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How to earn income during Bitcoin's decline: a practical guide for traders
Major Risks Before Profiting from Cryptocurrency Decline
Before implementing bear market monetization strategies, it is important to understand the initial risks. Unlike traditional growth investing, this approach carries potentially unlimited losses. The price of Bitcoin can surge significantly above the initial level, quickly liquidating positions. Additionally, unforeseen price jumps caused by news about regulation or technical failures can wipe out profits within minutes.
The Essence of Short Selling in the Cryptocurrency World
Short selling is an investment method where a trader borrows a certain amount of Bitcoin and immediately sells it for fiat or altcoins. Expecting further price declines, they buy back the asset at a lower cost, return the loan, and lock in the difference as profit. This allows extracting value from bearish trends when most market participants are incurring losses.
Current Bitcoin Metrics:
Reasons That Drive Traders to Short Bitcoin
Earning Against the Trend. In falling markets, short positions generate profit, while long positions are unprofitable.
Protecting Investment Portfolios. Shorts can serve as insurance for long-term holders, neutralizing declines in core assets.
Utilizing Volatility. Sharp Bitcoin price fluctuations create numerous entry and exit points for profit extraction.
Tools for Successful Short Selling
Technical Analysis as a Foundation
Successful traders rely on chart patterns and quantitative indicators. Moving averages help determine trend direction, RSI (Relative Strength Index) signals oversold conditions, and MACD identifies moments when momentum may change. Combining these tools helps find optimal entry and exit points.
Fundamental Factors
Political decisions by regulators, protocol changes in Bitcoin, macroeconomic trends—all influence price. Traders should monitor news and understand how they might impact market psychology.
Position Size and Leverage Management
Leverage amplifies both potential gains and risks. Improper use of leverage can force liquidation even with small adverse movements. Stop-loss orders should be set at levels that allow your account to withstand several consecutive losing trades.
Critical Challenges and Limitations
Potentially Unlimited Losses: In theory, the price can rise multiple times, leaving short sellers with huge losses.
Short-term Market Movements: Bitcoin can swing 5-10% within hours, destroying accumulated profits.
Regulatory Risks: Government decisions to ban or restrict cryptocurrencies can trigger panic selling or buying.
Psychological Factors: Short selling requires iron discipline—holding a position “until victory,” hoping the price will reverse, can be a trap.
Practical Recommendations for Beginners
Start with small positions to understand the mechanics of short selling without risking large capital. Always have a clearly defined stop-loss before entering a position. Do not rely solely on one indicator or analysis type—diversify your decision-making approaches. Regularly review past trades to identify systematic errors.
Summary
The opportunity to profit from the decline of cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin, attracts many market participants. However, it requires not only a deep understanding of technical and fundamental factors but also strict discipline in risk management. Those who can effectively combine analysis, positioning, and loss control may extract significant value from volatility. For others, short selling can become an expensive lesson. Remember: in cryptocurrency markets, capital is preserved before it is increased.