Do you trade via an exchange using metatrader or do you just buy and sell via other means....
And how do you do risk management since exchanges get hacked etc.
Just asking for people who are interested.
Pardon the delay... It took a bit to put all of this together in writing. I needed to get this information together anyway as "content" for my website. Your question only motivated me to go ahead and put a rough draft together.
Without giving too many details for personal privacy:
The best way in my opinion is to trade using a 3rd party via API. However, it's IMPORTANT to make sure the 3rd party you use to trade via API is just as intuitive as if you were actually on the exchange. But MOST IMPORTANT is the 3rd party you use via API also has a TRAILING STOP FEATURE. A "trailing stop" is the best tool one can use to keep losses small and gains large when trading in certain time frame ranges other than "High Long Term Trend Trading." There are other advantages for U.S. residents using a 3rd party not located in the U.S. via API. I won't elaborate on that anymore.
The terms I use (below) for different TYPES of trading are my own. It's my way of being more descriptive (specific) to make sure you understand as much as possible.
I do several different types of trading in multiple time frame ranges. For example:Let's assume you have $100,000 in TOTAL FIAT CAPITAL and have the TIME to "Day Trade." Let's also assume you have the KNOWLEDGE, TOOLS (indicators and 3rd Party API w/Trailing Stop) and EXPERIENCE to Day Trade using the multiple time frame RANGES I've mentioned below. Let's assume you have
multiple 24 inch or larger monitors to constantly monitor MULTIPLE crypto-currency pairs. Let's assume you will trade ONLY the top 10 crypto/USD or crypto/USDT pairs by market cap with your $100,000 in FIAT (USD). Let's divide that $100,000 of TOTAL FIAT CAPITAL by ten among those Top 10 crypto/USD pairs by market cap.
NOW divide $10,000 of TOTAL FIAT CAPITAL for each crypto asset into percentages shown for time frame trading ranges shown below. Example:HLTTT for BTCUSD @ 70 Percent = $7,000 to buy at or near the bottom of a major dip in the indicators in the 9-Day time frame or higher time frame; depending on where we are in the 2-Week and Monthly time frame.
LTTT for BTCUSD @ 15 Percent = $1,500 to buy at or near the bottom of a major dip in the indicators in the 3-Day or 4-Day time frame.
MTTT for BTCUSD @ 10 Percent = $1,000 to buy at or near the bottom of a major dip in the indicators in the 4h and/or 6h time frame.
HTFS & LTFS @ 5 Percent = $500 to use for scalping with low leverage or no leverage at all. Market conditions shown by the indicators will determine if you use that $500 for HTFS -OR- LTFS.
Now do the same thing for LTCUSD, BCCABC, XRP, EOS, ADA, ETH, etc... in regards to the percentage of $10,000 for each of those crypto assets if you had a TOTAL FIAT CAPITAL of $100,000. Keep in mind this is intended ONLY to be an example. Your hardware setup may only be able to help you efficiently monitor and trade 3 or 4 crypto asset pairs and your experience may only allow for 3 or 4 crypto asset pairs. If that's the case, divide your TOTAL FIAT CAPITAL by 3 or 4 instead of 10 provided by my example. Ten crypto assets may be too many crypto-currency pairs for you to monitor at one time in the beginning. Which means it may be better to get organized monitoring and trading less than ten crypto currency/USD pairs in the beginning to grow accustomed (comfortable) with using all the tools you have created or put in place to implement your trading strategy. Maybe you feel more comfortable starting out monitoring and trading only 3 or 4 crypto/USD pairs as you grow accustomed to, build upon and improve your trading strategy for those pairs.
How do we know if and/or when we are "accustomed" (comfortable) with our trading/monitoring strategy with 3 or 4 crypto/USD pairs and can move up to implementing our trading strategy on more than 3 or 4 crypto/USD pairs? One good way of answering this question is to WAIT for a fast dump of 6 percent or more within a 4 hour span of time. You will find out real quick if you are "accustomed" (comfortable) with your trading/monitoring strategy for several pairs you are trading if there was a dump of 6 percent or more within a 4 hour span of time. Especially, if you did not have a stop loss or trailing stop on those pairs. Did you have access to your 3rd party API and/or exchange during the dump? Did you have alarms in place and the ability to hear and/or get alarm notifications in an efficient and timely manner in order to know you need to get access to your 3rd party API and/or exchange? Did you have multiple monitors to EASILY see ALL of your crypto assets on individual charts (windows) and the mental fortitude to deal with possible stress experienced during the 6% or more drop? Did you stay mentally composed in order to accurately read the indicators in multiple time frames EASILY on MULTIPLE monitors for EACH crypto asset during the dump in order to make a properly informed decision of what to do next? Did you have MULTIPLE plans prepared in your mind and/or on paper to implement if such an event were to occur? Did you have the mental and emotional fortitude to implement one or more of those plans on each crypto asset in an efficient and timely manner during that dump event that occurred within a 4 hour span of time? etc...
