Back to blog
Research

Should I Use Leverage When Trading Crypto?

Learn whether you should use leverage when trading crypto. Explore the risks, benefits, and how Token Metrics’ AI tools can help you trade smarter with leverage.
Token Metrics Team
8 min
Want Smarter Crypto Picks—Free?
See unbiased Token Metrics Ratings for BTC, ETH, and top alts.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
 No credit card | 1-click unsubscribe

Leverage trading has become a hot topic in the crypto world. Many traders are attracted by the promise of amplified profits—but fail to realize it also magnifies losses. If you’ve been wondering, “Should I use leverage when trading crypto?” the short answer is: only if you fully understand the risks and have a solid strategy.

In this guide, we’ll break down what leverage trading is, how it works, its pros and cons, and how AI-powered tools like Token Metrics can help you make smarter decisions when trading with leverage.

What Is Leverage Trading in Crypto?

Leverage trading lets you borrow funds from an exchange to increase your position size, allowing you to control more capital than you actually own.

For example:

  • If you have $1,000 and use 10x leverage, you’re trading with $10,000.
  • A 10% price increase can give you a 100% profit on your original investment.
  • But a 10% price drop could wipe out your position completely.

Popular platforms like Binance, Bybit, and OKX offer leverage levels from 2x to 125x for certain assets.

Pros of Leverage Trading

Leverage isn’t all bad. When used responsibly, it offers several benefits:

1. Higher Profit Potential

Even small price movements can generate significant returns when using leverage.

2. Portfolio Efficiency

Traders can free up capital for other positions while maintaining large exposure in a leveraged trade.

3. Opportunities in Bear Markets

Leverage allows for short selling, enabling you to profit when prices go down.

Cons of Leverage Trading

The same factors that make leverage attractive also make it high-risk:

1. Amplified Losses

Just as leverage magnifies profits, it magnifies losses. A minor price drop could liquidate your entire position.

2. Liquidation Risk

When your collateral falls below a certain threshold, the exchange automatically closes your position, locking in your losses.

3. Emotional Stress

Leverage trading is fast-paced and stressful, often leading to panic selling or revenge trading after losses.

Should Beginners Use Leverage?

No.
If you’re new to trading, avoid leverage until you have:

  • A proven strategy with consistent results in spot trading.
  • Strong risk management skills (e.g., using stop-loss orders).
  • The ability to stay disciplined under pressure.

For beginners, leveraged trading can be a fast track to losing your capital.

When Does It Make Sense to Use Leverage?

For experienced traders, leverage can make sense when:

  • You’re hedging your portfolio against downside risk.
  • You have high conviction in a trade and want to maximize gains.
  • You’re trading high-liquidity assets like BTC or ETH with well-defined stop-losses.

How Token Metrics Helps You Trade Smarter with Leverage

Leverage trading requires precision, and that’s where Token Metrics gives you an edge.

1. AI-Powered Bullish & Bearish Signals

Identify high-probability trades with real-time AI signals based on 80+ technical indicators. This helps you avoid entering positions blindly.

2. Trader & Investor Grades

Use Trader Grades for short-term trading opportunities and Investor Grades for long-term positions—helping you decide when to scale up or reduce leverage.

3. Risk Assessment Tools

Token Metrics evaluates crypto projects and market trends to reduce exposure to high-risk assets—a must for leveraged positions.

4. AI-Driven Indices

Don’t want to trade manually? Use our AI-managed crypto indices to gain diversified exposure without taking unnecessary leveraged risks.

5. Narrative Detection

Our AI identifies emerging narratives before they hit mainstream attention, giving you a strategic edge in timing trades—crucial when using leverage.

Best Practices for Using Leverage in Crypto

If you decide to use leverage, follow these rules:

  1. Start Small: Use low leverage (2x–3x) instead of going all in at 20x or 50x.
  2. Set Stop-Loss Orders: Always predetermine your maximum loss tolerance.
  3. Trade Liquid Assets: Stick to high-volume coins like BTC and ETH to avoid slippage.
  4. Don’t Overtrade: Only use leverage on trades with strong conviction and proper analysis.
  5. Use AI Tools: Let Token Metrics guide your entries and exits with data-driven insights.

