Going Long vs Short in Crypto Explained
What it means to go long or short with leverage, how each side makes or loses money, and how liquidation differs.
Going long
A long bets that price will rise. You profit as price goes up and lose as it falls. A long is liquidated when price drops far enough that your margin can no longer cover the loss.
Going short
A short bets that price will fall. You profit as price drops and lose as it rises - shorting lets you make money in a downtrend. A short is liquidated when price rises far enough against you.
The risk is not symmetric
A long can only fall to zero, but a short has unlimited theoretical loss if price keeps rising - which is why short squeezes can be violent. Either way, leverage sets how close your liquidation price sits to entry. Test both sides risk-free on Paper Trade.
FAQ
What does going short mean in crypto?
Shorting means betting that price will fall: you profit when it drops and lose when it rises, which lets you make money in a downtrend.
Is shorting riskier than going long?
A short has unlimited theoretical loss if price keeps rising, while a long can only fall to zero - so an unhedged short can be riskier, and short squeezes can be sharp.
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