setups.
The best trades aren’t reactive. They’re built on structure, sentiment, and timing — not waiting for CNBC to tell them what’s happening.
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🔚 Conclusion: It Was Never About Tariffs
Tariffs were the match.
But the market was already soaked in gasoline.
This correction was technical, predictable, and clean.
📝 Post Scriptum — The Setup Shapes the Narrative
Let me be clear:
I’m not a Trump fan. Hoho — not by far.
But I’ll swear this on any chart:
If the setup had been the opposite — double bottom, falling wedge, positive divergences, and improving momentum — these exact same tariffs would’ve been interpreted as “bold leadership,” “pro-growth protectionism,” or “markets pricing in a stronger America.”
That’s how it works.
Price action leads. Narrative follows.
When structure is bullish, traders celebrate even bad news.
When structure is bearish, even good news becomes a reason to sell.
So no — it wasn’t about Trump. It never is. It’s about where the market wants to go. The rest is storytelling.
Disclosure: I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analyses and educational articles.
EDUCATION: The $5 Drop: How Trump’s Tariffs Sent Oil TumblingOil markets don’t move in a vacuum. Politics, trade wars, and global economic shifts all play a role in price action. Case in point: the recent $5 drop in oil prices following Trump’s latest tariff announcement.
What Happened?
Markets reacted swiftly to Trump’s renewed push for tariffs, targeting key trading partners. The result? A ripple effect that sent oil prices tumbling as traders anticipated lower global demand. The logic is simple—higher tariffs slow trade, slowing trade weakens economies, and weaker economies use less oil.
Why It Matters to Traders
For traders, this kind of volatility is both an opportunity and a risk. Sharp price drops like this shake out weak hands while rewarding those who position themselves with clear strategies. If you trade crude oil, understanding the macro picture—beyond just supply and demand—can make or break your positions.
The Next Move
Is this just a knee-jerk reaction, or the start of a larger trend? Smart traders are watching key levels, tracking institutional order flow, and looking for confirmation before making their next move.
How do you react when headlines move the market? Do you panic, or do you position yourself with a plan? Drop a comment and let’s talk strategy.
Understanding Market Downturns: How to Navigate the StormLately, the markets have been in a downtrend, leaving many traders and investors wondering what comes next. Whether it’s stocks, crypto, or other financial assets, downturns are an inevitable part of the game. While they can be unsettling, they also present opportunities—if you know how to navigate them.
Market declines happen for many reasons: economic slowdowns, geopolitical tensions, changes in interest rates, or even shifts in investor sentiment. Regardless of the cause, understanding the different types of market downturns, their impact, and the right strategies to handle them is key to making informed decisions.
So, let’s break down market downturns, how they unfold, and what you can do to stay ahead.
📊 DOWNTURN #1: Down -2% — A Ripple of Volatility
A -2% drop is like a minor speed bump—annoying but not alarming. These small dips are common and often part of natural market fluctuations.
✅ Key Characteristics:
• Typically short-lived and often recovers quickly.
• Can be triggered by minor news events, investor sentiment shifts, or profit-taking.
• Provides opportunities to enter positions at a slightly better price.
💡 Strategy:
• If you're a long-term investor, ignore these small movements. They are normal.
• If you're a trader, these dips can be buying opportunities in an uptrend.
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🔄 DOWNTURN #2: Down -5% — The Pullback Perspective
A 5% decline is often called a pullback—a temporary market retreat within an ongoing trend.
✅ Key Characteristics:
• Pullbacks often occur after strong rallies as the market cools off.
• Typically seen as healthy corrections in an overall uptrend.
• Not necessarily a signal of long-term weakness.
💡 Strategy:
• Long-term investors should hold steady and potentially add to positions.
• Swing traders may look for a bounce at key support levels (moving averages, previous highs/lows).
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🛑 DOWNTURN #3: Down -10% — Entering Correction Territory
When a market drops 10% from its recent high, it officially enters correction territory.
✅ Key Characteristics:
• Often caused by changes in economic outlook, inflation concerns, or major geopolitical events.
• Moving averages may start crossing downward, signaling caution.
• Momentum shifts, and bearish traders begin to take control.
💡 Strategy:
• If you’re a long-term investor, consider rebalancing your portfolio or hedging with defensive assets.
