Reviewing Past Trade Performance

Reviewing Past Trade Performance and Balancing Spot Holdings

Understanding how past trades performed is crucial for growth in cryptocurrency trading. This guide focuses on beginners learning to review their history, manage risk by combining Spot market holdings with simple Futures contract strategies like partial hedging, and use basic technical tools responsibly. The main takeaway for a beginner is that reviewing performance is not about finding perfect trades, but about identifying consistent patterns of risk exposure and adherence to your Creating a Personal Trading Plan.

Balancing Spot Holdings with Simple Futures Hedges

Many beginners hold assets directly in the Spot market. When you are concerned about a short-term price drop but do not want to sell your underlying assets, you can use futures contracts for a partial hedge. This is a key concept in Spot Position Balancing with Futures.

A partial hedge involves opening a short futures position that only covers a fraction of your spot holdings.

Steps for a Simple Partial Hedge:

1. **Assess Spot Exposure:** Determine the total value of the asset you hold in the spot market. For example, you hold 1.0 BTC spot. 2. **Determine Hedge Ratio:** Decide what percentage of risk you wish to mitigate. A 25% hedge is a common starting point for Small Scale Hedging Practice. 3. **Calculate Futures Notional Value:** If you want a 25% hedge on 1.0 BTC, you would open a short position equivalent to 0.25 BTC via futures. 4. **Manage Leverage:** Use low leverage (e.g., 2x or 3x) on the futures position to avoid excessive margin calls or automatic liquidation, especially since you already hold the underlying asset. Remember that high leverage increases Liquidation risk with leverage; set strict leverage caps and stop-loss logic. 5. **Set Risk Limits:** Always define a stop-loss for the futures position itself, separate from your overall portfolio risk management, as detailed in Simple Risk Cap Implementation.

Remember that hedging introduces complexity and costs (like Spot Versus Futures Fee Structures and potential funding payments). Partial hedging reduces variance but does not eliminate risk entirely. For more complex hedging scenarios, you might look into advanced topics like Basis trade en futuros de criptomonedas.

Using Indicators for Timing Entries and Exits

Technical indicators help provide context, but they should never be the sole reason for a trade. They are tools to confirm an existing hypothesis derived from your overall market view. When reviewing past trades, check if you relied too heavily on one signal or ignored confluence.

Relative Strength Index (RSI)

The RSI measures the speed and change of price movements, oscillating between 0 and 100. Beginners often look for readings above 70 (overbought) or below 30 (oversold).

Caveat: In strong trends, the RSI can stay overbought or oversold for extended periods. Always combine RSI readings with the overall trend structure, as discussed in Combining RSI with Trend Structure. A reading below 30 in a long-term uptrend might be a buying opportunity, not a signal to short.

Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD)

The MACD shows the relationship between two moving averages of a security’s price. Crossovers (signal line crossing the MACD line) and histogram changes indicate shifts in momentum.

Caveat: MACD is known for lagging price action. In fast-moving, volatile markets, crossovers can be late entry signals, leading to missed opportunities or poor fills. Reviewing past trades should highlight instances where a MACD Lagging Indicator Caveat cost you profit or resulted in a poor entry.

Bollinger Bands

Bollinger Bands consist of a middle band (usually a 20-period Simple Moving Average) and two outer bands representing standard deviations from that middle band. They measure volatility.

Caveat: When the bands contract (a "squeeze"), it suggests low volatility, often preceding a large move. However, touching or breaking the outer bands does not automatically signal a reversal; it primarily signals high volatility relative to the recent past. Use them to gauge the Bollinger Bands Volatility Context of your entry point.

Analyzing Trade Psychology and Risk Management Failures

The most significant cause of poor performance review results is often psychological error, not technical inaccuracy. Review your journal for instances of these pitfalls:

**Fear of Missing Out (FOMO):** Did you enter a trade because the price moved quickly without waiting for confirmation? This often leads to buying at local tops.
**Revenge Trading:** Did you immediately re-enter after a small loss, trying to win back the money quickly? This violates Setting a Daily Loss Limit.
**Overleverage:** Did you use high leverage on a trade where you lacked conviction? High leverage amplifies both gains and losses, making Calculating Basic Position Sizing critical.
**Confirmation Bias:** Did you only look for data supporting your initial trade idea and ignore warnings from indicators or market structure? Learn about Dealing with Trade Confirmation Bias.

When reviewing, ask yourself: "Was this trade executed according to my Creating a Personal Trading Plan, or was it emotional?" Even small, frequent wins can lead to overconfidence, as noted in Psychological Impact of Small Wins.

Practical Examples in Performance Review

Reviewing performance requires concrete numbers. Let us look at a simplified scenario involving a potential spot sale followed by a futures short hedge.

Assume you hold 5 ETH spot. You are worried about a short dip but want to keep the ETH. You decide to hedge 50% (2.5 ETH equivalent) using a futures contract.

Scenario Data:

Metric	Value (USD)
Spot ETH Price (Entry)	$2,000
Hedge Ratio	50%
Futures Entry Price (Short)	$2,005
Stop Loss on Futures	$2,100
Take Profit on Futures	$1,950

If the price drops to $1,950:

1. **Spot Gain/Loss:** Your 5 ETH spot is now worth $9,750 (a $250 loss from the $10,000 entry value). 2. **Futures Gain:** Your 2.5 ETH short position gains $55 per ETH ($2,005 - $1,950), totaling a $137.50 profit. 3. **Net Impact:** The futures profit partially offsets the spot loss. You avoided the full $250 drop on half your holdings.

This review process helps you refine your sizing and stop-loss placement, which is key for Setting Initial Stop Loss Levels. Always factor in potential Understanding Slippage Impact and fees when calculating your final net profit or hedge effectiveness. If you planned to close the hedge early, review why you did not stick to your Setting Take Profit Targets Early.

For those interested in non-crypto derivatives, reviewing performance principles can also apply to areas like How to Trade Futures on Equity Indexes for Beginners or How to Trade Futures on Indices as a Beginner.

Conclusion

Reviewing past trades is an active process of self-correction. Balance the technical analysis (RSI, MACD, Bollinger Bands) with disciplined risk management and psychological awareness. Use futures contracts conservatively, perhaps initially only for Spot Position Balancing with Futures, until you fully understand the margin requirements and Understanding Futures Funding Costs. Consistent, unemotional review leads to sustainable trading.

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Reviewing Past Trade Performance

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