Crypto trading is riskyโno matter how good your strategy is, one mistake can wipe out weeks (or months) of progress. That's where risk management comes in. This guide covers how to limit losses, protect profits, and make your trading sustainable.
โ No strategy wins 100% of the time
๐ฃ Volatilityโน๏ธ in crypto is extreme
๐ง Emotions cloud judgment when big money is on the line
Without a plan to manage risk, even a good trader will eventually lose. With a plan, you can survive bad trades and grow over time.
Never risk more than 1-2% of your total capital on a single trade.
You have $1,000 in your account
1% risk = $10 max loss on one trade
If your stop-lossโน๏ธ is $0.50 away from your entry:
You can afford 20 coins = $10 / $0.50
๐ Tip: Use TradingViewโs long/short position tool to visualize your stop-loss and profit target
Set a stop-lossโน๏ธ on every trade to limit your downside.
Place it below supportโน๏ธ for longโน๏ธ trades
Place it above resistanceโน๏ธ for shortsโน๏ธ
โ ๏ธ No stop-loss = gambling. Donโt do it.
A good trade should aim for at least 2:1 reward-to-risk.
Risking $10 to make $20 or more
Even if you're right only 50% of the time, youโll still come out ahead.
Win Rate
50%
Risk:Reward
2:1
Outcome
Profit
Win Rate
40%
Risk:Reward
3:1
Outcome
Profit
Win Rate
60%
Risk:Reward
1:1
Outcome
Break-even or small gain
๐ Tip: Use TradingViewโs position tool to measure R:R before entering a trade
Avoid putting all your capital into one coin or one idea.
Spread risk across multiple setups
Use smaller sizes in high-volatilityโน๏ธ conditions
๐ Tip: Donโt trade more than 2โ3 coins at once as a beginner
Every trade costs you:
Attention
Emotional energy
Capital risk
Focus on quality over quantity. Sometimes the best move is no trade at all.
๐ Tip: Set daily or weekly trade limits (e.g. no more than 3 open positions)
Document your trades:
Entry, stop-loss, and target
Why you took it
Outcome and lessons
This helps you improve and stay accountable.
Take a look at TCPTOOLS for an excellent Trading Journal option.
Never chase losses
Donโt increase position size after a losing streak
Use meditation, breaks, or exercise to reset your mindset
๐ Tip: Consider trading only at specific times (e.g. 1 hour per day)
โ
Use a stop-loss every time
โ
Risk no more than 1-2% per trade
โ
Plan your trades with R:R in mind
โ
Log every trade and review weekly
โ
Only trade high-conviction setups
โ
Stay emotionally neutral and stick to your plan
Risk management protects your account so your edge has time to play out. Use TradingView to refine your skills, and read our guides in the strategy series:ย
Also please make sure you read the following guides:ย
๐ Ready to trade? Sign up through our affiliate links for bonuses and discounts we've secured. You'll also be helping to support this site:
Use what youโve learned with our Live Calculators and Tools:
๐ Position Size Calculator
๐ Profit & Loss Calculator
๐ฏ Risk/Reward Ratio Calculator
๐งฎ Trailing Stop Calculator
๐ TCPTOOLS Trading Journal
โ ๏ธ Reminder: Risk is part of the game. But unmanaged risk is how you lose the game.