• Traders may look for short opportunities or play reversals at support levels.
• Be cautious with leverage—downturns can accelerate quickly.
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🐻 DOWNTURN #4: Down -20% — The Bear Market Looms
A 20% drop or more marks a bear market, signaling a significant shift in market sentiment.
✅ Key Characteristics:
• Confidence is shaken; investors turn risk-averse.
• Defensive sectors (utilities, consumer staples, healthcare) tend to outperform.
• Market psychology shifts from "buying the dip" to "protecting capital."
💡 Strategy:
• Consider defensive positions, hedging strategies, or increasing cash reserves.
• Avoid high-risk assets—stocks with weak fundamentals often fall the hardest.
• If you’re a trader, look for short-selling opportunities or inverse ETFs.
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⚠️ DOWNTURN #5: Down -50% — The Market Crash Crisis
A 50% market decline is rare but catastrophic, often fueled by deep economic crises.
Historical Examples:
• 2008 Financial Crisis: Banks collapsed, and global markets fell over 50%.
• Dot-Com Bubble (2000): Tech stocks crashed after unsustainable hype.
• Oil Crisis (1973-74): Economic stagnation and inflation led to severe losses.
✅ Key Characteristics:
• Panic selling dominates the market.
• Fear-driven liquidation leads to extreme undervaluation.
• Long-term recovery often follows—but timing is uncertain.
💡 Strategy:
• If you have cash reserves, these moments present once-in-a-decade buying opportunities (but patience is needed).
• Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) can be effective for long-term investors.
• Traders should expect extreme volatility—both to the downside and in sharp relief rallies.
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🌧️ DOWNTURN #6: Prolonged Downside — The Economic Depression
Unlike a crash, a depression is a long-term, sustained downturn that deeply affects the economy.
✅ Key Characteristics:
• Prolonged recession, lasting years rather than months.
• Unemployment soars, economic activity collapses.
• Investor confidence remains low for an extended period.
Historical Example: The Great Depression (1930s)
• U.S. unemployment hit 25%.
• Stock markets stayed depressed for a decade.
• Industrial production and wages plummeted.
💡 Strategy:
• Preservation of capital is key—cash, gold, and defensive assets become crucial.
• Income-producing investments (dividend stocks, bonds) provide stability.
• Patience is essential; full recovery can take years.
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🧭 Conclusion: Navigating Market Downturns Like a Pro
Downturns are an inevitable part of investing and trading. While they can be unsettling, being informed and prepared is the key to staying ahead.
✅ Key Takeaways:
• Minor dips (-2% to -5%) are normal and often present opportunities.
• Corrections (-10%) require caution, but markets usually recover.
• Bear markets (-20%) signal broader economic concerns—risk management is crucial.
• Crashes (-50%) are rare but can create massive buying opportunities for long-term investors.
• Depressions are the most severe and require a long-term, defensive approach.
No matter the downturn, the key is to stay calm, adjust your strategy, and use market cycles to your advantage.
With the right approach, you won’t just survive market downturns—you’ll thrive in the long run. 🚀
HOW FOREX BROKERS MANIPULATE YOU TRADING? Real Example
Last month, I spotted a nice trading position on NZDCAD forex pair.
I shared that with my TradingView subscribers immediately after I placed the trade.
Though, the price moved exactly as it was predicted, the half of the members did not make any penny from this signal, while another half made a nice profit.
It happened because of one rare thing that I absolutely hate in trading.
Learn about a major frustration and market manipulation in trading, that no one will tell you about.
Here is the trading position that I spotted.
It was a classic price action trading setup based on a double top pattern.
Trade was taken on a retest of a broken neckline aiming at the closest strong support and stop loss lying about the tops.
Though, initially, the market started to fall rapidly. But it reversed, not being able to reach the target.
Watching that bullish rally resumes, I send the signal to my students to close the trade on entry, and I also did that personally.
I felt myself quite sad that I did not mange cash out from that trade.
Later on in the evening, surprisingly, I started to receive multiple thank you messages from my members that they made a good profit with that signal.
How could it be?
I decided to anonymously ask the members, how did they close the trade.
More than half of the members replied that the trade reached take profit.
Can it be possible? My TP was not reached and it was still quite far from the lowest low.
Now, examine the trading setup on NZDCAD on charts of different popular forex brokers.
