1 . Trend-Following (Breakout)
Catching momentum once price escapes a key level.
- Identify consolidation zones on the 4 h or daily chart.
- Place a stop just below/above the range boundary.
- Enter on a confirmed breakout—volume spike plus candle close.
- Lock profits with staggered take-profits or a trailing stop.
Pros: high risk-to-reward; fewer trades, lower fees.
Cons: false breakouts; psychological stress while “waiting for the setup.”
2 . Range Trading & Counter-Positions
When the market chops sideways, trade from channel edges: sell near the top, buy near the bottom.
- Tight stop just beyond the level; minimal leverage.
- Use volume or RSI as a filter—enter only when momentum clearly slows.
- Close at least 50 % of the position midway through the range; reversals can be sudden.
3 . Scalping Liquid Pairs
Intraday tactics for traders comfortable with the order book and tape.
- Time frames: 1–5 minute candles on BTC, ETH and high-cap alts with deep liquidity.
- Micro-leverage (×1–×3) to survive noise.
- Aim for 0.1–0.3 % per move but 20–30 trades per day.
- Commissions are the enemy—use exchanges with rebates or VIP tiers.
4 . Funding-Rate Arbitrage
Perpetual swaps credit or debit funding every eight hours.
- Positive funding means longs pay shorts.
- Buy the asset on spot, short an equal size in the perp.
- Collect funding as “passive” yield while market-neutral.
Risks: funding can flip fast; sharp price moves against the hedge. Keep margin headroom and track funding history.
5 . Calendar Spreads & Hedges
Long a distant-month future, short the nearest contract—betting the “basis” will narrow.
- Monitor the forward curve (contango vs. backwardation).
- Moderate leverage; a sudden spread expansion can liquidate over-leveraged legs.
Commonly used by funds hedging large OTC purchases.
Risk Management
- No more than 1–2 % of total equity at risk per trade.
- Hard stops entered in the system, not “in your head.”
- Leverage above ×10 is stress testing, not real strategy; most working setups stay under ×5.
- Do not average down losers without a written plan.
- Daily loss limit—hit it, close the terminal.
Psychology & Trade Journal
Roughly 70 % of success is discipline.
- Log every trade: setup, entry, stop, result, emotions.
- Review stats weekly to spot profitable patterns and leakages.
- Filter FOMO signals from social media—someone else’s screenshot is not a proven setup.
Pre-Trade Checklist
- Do I know why price should move in my direction?
- Is there a clear level or calendar event backing the idea?
- Does position size fit my risk rules?
- Have I written the trade in the journal?
If any answer is “no,” skip the trade.
Conclusion
Futures offer wide opportunities but demand surgical precision. Skip the urge to catch every tick: pick one or two strategies, drill them to muscle memory, respect risk limits, and keep emotional hygiene tight. Trading stops being a lottery when every action is backed by statistics, not adrenaline.
Protect your margin—saved capital is future profit. Guard the bankroll and the market will give you another shot.