By the way, this scenario of a dump occurring during a 4 hour span of time was provided as an example for one who is an aspiring "Day Trader" [With the TIME to be a Day Trader] who was "Mid Term Trend Trading" (MTTT) using the 45m, 60m, 90m, 2h, 3h, 4h, 6h, 8h, 10h and 12h time frames with the 4h and 6h as a compass. If you were familiar with my indicators, you would know what I mean by saying the 4h and 6h time frames were used as a "compass."High Long Term Trend Trading (HLTTT): Lowest and Highest TF's used in HLTTT: Weekly is the LOWEST Time Frame (TF) used in HLTTT and Monthly is the HIGHEST TF in HLTTT.
Common TF's used in HLTTT: Weekly, 9-Day, 12-Day, 2-Week, 16-Day, 21-Day, 25-Day and Monthly.
Time Frame(s) is used as a Compass Majority of the Time in HLTTT: 9-Day Time Frame.
Number of trades implemented and how often are they implemented in HLTTT: Two (2) trades every 3 to 4 years in crypto markets. Can vary in other markets.
Capital Safeguards for HLTTT: Once bought on exchange, immediately take off exchange and store in cold storage. When selling immediately buy gold and/or silver to hold till approximately a month or two before reversal from Distribution (Long Term Bear Trend) to Accumulation Phase before a long term bull trend begins. NEVER leave large amounts of capital in anyone else's control other than yourself. Which means I do not put large sums of capital in the bank, deposit box, etc... I often sell my gold locally and on eBay. When shipping gold, ALWAYS ship via UPS (United Parcel Service) WITH insurance and DIRECT signature required.
Percentage of capital used for HLTTT: 70 Percent.
Long Term Trend Trading (LTTT):Lowest and Highest TF's used in LTTT: 12h is the LOWEST Time Frame (TF) used in LTTT and 2-Week is the HIGHEST TF used in LTTT.
Common TF's used in LTTT: 12h, 24h, 2-Day, 3-Day, 4-Day, 5-Day, 6-Day, Weekly, 9-Day, 12-Day and 2-Week.
Time Frame(s) is used as a Compass Majority of the Time in LTTT: 3-Day and 4-Day Time Frames.
Number of trades implemented and how often are they implemented in LTTT: Two (2) trades every 2 to 12 weeks. Depends heavily on what's seen in the indicators in those commonly used time frames.
Capital Safeguards for LTTT: Once bought on exchange, immediately take off exchange and store in cold storage. When selling immediately take tethers off exchange and store in cold storage until a few days before likelihood of reversal to upward pressure again. For example, it currently looks like possible reversal around mid September. Time to transfer Tethers back to exchange around September 9th. That date could change as September 9th approaches based on what we are seeing in the indicators.
Percentage of capital used for LTTT: 15 Percent.
Mid Term Trend Trading (MTTT):Lowest and Highest TF's used in MTTT: 45 minute (45m) is the LOWEST Time Frame (TF) used in MTTT and 12h is the HIGHEST TF used in MTTT.
Common TF's used in MTTT: 45m, 60m, 90m, 2h, 3h, 4h, 6h, 8h, 10h and 12h.
Time Frame(s) is used as a Compass Majority of the Time in MTTT: 4h and 6h Time Frames.
Number of trades implemented and how often are they implemented in MTTT: Two (2) trades every 12 hours to 96 hours. Depends heavily on what's seen in the indicators in those commonly used time frames.
Capital Safeguards for MTTT: The remaining 10 percent I use for Mid Term Trend Trading and 5 percent used for High Time Frame Scalping and Low Time Frame Scalping is kept on exchange. This way, 85 percent of my capital [Whether it's in crypto, precious metals or FIAT] is ALWAYS protected. While the remaining 15 percent for Mid Term Trend Trading, High Time Frame Scalping and Low Time Frame Scalping is all that's at risk.