On these 6 charts, you can see NZDCAD pair on OANDA, CAPITALCOM, IC MARKETS, ICE, FXCM, FOREX.COM brokers.
While in half of the instances TP was not reached, in other half, TP was reached and the price went even lower.
Why it happened?
There are the rare situations in Forex trading, when the price action on one broker can be very different from another.
It happens because different brokers have different liquidity providers, spreads, order execution methods and so on.
That is why the selection of a good broker is so vital in trading.
If you use TradingView for chart analysis, make sure that you watch all the instruments of one broker.
Moreover, once you start trading your strategy, always check how the price acted with different broker quotes.
If you will see a lot of instances that your tp is not hit, while on another broker it would, it will be a signal for you to change the broker.
When I started learning trading, no one told be that important nuance of Forex trading.
But knowing that is a very significant step in your trading journey.
❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analysis.
How to Choose the Right Leverage in Trading: What Metters?One of the most common questions I get from beginner traders is: What leverage should I use ?
And every time, my answer is the same: The leverage offered by the broker is irrelevant. What truly matters is the position size you control in the market.
Understanding Leverage in Trading
Leverage is a tool that allows you to control a larger amount of money in the market than you actually have in your account. Brokers regulated in the U.S., EU, or Australia limit leverage to 1:30, but in other jurisdictions, these restrictions do not apply, and brokers may offer leverage of 1:200 or even higher.
What does this mean? Let’s take a concrete example:
• You have an account with $1,000.
• Your broker offers 1:200 leverage.
• This means you can control $200,000 in the market.
Although this may sound tempting, you must understand that your profit and loss are calculated based on the amount controlled, not your initial capital.
The Real Risk of High Leverage
Let’s assume you open a position using the full leverage available and control $200,000 in the market.
• If the market moves 100 pips against you, your loss is $2,000.
• Your $1,000 account is completely wiped out in just 50 pips of adverse movement.
In other words, high leverage can quickly take you out of the game if you do not manage your risk properly.
How to Trade Safely
If you have an account of $1,000, it is recommended to control much smaller amounts in the market to reduce risk.
A safer approach would be:
• To control $5,000, meaning you open a position of 0.05 lots.
• If you have a higher risk appetite, a maximum of 0.1 lots, which means you control $10,000 in the market.
This way, a 100-pip movement against you will not completely wipe out your account, giving you a better chance to manage risk and learn from experience.
Conclusion
The leverage offered by the broker does not matter; what matters is the position size you open. Set an appropriate risk level for your account and do not be tempted by high leverage offered by brokers. Survival in trading depends on proper risk management, not on how big you can bet on each trade.
DOGS Main Trend. Tactics of Working on Risky Crypto 03 2025Logarithm. Time frame 3 days. Tactics of working on super-risky cryptocurrencies of low liquidity, which are always sold (without loading the glass), by the creators of “nothing”. In order to increase sales, of course, when they rationally reverse the trend and make pumps at a large % and marketing positive news "have time to buy". On such assets with such liquidity, “killed faith” (at the moment), and control of the emission in “one hand” it is not difficult. Something like in BabyDOGE.
On such assets you should always remember:
1️⃣ allocate a certain amount for work in general on such assets from the deposit as a whole.
2️⃣ distribute money (potential reversal and decline zones) from this allocated amount to each similar asset in advance.
3️⃣ diversify similar assets themselves (5-10 cryptocurrencies), understanding that sooner or later they will scam. The scam of one of them should not be reflected significantly on the balance of the pump/dump group of low liquidity. It is impossible to guess everything that does not depend on you, and it is not necessary. Your miscalculations (what does not depend on you) are smoothed out by your initial trading plan and risk control, that is, money management (money management).
4️⃣ Set adequate goals. Part of the position locally trade 40-80% (not necessary, but this sometimes reduces the risk).
5️⃣ Work with trigger orders and lower them if they did not work and the price falls.
6️⃣ Remember that in consolidation and cut zones in assets of such liquidity, stops are always knocked out, so the size of the stop does not really matter. It will be knocked out, especially before the reversal.
