Research

What Are the Main Types of Crypto Trading?

Learn the 5 main types of crypto trading—day trading, swing trading, scalping, HODLing, and arbitrage. Discover which style suits you and how Token Metrics’ AI tools can help you trade smarter.
Token Metrics Team
8 min
MIN

Cryptocurrency trading has evolved into one of the most dynamic ways to generate profits in financial markets. But before jumping in, it’s crucial to understand the different types of crypto trading strategies. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced trader, knowing these styles will help you choose an approach that matches your risk tolerance, time commitment, and profit goals.

In this guide, we’ll break down the main types of crypto trading, who they’re best for, and how platforms like Token Metrics can help you succeed with AI-powered insights.

Why Understanding Crypto Trading Types Matters

Crypto is a 24/7, high-volatility market where fortunes can be made—or lost—quickly. Picking the right trading style helps you:

  • Align with your financial goals (short-term gains vs. long-term growth).
  • Manage risk by using strategies that suit your experience level.
  • Maximize opportunities by applying the right tools and insights.


The 5 Main Types of Crypto Trading

There are several trading strategies in crypto, but these five dominate the space:

1. Day Trading

Day trading involves buying and selling crypto within the same day to profit from short-term price movements.

  • Key Features:

    • Traders close all positions before the day ends.
    • Relies on technical analysis and real-time data.
    • Requires constant market monitoring.

  • Who It’s For:

    • Active traders with time to watch charts and news.
    • Those who enjoy fast-paced decision-making.

  • How Token Metrics Helps:
    Token Metrics offers AI-powered trading signals to identify optimal entry and exit points, giving day traders a data-driven edge.

2. Swing Trading

Swing trading focuses on holding positions for several days or weeks to capture larger price swings.

  • Key Features:

    • Less intense than day trading.
    • Combines technical and fundamental analysis.
    • Aims to profit from medium-term trends.

  • Who It’s For:

    • Traders who want flexibility without 24/7 screen time.
    • Those who prefer a balance between risk and reward.

  • How Token Metrics Helps:
    Use Trader and Investor Grades to spot crypto assets with the strongest short- to mid-term growth potential.

3. Scalping

Scalping involves making dozens (or even hundreds) of trades daily to profit from tiny price changes.

  • Key Features:

    • High-frequency trading for micro-gains.
    • Requires low fees and ultra-fast execution.
    • Focuses on high-liquidity assets like BTC and ETH.

  • Who It’s For:

    • Experienced traders who thrive under pressure.
    • Those comfortable with high-volume trading.

  • How Token Metrics Helps:
    Scalpers can leverage real-time AI signals and market sentiment analysis to identify high-probability trades quickly.

4. Position Trading (HODLing)

Position trading, often called HODLing, is a long-term investment strategy. Traders buy and hold assets for months or years, ignoring short-term fluctuations.

  • Key Features:

    • Focuses on long-term growth.
    • Less stressful and time-intensive.
    • Ideal for blue-chip cryptos like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and top altcoins.

  • Who It’s For:

    • Investors with a long-term outlook.
    • Beginners who want low-maintenance strategies.

  • How Token Metrics Helps:
    Use AI Indices—auto-managed portfolios that rebalance based on market conditions—to maximize long-term returns without manually tracking assets.

5. Arbitrage Trading

Arbitrage trading exploits price differences for the same crypto on different exchanges.

  • Key Features:

    • Buy low on one exchange, sell high on another.
    • Requires speed and knowledge of multiple platforms.
    • Margins are small but relatively low-risk.

  • Who It’s For:

    • Advanced traders who can move funds quickly.
    • Those familiar with cross-platform trading tools.

  • How Token Metrics Helps:
    Our data-rich API can be integrated with arbitrage bots to monitor price discrepancies in real time.

How to Choose the Right Trading Style

When deciding which type of trading suits you, consider:

  1. Time Commitment:

    • Day trading and scalping require constant attention.
    • Swing and position trading allow more flexibility.

  2. Risk Tolerance:

    • Scalping and day trading are riskier but can deliver faster returns.
    • Position trading offers lower risk over time.

  3. Capital Available:

    • Arbitrage often requires higher liquidity for meaningful profits.
    • Day or swing trading can start with smaller amounts.

  4. Experience Level:

    • Beginners are better off starting with swing trading or HODLing.
    • Advanced traders can explore scalping or arbitrage.