Percentage of capital used for MTTT: 10 Percent.
High Time Frame Scalping - (HTFS): This type of trading is often done with margin trading because the price movement is often large enough to cover the trading fees under the right market conditions.Lowest and Highest TF's used in HTFS: 5 minute (5m) is the LOWEST Time Frame (TF) used in HTFS and 3h is the HIGHEST TF used in HTFS.
Common TF's used in HTFS: 5m, 10m, 15m, 20m, 30m, 45m, 60m, 90m, 2h and 3h.
Time Frame(s) used as a Compass Majority of the Time in HTFS: This can vary depending on the crypto pair traded and the market conditions seen in the indicators. The compass usually falls somewhere between the 15m and 45m time frames based on the crypto pair traded and the market conditions seen in the indicators.
Number of trades implemented and how often are they implemented in HTFS: Two (2) trades every 30 minutes to as high as 15 hours. Depends heavily on what's seen in the indicators in those commonly used time frames. It also depends on when my trailing stop is triggered. Which is why my second trade to exit and/or reverse position could last as long as 15 hours before my trailing stop is finally triggered; my market sell is automatically implemented and I begin a new position to the reverse if the indicators are favorable. Sometimes, I have to be patient and wait after a trailing stop is triggered to allow the indicators to show me a more obvious directional pressure signal before opening another position.
Capital Safeguards for HTFS: The remaining 10 percent I use for Mid Term Trend Trading and 5 percent used for High Time Frame Scalping and Low Time Frame Scalping is kept on exchange. This way, 85 percent of my capital [Whether it's in crypto, precious metals or FIAT] is ALWAYS protected. While the remaining 15 percent for Mid Term Trend Trading, High Time Frame Scalping and Low Time Frame Scalping is all that's at risk.
Percentage of capital used for HTFS and/or LTFS: 5 Percent for HTFS and/or LTFS.
Low Time Frame Scalping - (LTFS): This type of trading is often done with very low leverage since the price movement may not move quite enough at times to justify paying the higher fees associated with higher leverage. Lowest and Highest TF's used in LTFS: 1 minute (1m) is the LOWEST Time Frame (TF) used in LTFS and 30m is the HIGHEST TF used in LTFS.
Common TF's used in LTFS: 1m, 2m, 3m, 5m, 10m, 15m, 20m and 30m.
Time Frame(s) used as a Compass Majority of the Time in LTFS: This can vary depending on the crypto pair traded and the market conditions seen in the indicators. The compass usually falls somewhere between the 2m and 10m time frames based on the crypto pair traded and the market conditions seen in the indicators.
Number of trades implemented and how often are they implemented in LTFS: Two (2) trades every 5 minutes to as high as 45 minutes. Depends heavily on what's seen in the indicators in those commonly used time frames. It also depends on when my trailing stop is triggered. Which is why my second trade to exit and/or reverse position could last as long as 45 minutes before my trailing stop is finally triggered; my market sell is automatically implemented and I begin a new position to the reverse if the indicators are favorable. Sometimes, I have to be patient and wait after a trailing stop is triggered to allow the indicators to show me a more obvious directional pressure signal before opening another position.
Capital Safeguards for LTFS: The remaining 10 percent I use for Mid Term Trend Trading and 5 percent used for High Time Frame Scalping and/or Low Time Frame Scalping is kept on exchange. This way, 85 percent of my capital [Whether it's in crypto, precious metals or FIAT] is ALWAYS protected. While the remaining 15 percent for Mid Term Trend Trading, High Time Frame Scalping and Low Time Frame Scalping is all that's at risk.
Percentage of capital used for HTFS and/or LTFS: 5 Percent for HTFS and/or LTFS.
I mentioned "Distribution" and "Accumulation" above. The chart provided below is Bitcoin History From 2012 to Present Day Using Wyckoff Method. You will see the year of "Distribution" we had in 2014 and 2018. You will also see the 3.5 months of "Accumulation" we had in 2012, 9 months of "Accumulation" we had in 2015 and 4 months of "Accumulation" we had in 2019. AFTER "Accumulation" we had bouts of "Re-Accumulation" in 2013, 2016, 2017 and Re-Accumulation occurring now in this 3rd Quarter of 2019. Here is a link to a brief tutorial for Wyckoff Method:
https://stockcharts.com/school/doku.php?id=chart_school:market_analysis:the_wyckoff_method