7️⃣ Before the reversal of the secondary trend, as a rule, they first do a “hamster pump” by a conditionally significant %, when everyone is "tired of waiting". They absorb all sales. Then the main pumping without passengers by a very large % takes place to form a distribution zone. As a rule, it will be lower than the pump highs, that is, in the zone when they are not afraid to buy, but believe that after a large pump, the highs will be overcome significantly.
8️⃣ Remember that assets of such liquidity decrease after listings or highs by:
a) active hype, bull market -50-70%
b) secondary trend without extraordinary events -90-93%
c) cycle change -96-98% or scam, if it is a 1-2 cycle project (there is no point in supporting the legend, how it is easier to make a candy wrapper from scratch without believing holders with coins).
9️⃣In the capitulation zone, there can be several of them depending on the trend of the market as a whole and rationality, the asset is of no interest to anyone. Everyone gets the impression that everything is a scam. That is, on the contrary, you need to collect the asset, observing money management, that is, your initial distribution of money and the risk that you agreed with in advance. As a rule, in such zones people "give up" and abandon their earlier vision.
🔟 After the entire position is set (pre-planned, according to your money management), stop and do not get stuck in the market and news noise. Wait for your first goals.
Remember, people always buy expensive, and refuse to buy cheap ("it's a scam", they try to "catch the bottom"), when "the Internet is not buzzing". This all happens because there is no vision, and as a consequence, no tactics of work and risk control . Many want to guess the “bottom”, or “maximums”, and refuse to sell when they are reached. The first and second are not conditionally available, on assets of such liquidity and emission control. But, there are probabilities that you can operate and earn on this, without getting stuck in the market noise. And also in the opinions of the majority (inclination to the dominant opinion and rejection of your plan and risk control), from which you must fence yourself off.
Most people, immersed in market noise and the opinions of others , choose for themselves the price movement, which is beneficial to them at the moment , and to which they are inclined, but do not provide themselves with the tactics of work. This is a key mistake, and the main manipulation that the conditional manipulator achieves, who, by the way, is sometimes not on the asset, to form an opinion and, as a consequence, the actions of the majority.
Because, in essence, most people do not have the tactics of work. Where the news FUD (inclination to the dominant opinion), “market noise” (cutting zones and collecting liquidity), the opinion of the majority, is directed, that is what they are inclined to.
When the price goes in the other direction, it is disappointment.
If these are futures — liquidation of the position. Zeroing out due to greed.
If this is spot — "proud random holders" , without the ability to average the position (no money), to reduce the average price of the position set as a whole, and as a result increase the % of profit in the future.
A trading plan and risk control are the basis, not guessing the price movement. If you do not have the first “two whales” of trading in your arsenal, then you have nothing. It doesn't matter how much you guess the potential movement, as the outcome of such practice is always the same, and it is not comforting.
How to Actually Do Backtesting?Welcome back guys, I’m Skeptic!
Today, I’m gonna break down one of the most important and fundamental skills every trader needs: Backtesting .
Backtesting is the very first step on your trading journey and probably the most crucial one. It’s all about putting your theoretical knowledge and trading plan to the test by evaluating them against historical market data. The goal? To see whether your strategy actually works — with what win rate, R/R ratio , and more.
But here’s the problem: many traders do it wrong. They end up getting unreliable results, which leads to self-doubt when it comes to forward testing. The real issue is not your strategy but how you conduct your backtest.
Let’s dive into the complete process! 💪
🛠️ Tools You Need
To start backtesting, you’ll need some software that supports the replay feature, allowing you to move through historical data as if it were live.
The best platforms for this are TradingView and MetaTrader . Personally, I use TradingView because it’s super intuitive and has great backtesting capabilities.
Also, make sure to choose appropriate timeframes for backtesting that align with your strategy.
🕰️ Choosing Market Conditions:
You need to backtest your strategy in all types of market conditions:
Uptrend
Downtrend
Range-bound
High Volatility
🚀 Step-by-Step Backtesting
1.Choose the Timeframe:
Make sure your backtesting timeframe matches your strategy’s timeframe. For example, if your strategy works on the 4H chart, don’t backtest on the 1H chart.
2.Select Your Strategy:
Stick to your written trading plan without improvising.
3.Pick the Asset Pair:
Test on at least three different pairs or assets (e.g., EUR/USD, XAU/USD, GBP/NZD) to get diverse results.
