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.

Practice long & short →

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.

For information only — not financial advice. Explore the live data on the markets hub.