At this level, I am well informed about Bitcoin and its securities, I have read on the forum how Bitcoin and cryptocurrency trading has changed people's lives, and I am kind of interested in acquiring skills, I have read in many other threads on how risky Bitcoin trading is.
But at this point, I will really like to know whether or not Bitcoin trading is a means to gain profits during market speculations, and how possible it is to make passive income through cryptocurrency trading.
Take all those stores with a grain of salt, OP. You never know what kind of struggles they went through and what's real or not in the stories you read around here. The reality in crypto trading is that..... it is really meant for everybody and that is perfectly fine. I tried trading before and it isn't just for me at all so I went back to hodling.
It is indeed risky that's why you should just try few bucks first and see if you think you could continue to persevere despite the losses that you'll encounter for a week or even a month depending on how fast can you learn trading. For me, it ain't just worth it at all for me considering I am already exhausted in the first month.
It's very possible to make a profit from trading Bitcoin, but it's also a way to lose money when you are very new at it. I think most crypto traders earn enough money trading Bitcoin, but as a beginner, seeing crypto trading as a means of earning passive income may be futile. In trading, you will definitely encounter losses, and if you don't have enough capital to start with, you may still need to top up your capital. But whereas if you have a real job, you can just use crypto trading as a side hustle until you have mastered your trading skills and are fully convinced you are making a good profit from trading Bitcoin, then you can totally focus on it as your passive source of income, but that doesn't mean you must not have other sources of income as well.
I highly doubt that most traders do earn from trading Bitcoin. Considering how volatile the market is and how long Bitcoin already existed and continue to get new ATH every year, I think they are way more hodlers than traders. I cannot say the same for trader of alts though.
Adding up to what you said, if you don't have a capital to start, virtual trading might be a good thing to start, but it could build up bad habits since you're not "feeling the loss of money".