Why Overleveraging Is Dangerous

Many traders lose money by overleveraging, which leads to:

  • Margin calls and forced liquidations.
  • Revenge trading, where losses push traders into reckless decisions.
  • Complete portfolio wipeouts from one bad trade.

Pro Tip: Only trade with leverage on funds you can afford to lose.

Final Thoughts

So, should you use leverage when trading crypto?

For beginners, the answer is no—focus on mastering spot trading first. For experienced traders, leverage can be a powerful tool when used with strict risk management and data-driven insights.

That’s where Token Metrics makes a difference. With AI-powered trading signals, real-time risk analysis, and narrative tracking, Token Metrics helps you trade smarter, reduce emotional mistakes, and optimize your leverage strategy.

Leverage can make you or break you—so don’t go in blind. Use Token Metrics to guide your trades and stay ahead of the market.

Build Smarter Crypto Apps &
AI Agents in Minutes, Not Months
Real-time prices, trading signals, and on-chain insights all from one powerful API.
Grab a Free API Key
About Token Metrics
Token Metrics: AI-powered crypto research and ratings platform. We help investors make smarter decisions with unbiased Token Metrics Ratings, on-chain analytics, and editor-curated “Top 10” guides. Our platform distills thousands of data points into clear scores, trends, and alerts you can act on.
30 Employees
analysts, data scientists, and crypto engineers
Daily Briefings
concise market insights and “Top Picks”
Transparent & Compliant
Sponsored ≠ Ratings; research remains independent
Want Smarter Crypto Picks—Free?
See unbiased Token Metrics Ratings for BTC, ETH, and top alts.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
 No credit card | 1-click unsubscribe
Token Metrics Team
Token Metrics Team

Recent Posts

Research

From Research to Execution: Turning Token Metrics Insights Into Trades

Token Metrics Team
10 min read

You've spent 30 minutes analyzing Token Metrics' AI-powered ratings. VIRTUAL shows 89/100, RENDER at 82/100, JUP at 78/100. The market regime indicator flashes bullish. Your portfolio optimization tool suggests increasing exposure to AI and DePIN sectors. The research is clear: these tokens offer compelling risk-adjusted opportunities.

Then reality hits. You need to: calculate position sizes, open exchanges where these tokens trade, execute eight separate buy orders, track cost basis for each, set rebalancing reminders, monitor for exit signals, and repeat this process as ratings update weekly. Two hours later, you've bought two tokens and added "finish portfolio construction" to your weekend to-do list.

This is the execution gap—the chasm between knowing what to do and actually doing it. Token Metrics surveyed 5,200 subscribers in 2024: 78% reported "not fully implementing" their research-based strategies, with "time constraints" (42%), "operational complexity" (31%), and "decision fatigue" (19%) as primary barriers. The platform delivers world-class crypto intelligence to 50,000+ users, but turning insights into positions remained frustratingly manual—until TM Global 100 closed the loop.

The Research Excellence Problem

Token Metrics established itself as the premier crypto analytics platform through comprehensive, data-driven analysis. The platform provides:

  • AI-Powered Token Ratings: Token Metrics analyzes 6,000+ cryptocurrencies using machine learning models trained on:
    • Technical indicators: Price momentum, volume patterns, trend strength
    • Fundamental metrics: Developer activity, protocol revenue, tokenomics
    • On-chain data: Holder distribution, exchange flows, network growth
    • Market structure: Liquidity analysis, derivatives positioning
    • Sentiment analysis: Social trends, news sentiment, community engagement
  • Each token receives grades from 0-100 across multiple categories: Trader Grade, Investor Grade, Overall Grade, Risk Score.

The power: In Q3 2024, tokens rated 80+ outperformed the market by 47% on average over the following quarter. The research identifies opportunities with statistical edge.

The problem: Knowing VIRTUAL scores 89/100 doesn't automatically put it in your portfolio.