4.Define Entry and Exit Rules:
Clearly specify your entry, stop loss, and target levels. Never change these rules mid-backtest, even if it seems illogical. In real trading, you won’t have the luxury of endless contemplation.
🎯 Running the Backtest
Use the Replay Tool to move through historical data.
Never peek at the future price movement. If you accidentally see it, restart from a different point.
Open a minimum of 30 positions for each market condition (e.g., uptrend, downtrend, range).
Record each trade in a spreadsheet (Excel, Google Sheets, etc.) with the following columns:
Date
Time
Entry strategy
Stop loss
Target
Result (profit/loss as R/R ratio)
Exit time
📊 Analyzing Your Results
After completing your backtest, it’s time to analyze the data. Key metrics to focus on include:
R/R Ratio
Win Rate (%)
Drawdown (%)
Losing Streaks
Position Frequency
🚩 Common Mistakes to Avoid
Inconsistent Strategy: Changing your rules during backtesting is a no-go. Stick to the plan.
Incomplete Testing: Don’t cut corners and always aim for a substantial number of trades.
Ignoring Market Conditions: Make sure your strategy is tested in all four market scenarios.
Lack of Patience: Just because the first few trades are losses doesn’t mean the strategy is a failure. Sometimes, a losing streak can be followed by a winning trade that covers it all.
💡 Conclusion
Backtesting is the beating heart of any trader’s skill set. It builds confidence and lays the foundation for a profitable strategy. If you found this tutorial helpful, give it a boost and share it with your fellow traders. Let’s grow together, not alone!
And as Freddie Mercury once said:
We are the champions, my friends! :)🏆
Happy trading, and see you in the next analysis! 💪🔥
Trading Miscalibration: Crypto Aims Too High, FX Aims Too LowI was thinking about something fascinating—the way traders approach different markets and, in my opinion...
One of the biggest mistakes traders make is failing to calibrate their expectations based on the market they’re trading.
📌 In crypto, traders dream of 100x gains, refusing to take profits on a 30-50% move because they believe their coin is going to the moon.
📌 In Forex and gold, the same traders shrink their expectations, chasing 20-30 pip moves instead of riding 200-500 pip trends.
Ironically, both approaches lead to frustration:
🔴 Crypto traders regret not taking profits when the market crashes.
🔴 FX and gold traders regret not holding longer when the market runs without them.
If you want to be a profitable trader, you must align your strategy with the reality of the market you’re trading.
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Crypto: Stop Aiming for the Moon—Trade Realistic Outcomes
Crypto markets are highly volatile, and while 10x or 100x gains can happen, they are rare and unpredictable. However, many traders have been conditioned to expect extreme returns, leading them to ignore solid 30-50% gains—which are already fantastic trades in any market.
🔴 The Problem: Holding Too Long & Missing Profits
Many traders refuse to take profits on a 30-50% move, convinced that a 10x ride is around the corner. But when the market reverses, those unrealized gains disappear—sometimes turning into losses.
🚨 Frustration:
"I was up 50%, but I got greedy, and now I’m back to break-even—or worse!"
✅ The Fix: Take Profits at 30-50% Instead of Waiting for 10x
✔️ Take partial profits at key resistance levels.
✔️ Use a trailing stop to lock in gains while allowing for further upside.
✔️ Understand that even professional traders take profits when they’re available—they don’t blindly hold for the next 100x.
📉 Example:
If Bitcoin jumps 30% in a month, that’s already a massive move! Instead of waiting for 200%, a disciplined trader locks in profits along the way. Similarly, if an altcoin is up 50% in two weeks, securing profits makes sense—instead of watching it all disappear in a market dump.
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FX and Gold: Stop Thinking Small—Aim for Big Market Trends
On the other hand, when it comes to Forex and gold, many traders shrink their expectations too much. Instead of capturing multi-hundred-pip moves, they settle for 20-30 pip scalps, constantly entering and exiting the market, exposing themselves to unnecessary whipsaws.
🔴 The Problem: Exiting Too Early & Missing Big Trends
Unlike crypto, where traders hold too long, in FX and gold, they don’t hold long enough. Instead of riding a 200-500 pip move, they panic-exit for a small profit, only to watch the market continue without them.
🚨 Frustration:
"I closed at 30 pips, but the market kept running for 300 pips! I left so much money on the table!"
