How to use contract trading to make long and short two-way profits?

Contract trading lets you profit from crypto price swings without owning the asset, using leverage to amplify gains—or losses—by betting on price direction with long or short positions.

Jun 21, 2025 at 05:14 am

What is Contract Trading and How Does It Work?

Contract trading, also known as futures trading, allows traders to speculate on the future price of cryptocurrencies without owning the actual asset. This form of trading involves entering into a contract that derives its value from an underlying cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum. Traders can take either long positions (betting the price will rise) or short positions (betting the price will fall). The key advantage lies in the ability to profit regardless of market direction, making it especially appealing in volatile markets.

In most cases, contract trading platforms offer leverage, which means you can control larger positions with a smaller amount of capital. However, this also increases risk. Contracts typically come with expiration dates, although perpetual contracts (which have no expiry) are more common in crypto due to their flexibility.

Understanding Long Positions in Contract Trading

Taking a long position in contract trading means you believe the price of a cryptocurrency will increase. To execute this, you buy a futures contract at the current market price, expecting to sell it later at a higher price for profit.

To begin:

• Choose a reliable crypto derivatives exchange like Binance, Bybit, or OKX.
• Navigate to the futures section and select your preferred cryptocurrency.
• Set your leverage level (e.g., 10x, 20x), keeping in mind that higher leverage increases both gains and losses.
• Place a buy order at the market price or set a limit price.
• Monitor your position closely and use stop-loss and take-profit orders to manage risk.

Important: Always assess the broader market conditions before going long, including macroeconomic factors, news events, and technical indicators like moving averages and RSI.

Executing Short Positions for Downward Market Profits

A short position allows you to profit when the price of a cryptocurrency drops. In contract trading, this involves selling a futures contract you don’t own, with the intent to buy it back at a lower price later.

Steps to short:

• Open your chosen futures trading platform.
• Select the cryptocurrency you wish to short.
• Switch the order type to sell instead of buy.
• Choose your leverage ratio carefully.
• Place the sell order and monitor the price movement.
• Close the position once the price falls to your target level.

Note: Shorting requires confidence in your analysis of bearish trends. Tools like volume analysis, candlestick patterns, and negative sentiment indicators can help identify optimal entry points. Also, be cautious of sudden reversals and liquidation risks, especially under high leverage.

Risk Management Techniques in Two-Way Contract Trading

Effective risk management is crucial in contract trading because of the amplified exposure through leverage. Without proper controls, losses can quickly exceed your initial investment.

Essential strategies include:

• Setting stop-loss orders: Automatically close a position if it moves against you beyond a certain point.
• Position sizing: Only risk a small percentage of your total capital per trade, usually between 1% to 5%.
• Diversifying across assets: Avoid putting all funds into one contract; spread out across different cryptocurrencies.
• Using hedging techniques: For example, holding both long and short contracts in correlated assets to offset potential losses.

Critical: Never ignore margin requirements. Platforms may issue margin calls or even liquidate your position if your account equity falls below the required maintenance level. Regularly check your open positions and available balance.

Practical Example: Making Profits in Both Market Directions

Let’s assume you're watching Bitcoin's price fluctuate around $30,000. You believe it could go up but also see potential for a pullback due to resistance levels.

Scenario:

• Open a long position at $30,000 with 10x leverage.
• Simultaneously, set up a short position at $31,000 with the same leverage.
• If the price rises to $31,500, close the long position for profit and let the short ride if it starts falling.
• Alternatively, if the price drops to $29,000 after rising slightly, close the long early and let the short reach your target.

This strategy, often called range trading or scalping, allows you to capture gains in both directions by managing entries and exits strategically.

Key takeaway: Real-time monitoring and quick decision-making are essential for executing such dual-direction trades successfully.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I lose more than my initial investment in contract trading?

Yes, especially when using leveraged contracts, your losses can exceed your initial deposit. If the market moves sharply against your position and you fail to meet a margin call, the exchange may liquidate your position, potentially leaving you with a negative balance depending on the platform’s policies.

Is contract trading suitable for beginners?

While contract trading offers opportunities, it comes with high complexity and risk. Beginners should start with demo accounts, learn about order types, understand market depth, and study technical analysis before committing real funds. Education and practice are vital.

How do funding rates affect perpetual contract trading?

Funding rates are periodic payments exchanged between long and short traders in perpetual contracts. These rates ensure that the contract price stays close to the spot price. If you hold a position during a funding rate settlement, you may either pay or receive funds based on whether the rate is positive or negative.

Do I need to pay taxes on profits from contract trading?

Tax obligations vary by jurisdiction, but many countries treat crypto trading profits as taxable income. It’s important to keep detailed records of all trades, including timestamps, amounts, and realized gains or losses. Consult a tax professional familiar with cryptocurrency regulations in your region.