Market Regime Signals

Token Metrics' regime detection analyzes multi-factor conditions to classify market environments as bullish, bearish, or neutral. These signals inform portfolio positioning—should you be risk-on (full crypto exposure) or risk-off (defensive/stablecoins)?

Historical accuracy: Token Metrics' regime signals showed 68-72% directional accuracy over 4-8 week periods across 2022-2024, helping subscribers avoid the worst of bear market drawdowns.

The problem: When the signal flips bearish, you need to manually exit dozens of positions. Most subscribers acknowledged the signal but procrastinated execution—often until too late.

Trading Signals

Beyond broad regime indicators, Token Metrics provides specific entry/exit signals for individual tokens based on technical and fundamental triggers.

Example signals (October 2024):

  • SOL: "Strong buy" at $148 (reached $185 within 6 weeks)
  • RENDER: "Buy accumulation" at $5.20 (reached $7.80 within 8 weeks)
  • LINK: "Take partial profits" at $15.50 (consolidated to $12.20 over 4 weeks)

The problem: By the time you see the signal, research supporting rationale, decide position size, and execute—the entry has moved or the window closed.

Portfolio Optimization

Token Metrics' portfolio tools suggest optimal allocations based on your risk tolerance, time horizon, and conviction levels. They show which tokens to overweight, which to trim, and what overall exposure makes sense.

The insight: "Your portfolio is 45% BTC, 30% ETH, 25% alts. Optimal allocation for your risk profile: 35% BTC, 25% ETH, 40% high-rated alts with 5% in AI agents, 8% DePIN, 12% DeFi, 15% layer-1s."

The problem: Implementing these recommendations requires many trades, rebalancing calculations, tracking new cost basis, and ongoing maintenance.

The Execution Gap: Where Good Research Dies

Token Metrics' internal analysis revealed a striking pattern: subscribers using premium research features showed significantly better token selection (measured by ratings of holdings) but only marginally better performance than casual users. The bottleneck wasn't research quality—it was implementation.

Five Common Execution Failures

  1. Analysis Paralysis: "I spent three hours reviewing ratings and signals. Then I couldn't decide which tokens to prioritize, what position sizes to use, or when exactly to execute. I ended up doing nothing." The paradox: More information should enable better decisions. Instead, comprehensive research sometimes creates decision overload. With 50+ tokens rated 70+, which 10-15 do you actually buy?
  2. Implementation Friction: Even after deciding, execution proves tedious: Check which exchanges list each token, calculate position sizes maintaining diversification, execute orders across platforms, pay fees, track entry prices, set up monitoring. Most subscribers gave up after 3-5 tokens, leaving portfolios partially implemented and suboptimal.
  3. Timing Delays: Research with delayed execution captures a fraction of potential returns. For example, signals issued on Monday may be acted upon days later, missing ideal entry points and moves.
  4. Inconsistent Rebalancing: Monthly rebalancing optimizes portfolios but is operationally burdensome. Many subscribers rebalanced quarterly or less often, causing drift from optimal allocations.
  5. Emotional Override: When market signals turn bearish, the instinct to hold or doubt the research sometimes overrides systematic execution, leading to subpar outcomes.

The Missing Infrastructure: Automatic Implementation

Token Metrics recognized these patterns and asked: What if research insights automatically became portfolio positions? What if ratings updates triggered systematic rebalancing? What if regime signals executed defensive positioning without user decision-making? This led to TM Global 100 Index—Token Metrics' execution layer that converts research into action.

How TM Global 100 Implements Token Metrics Research

Research Input #1: Market Cap Rankings + Quality Screening

Token Metrics maintains data on 6,000+ tokens. TM Global 100 systematically holds the top 100 by market cap—correlating strongly with high-rated tokens (85%+ of top-100 score 60+).

Execution: Weekly rebalancing automatically updates holdings to current top-100, ensuring your portfolio aligns with market leaders.

Research Input #2: Market Regime Signals

When signals indicate bullish conditions, TM Global 100 holds the top-100 basket. When signals turn bearish, it shifts entirely to stablecoins. All transitions happen automatically, without manual intervention.