✅ The Fix: Target 200-500 Pip Moves Instead of Scalping
✔️ Focus on higher timeframes (4H, daily) for clearer trends.
✔️ Set realistic yet ambitious targets —200-300 pips in Forex, 300-500 pips in gold.
✔️ Use a strong risk-reward ratio (1:2, 1:3, even 1:5) instead of taking premature profits.
📉 Example:
• If EUR/USD starts a strong downtrend, why settle for 30 pips when the pair could drop 250 pips in a week?
• If gold breaks a major resistance level, a move of 300-500 pips is entirely possible—but you won’t catch it if you exit at 50 pips.
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Why Traders Fail to Calibrate Properly
So why do traders fall into this misalignment of expectations?
1️⃣ Social Media & Hype Culture – Crypto traders are bombarded with "to the moon" narratives, making them feel like 30-50% gains are not enough. Meanwhile, in Forex, traders get stuck in a scalping mindset, thinking that small, frequent wins are the only way to trade.
2️⃣ Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) vs. Fear of Losing Profits (FOLP)
• In crypto, FOMO keeps traders holding too long. They don’t want to miss "the big one," so they refuse to take profits.
• In FX and gold, fear of losing small profits makes traders exit too soon. They don’t let trades develop because they fear a pullback.
3️⃣ Misunderstanding Market Structure – Each market moves differently. Crypto is highly volatile but doesn’t always go 10x. Forex and gold move slower but offer consistent multi-hundred-pip trends. Many traders don’t adjust their strategies accordingly.
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The Solution: Align Your Strategy with the Market
🔥 In crypto, don’t wait for 10x— start taking profits at 30-50%.
🔥 In FX and gold, don’t settle for 30 pips—hold for 200-500 pip moves.
By making this simple mental shift, you’ll:
✅ Trade smarter, not harder
✅ Increase profitability by targeting realistic moves
✅ Reduce stress and overtrading
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Final Thoughts: No More Frustration!
The calibration problem leads to frustration in both cases:
⚠️ Crypto traders regret not taking profits when the market crashes.
⚠️ FX and gold traders regret not holding longer when the market trends.
💡 The solution? Trade according to the market's behavior, not emotions.
Stop chasing 20-30 pips if you want to become profitableOne of the biggest obstacles for traders who want to become consistently profitable is the mindset of chasing small 20-30 pip moves.
While it may seem appealing to enter and exit trades quickly for immediate profits, this strategy is often inefficient, risky, and unsustainable in the long run. Here’s why you should change your approach if you want to succeed in trading.
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1. Trading Costs Eat Into Your Profits
When you target small moves, you need to open and close many trades. This means that spreads and commissions will eat up a significant portion of your profits. If you have a spread of 2-3 pips (depending on the pair) and you’re only aiming for 20-30 pips per trade, a consistent percentage of your potential gains is lost to execution costs.
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2. High Risk Compared to Reward
A smart trader focuses on a favorable risk-reward ratio, such as 1:2, 1:3 or even 1:4. When you chase just 20-30 pips, your stop-loss has to be very tight, making you highly vulnerable to the normal volatility of the market. An unexpected news release or a liquidity spike can stop you out before the price even reaches your target.
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3. You Miss Big Moves and Real Opportunities
Professional traders focus on larger trends and significant price movements of hundreds of pips. The market doesn’t move in a straight line; it goes through consolidations, pullbacks, and major trends. If you’re busy trading short-term 20-30 pip moves, you’ll likely miss the big trends that offer more sustainable profits and better risk management.
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4. Increased Stress and Emotional Trading
Short-term trading requires constant monitoring and quick decision-making. This increases your level of stress and negative emotions like fear and greed, leading to costly mistakes. In the long run, this trading style is mentally exhausting and difficult to sustain.
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How to Change Your Approach to Become Profitable
✅ Think in terms of larger trends – Focus on 200-300+ pip moves instead of small fluctuations.
✅ Aim for a strong risk-reward ratio – Look for setups with at least 1:2 risk-reward to maximize your profits.
✅ Use higher timeframes – Charts like 4H or daily provide clearer signals and reduce market noise.
✅ Be patient and wait for the best setups – Don’t enter trades just for the sake of activity; wait for high-probability opportunities.
