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This bull run is an exciting moment in the markets. Led by $BTC continuously making all time highs, there seems to be no end in sight. Sure, there are corrections here and there but the momentum remains, driven by favorable policies after Donald Trump's win in the election and institutional capital entry like Microstrategy accumulating Bitcoin. With expectations of continuing rise in prices in 2025, when do we sell?
Before crypto, when I was trading stocks, one of my mistakes in trading was not knowing when to sell. Sometimes I'd become attached to a stock that I would be hesitant to sell it. I would have unreasonable target price like 1000x. Then the price corrects or worse, the market reverses and I would suffer losses instead.
Taking profits in trading is an important part of a successful strategy. It ensures you lock in gains while managing your emotions. If you are confused on when to sell, you may find these helpful:
Have an Exit Strategy and Stick to It No Matter What
Before entering a trade, you should already have a plan on your exit strategy. Either when the target price is reached, or cut loss if the trade goes against you. Follow your trading plan no matter what because you made this trading plan without emotion. When you already bought and are gaining or losing, emotions of greed or fear sets in. That's dangerous for traders because you will not be able to close your trade. Have a trading plan and follow it.
Sell on Staggered Basis
Selling on staggered basis is what I'm doing now to lock in gains. It's like DCA but in reverse. I would sell partially when my crypto has reached a certain target price. For example, Selling half when it has gained 25% and sell 20% when it gains 50% and so on.
On the other hand, you can also set trailing stop-losses. For example, your crypto is already up by 20%. You can decide to sell 50% of it should it correct by 5%. Then also sell on staggered basis as it goes down some more. This way, you can lock-in your profits and avoid losses when the market starts to reverse.
Consider Market Conditions
You should be able to read charts and check market conditions if it's already over brought. It means there will be a pull back or correction soon and it may be time to sell.
Check Your Emotions
When your crypto has pumped big and you determined that it's already over brought and technicals are already telling you sell, avoid being greedy and hoping for one more big pump.
On the other hand, also avoid fear or panic selling during small dips. As stated above, you should have a plan when to cut your losses before entering a trade.
Conclusion
Remember that no one has ever lost money by taking profits. Don't regret lost opportunity when your crypto pumps further after you sold, it's part of trading. We don't know what will happen in the future but we can plan for any eventuality if we profit on a trade or if a trade goes against us. Follow your exit strategy and avoid trading on emotions. Plan your trade and trade your plan.