Research Input #3: Rebalancing Discipline

Weekly rebalancing is optimal for systematic profit-taking and reaccumulation. The index rebalances every Monday automatically, maintaining up-to-date weights without user effort.

Research Input #4: Diversification Principles

The index provides instant 100-token diversification through a single purchase, making broad exposure achievable in seconds compared to manual management.

Real Subscriber Stories: Before and After

Case Study 1: The Overwhelmed Analyst

Background: 29-year-old analyst since 2022, managing 25 tokens manually, spending 6-8 hours weekly. Missed opportunities due to operational hurdles. After TM Global 100 (2024): Portfolio automatically holds 100 tokens, rebalances weekly, with returns improving from +23% to +38%, and no missed opportunities.

Quote: "TM Global 100 turns every insight into an automatic position. Finally, my returns match the research quality."

Case Study 2: The Signal Ignorer

Background: 45-year-old focused on high conviction, ignoring regime signals. After TM Global 100 (2024): Systematic rebalancing and regime-based allocations improved risk management, with +42% return on the index. Quote: "Automation removed the psychological barrier. The research was always good; I was the broken execution layer."

Case Study 3: The Time-Strapped Professional

Background: 36-year-old limited time, holding just BTC and ETH. After TM Global 100 (2024): Automatic weekly rebalancing and comprehensive exposure increased returns from +18% to +41%. Quote: "Finally, research became ROI—no more operational burden."

The Feedback Loop: How TM Global 100 Improves Token Metrics Research

The system works bidirectionally. User data helps refine research by revealing which signals and features produce the best risk-adjusted results, and what visualization tools reduce operational hurdles. This cycle benefits all users through continuous improvement.

The Broader Execution Suite (Beyond TM Global 100)

Token Metrics is developing sector-specific indices, risk-stratified portfolios, and a portfolio sync tool to suit different strategies and risk levels. The goal is to provide flexible, automated solutions aligned with diverse user preferences.

Manual Implementation Guide (for those who prefer it)

For active managers, a structured weekly workflow can help bridge research and execution:

  1. Review market regime and weekly commentary (20 min)
  2. Assess ratings for holdings and potential entries (30 min)
  3. Execute trades, update records (15 min)
  4. Review portfolio and prepare next steps (15-25 min)

This approach balances active management with leveraging Token Metrics’ insights, reducing operational burden while maintaining control.

Cost-Benefit Analysis: Subscription + Index vs. Subscription Alone

Combining Token Metrics subscription with TM Global 100 can maximize value—automatic rebalancing, market regime adaptation, and broad diversification—delivering a streamlined, cost-effective way to implement research.

Conclusion: Close the Loop

Token Metrics offers exceptional AI-driven crypto analysis, market regime signals, and portfolio tools. However, transforming insights into actual positions is often where many miss out. TM Global 100 automates this process—turning research into systematic action, immediate risk management, and continuous portfolio renewal.

For subscribers frustrated with manual implementation or seeking a more systematic approach, TM Global 100 is the evolution from analysis platform to comprehensive investment solution. Great research deserves great execution—now it has it.

Powered by Token Metrics

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the execution gap in crypto investing?

The execution gap is the disconnect between identifying good research-driven opportunities and actually implementing those ideas in your portfolio.

How does TM Global 100 automate research execution?

TM Global 100 converts Token Metrics research—ratings, market regimes, and diversification—into systematic, automatic portfolio implementation and rebalancing.

Can I still use Token Metrics research manually?

Yes, the platform provides guides and structures for active managers who want to implement research manually but benefit from the insights, signals, and optimization tools.

Does TM Global 100 adapt to changing market conditions?

Yes, the index automatically rebalances weekly and switches between top-100 tokens and stablecoins based on market regime signals.

Is Token Metrics developing other automated index and portfolio tools?

Yes, sector indices, risk-based portfolios, and portfolio sync tools are in development to provide a broader execution suite for various strategies.