Crypto: From "HODL Paradise" to a Speculator’s PlaygroundDuring past bull markets, a simple HODL strategy worked wonders.
Bitcoin and Ethereum set the market trend, and altcoins followed with explosive gains. If you bought the right project before the hype wave, the profits were massive.
However, today’s market is vastly different:
✅ Liquidity is unevenly distributed – Only a handful of major projects attract serious capital, while many altcoins stagnate.
✅ Investors are more sophisticated – Institutional players and smart money dominate, making retail-driven pumps less frequent.
✅ Not all coins pump together – Only projects with real utility and solid tokenomics see sustainable growth.
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2. What Matters Now? Strategies for the New Crypto Era
To succeed in the current market, you need a more calculated approach. Here’s what you should focus on:
🔹 Technical Analysis
You can’t just buy blindly and hope for a moonshot. Understanding support and resistance levels, price patterns, trading volumes, etc. is crucial.
Example: If an altcoin has surged 50% in a few days and reaches a strong resistance level, it’s not a buying opportunity—it’s a sell signal for short-term traders.
🔹 Tokenomics and Supply Mechanics
In 2017 and 2021, as long as a project had a compelling whitepaper, it could attract investors. Now, you need to analyze total token supply, distribution models, utility, and vesting schedules.
Example: If a project has an aggressive vesting schedule where early investors and the team receive new tokens monthly, there will be constant selling pressure. No matter how good the technology is, you don’t want to be caught in a dumping cycle.
🔹 Market Psychology and Speculative Cycles
Crypto is driven by emotions. You need to recognize when the crowd is euphoric (time to sell) and when fear dominates (time to buy).
Example: If a project is all over Twitter, Telegram, and TikTok, it might already be near the top. On the other hand, when a solid project is ignored and trading volume is low, it could be a prime accumulation opportunity.
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3. Realistic Expectations: 30-50-100% Are the New "100x"
If catching a 10x or 100x was common in the past, those days are largely over. Instead, 30-50-100% gains are far more realistic and sustainable.
Why?
• The market is more mature, and liquidity doesn’t flood into random projects.
• Most "100x" gains were pump & dump schemes, which are now avoided by smart investors.
• Experienced traders take profits earlier, limiting parabolic price action.
Recommended strategy:
1. Enter early in a solid project with clear utility and strong tokenomics.
2. Set realistic profit targets (e.g., take 30% profit at +50%, another 30% at +100%, and hold the rest long-term).
3. Don’t wait for a “super cycle” to make money—take profits consistently.
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4. Conclusion: Adapt or Get Left Behind
The crypto market has evolved from a “HODL Paradise” where almost any coin could 10-100x into a speculator’s playground, favoring skilled traders and informed investors.
To stay profitable, you must:
✅ Master technical analysis and identify accumulation vs. distribution zones.
✅ Pick projects with solid tokenomics and avoid those with aggressive unlock schedules.
✅ Set realistic expectations—forget about 100x and aim for sustainable 30-100% gains.
✅ Stay flexible and adapt to market psychology and emerging trends.
Crypto is no longer a game of luck. It’s a game of knowledge and strategy. If you don’t adapt, you’ll be stuck waiting for a 100x that may never come.
So, at least this is my opinion. But what about you? Do you think crypto is still a "HODL paradise," or are we fully in the era of skilled traders and speculators?
Will we ever see another cycle where almost everything pumps together, or is selective investing the new reality?
I’d love to hear your thoughts—drop a comment below and let’s discuss
123 Quick Learn Trading Tips - Tip #6 - Defensive or Aggressive?123 Quick Learn Trading Tips - Tip #6 - Defensive or Aggressive?
To make money in trading, you need to control your emotions.
Traders often fall into two emotional traps:
Overly Aggressive: After several wins , a trader may become too confident. They might increase their position sizes or take on riskier trades. This can lead to significant losses if the market turns.
Overly Defensive: After several losses , a trader may become too fearful. They might hesitate to enter good trades or exit trades too early. This can lead to missed profit opportunities.
Maintaining a balance between these states is key. Learn to recognize and control your emotions. Discipline and a calm mind are essential for successful trading.
In trading, you must simultaneously be
defensive and aggressive.
Balance is Key ⚖️
Navid Jafarian
Every tip is a step towards becoming a more disciplined trader. Look forward to the next one! 🌟