A:Beginners:Guide:to:Long:and:Short:in:Futures:Trading

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4 min read

1. Bearish Outlook & Short Selling

Bearish outlook: You anticipate the market will decline.
Short selling: Selling after predicting a price drop. In spot markets, short selling is unavailable, but you can execute it via futures or margin trading.

Short position: Investors deem the current price excessively high and foresee a market downturn. Thus, they sell their coins at the present price and intend to repurchase them later at a lower price—profiting from the difference. This process constitutes short selling.

Example: A coin currently trades at $10. You predict a price decrease but possess only $2 or $3—insufficient to purchase one coin.
You employ $2 as collateral (margin) to borrow one coin from a third party. You immediately sell it at $10, yet cannot withdraw the $10 since you owe the coin.

When the price falls to $5, you use $5 from your $10 cash to buy one coin and return it to the lender (e.g., the exchange). The remaining $5 represents your profit (excluding interest). This demonstrates profiting from a short position.

However, if the price rises instead of falling, your margin may incur losses. If losses surpass your margin, it results in liquidation, potentially erasing all capital.

2. Bullish Outlook & Going Long

Bullish outlook: You expect the market to ascend.
Going long: In spot markets, purchasing a coin equates to going long. You buy at a low price and sell high to gain from the difference.

Long position: Optimistic investors acquire coins now, anticipating price increases, then sell at elevated prices for profit. This buy-low-sell-high approach defines going long.

Example: SOL currently trades at $140. You hold a positive outlook, so you buy at $140. Subsequently, SOL climbs to $280. You sell, yielding $140 in profit. This exemplifies going long.

In essence, "long" and "short" denote groups sharing similar market expectations, not specific individuals.

Refer to this summary image for clarity:

Summary

  • Going Long: Anticipating price increases. Buy low, sell high for profit.
  • Short Selling: Predicting price declines. Borrow and sell high, repurchase low, return, and profit.
  • Bulls: Optimistic investors.
  • Bears: Pessimistic investors.

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