Research

Crypto Indices for Busy Professionals: Set It and (Almost) Forget It

Token Metrics Team
9 min read

You're a senior consultant working 60-hour weeks. A product manager juggling three launches. A physician managing a full patient roster. You understand crypto's potential but lack 15 hours weekly to manage portfolios, track 100 tokens, or execute rebalances across multiple exchanges. Traditional crypto investing demands attention you can't spare—but Token Metrics' TM Global 100 Index requires approximately 12 minutes monthly.

This isn't marketing hyperbole. Token Metrics tracked time investment across 1,400 professional users (defined as earning $75k+ annually in demanding careers) over six months. Those managing diversified crypto portfolios manually averaged 14.7 hours weekly on crypto-related activities. Those using TM Global 100 averaged 0.8 hours monthly—a 98.7% reduction in time commitment while achieving comparable or superior returns.

The difference between crypto as a second job and crypto as an automated allocation comes down to infrastructure. When rebalancing happens automatically, regime switches occur systematically, and monitoring replaces micromanaging, crypto becomes accessible to professionals who value their time at $100-500+ per hour.

The Professional's Time Problem

High-earning professionals face a unique constraint: time is their most valuable asset. While a college student might spend 20 hours weekly researching altcoins, a neurosurgeon earning $400/hour loses $8,000 in opportunity cost doing the same. This creates a fundamental question: does active crypto management justify its time investment?

The True Cost of DIY Crypto

Token Metrics surveyed 840 professionals who attempted self-managed crypto portfolios in 2023-2024. Average weekly time allocation included market research and news monitoring for 3.2 hours, portfolio rebalancing for 2.8 hours, transaction tracking for taxes at 1.5 hours, exchange account management for 0.9 hours, security and wallet maintenance for 0.7 hours, and strategy adjustment and learning for 5.6 hours, totaling 14.7 hours weekly or 764 hours annually.

  • Opportunity Cost for $150k earning professional: 764 hours × $75/hour = $57,300
  • Opportunity Cost for $300k earning professional: 764 hours × $150/hour = $114,600

These figures exclude the mental overhead—the Sunday evenings spent updating spreadsheets, late-night price checks, and constant portfolio anxiety.

The math is clear: a crypto portfolio returning 30% annually on $50,000 can generate $15,000 gains, but the professional might have spent $57,300 to $114,600 in time management. The effective hourly rate of manual management could be negative, highlighting the high opportunity cost involved.

The "Just Hire Someone" Problem

The simple solution might be delegation. However, crypto wealth management often requires minimum investments of $500k-$1M, high management fees (around 2% plus performance fees), and custody risks. Many professional managers mainly buy Bitcoin and Ethereum, offering limited sophistication compared to the fees charged.

For professionals with smaller portfolios ($50k-$500k), accessing tailored management is either impractical or inefficient, creating a demand for a third, smarter option.

The Set-It-And-Almost-Forget-It Solution

Token Metrics designed TM Global 100 specifically for time-constrained professionals seeking sophisticated crypto exposure. Though not entirely hands-off, this systematic approach requires minimal ongoing effort.

Initial Setup and Ease

The complete onboarding takes around 90 seconds: navigate to Token Metrics Indices, select TM Global 100, review the strategy, click "Buy Index," connect your wallet, enter the amount, review disclosures, and confirm. This process vastly compresses the traditional setup time of hours or days, which involves opening accounts, KYC, research, and trade execution.

Monthly Maintenance and Automation

After purchase, ongoing management involves about 12 minutes per month—checking your dashboard, reviewing P&L, monitoring market regimes, and confirming portfolios. Additional optional quarterly or annual reviews enhance oversight but are not mandatory.

Automated Portfolio Management

Token Metrics' system automatically rebalances weekly, switches regimes based on real-time signals, and manages security and custody without user intervention. Notifications inform users of regime changes and significant events, while transparency features allow instant verification of holdings and transactions.

Security and Self-Custody

Funds remain under your control with self-custodial wallets, protected by multi-factor authentication. The system handles all transaction execution and gas optimization, maintaining full transparency and security.

Performance Tracking and Reporting

Real-time P&L, historical charts, and detailed transaction logs with tax-ready exports simplify performance analysis and tax reporting, dramatically reducing manual effort and potential errors.

Comparison to Traditional Passive Investments

TM Global 100 shares similarities with index funds: diversification, automatic rebalancing, low decision-making, transparency, and tax efficiency. However, it offers unique features like regime switching to stablecoins, weekly rebalancing, and self-custody, tailored for crypto's volatility and market dynamics.

Is This Approach Right for You?

This system is suitable for professionals earning $75k+ who value systematic approaches, are comfortable with 2-10% crypto allocations, and prefer monitoring over micromanagement. It may not suit those with a short time horizon, intolerance for volatility, or minimal emergency funds.

Conclusion: Reclaim Your Time, Keep the Exposure

For busy professionals, manual crypto management is a significant time sink with high opportunity costs. Delegating to formal management services often entails high minimums and fees. Token Metrics offers a systematic, automated solution with minimal ongoing effort—requiring about 12 minutes a month—to maintain exposure without sacrificing portfolio integrity or control.

This approach isn't about outright "set it and forget it"—crypto's evolving infrastructure demands periodic oversight. Still, it saves over 98% of the time needed for manual management, allowing professionals to focus on their careers while maintaining exposure to the crypto asset class.

When to Pay Attention

Token Metrics recommends brief checks during regime switches, major market events, significant personal financial changes, and year-end tax planning—each taking only a few minutes. This keeps you informed without micromanaging your assets.

What Not to Monitor

Daily price movements, individual token news, social media noise, and competitor index performance can generally be ignored, as the system manages these factors. Gas fee fluctuations and rebalancing decisions are automated to minimize user burden.

Professional Success Stories: Time Reclaimed

Case Study 1: Management Consultant: Managed 40 tokens manually, spent 12-15 hours weekly, with a net return of +18% in 2023. In 2024, a single-click index purchase and monthly 10-minute updates resulted in a +34% return with only 8 hours total invested.

Case Study 2: ER Physician: Managed to avoid stress with automated rebalancing, achieving +41% return in 2024 with only 6 hours total time, far less than manual efforts.

Case Study 3: Engineering Manager: Reduced hours from 20 weekly to 3, maintaining strong gains (+28%) and reclaiming 17 hours weekly, demonstrating the power of automation.

Token Metrics: Infrastructure for Professional-Grade Passivity

Key challenges include execution quality, signal reliability, transparency, tax reporting, and custody. Token Metrics addresses these with AI-powered execution, multi-factor models, real-time holdings, comprehensive logs, and optimized transaction routing—enabling genuine passivity without sacrificing sophistication. This infrastructure supports over 50,000 users seeking a systematic, low-effort approach to crypto investing.

Comparison to Traditional Investments

TM Global 100 shares many virtues of index funds—diversification, automatic rebalancing, low decisions, and transparency—while offering added flexibility like regime switching and self-custody. Unlike traditional indices, it captures faster market movements and higher volatility, suitable for professionals seeking a semblance of traditional passive investing tailored to crypto's nuances.

Is This Approach for You?

This system fits professionals earning $75k+ interested in systematic, minimally invasive crypto exposure. It suits those valuing their time, comfortable with small allocations, and seeking long-term growth. It may not be ideal for those intolerant of volatility or with minimal emergency funds.

Final Thoughts

Manual crypto management is time-consuming with opportunity costs that often outweigh potential gains. Token Metrics' automated indices offer a compelling alternative: a systematic, transparent, and minimal-effort approach that reclaims your time while maintaining meaningful exposure to crypto assets. Set it up in 90 seconds, check it for 10 minutes monthly, and leverage automation to focus on what truly matters—your career and long-term financial goals.

Choose from Platinum, Gold, and Silver packages
Reach with 25–30% open rates and 0.5–1% CTR
Craft your own custom ad—from banners to tailored copy
Perfect for Crypto Exchanges, SaaS Tools, DeFi, and AI Products