Why Token Metrics Is the Perfect Companion for Any Trading Style

No matter your trading strategy, Token Metrics provides the tools to help you succeed:

  • AI-Powered Trading Signals: Make smarter decisions using data-driven bullish/bearish signals.
  • Proprietary Trader & Investor Grades: Identify the best short-term and long-term crypto investments.
  • Moonshot Finder: Discover undervalued altcoins before they explode in value.
  • AI Indices: Auto-managed portfolios for long-term investors.
  • Flexible API & MCP Server: Integrate trading strategies with automation tools.

Whether you’re a day trader chasing fast gains or a long-term HODLer, Token Metrics simplifies research and helps you execute strategies with confidence.

Final Thoughts

So, what are the main types of crypto trading?

  • Day Trading: For active traders who thrive on quick decisions.
  • Swing Trading: For those wanting balance between time and profit potential.
  • Scalping: For high-frequency, experienced traders.
  • Position Trading: For long-term investors looking for steady growth.
  • Arbitrage: For advanced traders seeking low-risk, small-margin opportunities.

Each type of trading has its pros and cons, but with AI-powered tools from Token Metrics, you can make smarter decisions, reduce guesswork, and trade confidently—regardless of your preferred style.

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Token Metrics Team
Token Metrics Team

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Inside the Dashboard: How to Monitor API Key Activity and Monthly Usage in Real Time

Token Metrics Team
5 min
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The power of any great API isn’t just in the data it provides — it’s also in the control, visibility, and accountability it gives developers. That’s why the Token Metrics API Dashboard is more than just a place to generate keys — it’s your real-time command center for monitoring API key usage, managing access, and optimizing performance.

In this article, we’ll explore how to use the Token Metrics API Dashboard to stay in control of your app’s data usage, track request history, and ensure your integrations remain secure and efficient.

📍 Where to Find It

To access the dashboard:

  1. Log in to your Token Metrics account.
  2. Go to: https://app.tokenmetrics.com/en/api
  3. Navigate to the API Keys and API Usage sections.

🔐 View and Manage API Keys

The API Keys section gives you a complete overview of every active key associated with your account. For each key, you’ll see:

  • Key Name: Descriptive labels like "Bot A" or "Staging Server"
  • Created Date: When the key was generated
  • Last Used: Timestamp of the most recent request
  • Status: Active or inactive toggle
  • Actions: Trash icon to instantly delete a key

💡 Why It Matters:

  • Spot unused or stale keys that may pose a security risk
  • Instantly disable or delete a key if it’s compromised
  • Monitor which app or environment is making the most requests

📊 Monitor API Usage in Real-Time

In the Usage Dashboard, Token Metrics gives you deep insights into how your API credits are being used.

Key metrics include:

  • API Calls Graph
    A daily call volume chart so you can identify peaks in usage, anomalies, or unexpected surges.

  • Total Monthly API Calls
    Example:
    8,750 / 20,000
    See how much of your monthly quota you’ve used — and when it resets.

  • Remaining API Credits
    Know exactly how many calls you have left in your current cycle.

  • API Call Statistics Table
    Each row includes:

    • Endpoint accessed (e.g., /trader-grade)
    • Timestamp of the request
    • Status code (200 = success, 401 = unauthorized, etc.)
    • Originating IP address
    • Success/failure response

🔄 Debugging & Insights Made Easy

This dashboard doesn’t just monitor—it helps you debug and optimize.

  • Quickly identify if your integration is repeatedly hitting 400 or 403 errors
  • Check whether a specific key is being overused or underused
  • Pinpoint spikes in usage that may indicate unauthorized access
  • See which endpoints are called most often — and consider caching results

⚠️ Avoid Rate Limit Surprises

If you’re on a Basic or Advanced plan, you’ll have a rate limit (e.g., 1 req/min for free users, up to 600 req/min for VIPs). The dashboard helps ensure you stay within your limits — and scale appropriately when needed.

🚀 Build Better with Transparency

In a production environment, visibility into API activity is critical. With Token Metrics, you’re never flying blind. You always know:

  • Which app is using which key
  • How many credits you’re using
  • When to optimize or upgrade

From security to scaling, the Token Metrics API Dashboard gives you the insight you need to build with clarity and control.

👉 Launch Your API Dashboard Now → tokenmetrics.com/api

Research

Is the Crypto Market Bullish or Bearish? Why 2025 Is the Year of Neutral Momentum

Token Metrics Team
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The crypto market isn't clearly bullish or bearish in mid-2025 — it's neutral. This article explores why this 'in-between' momentum could signal a maturing market cycle, and what investors should watch for as signals normalize after a sharp $1T rebound in total market cap.

As we navigate through the midpoint of 2025, one question dominates trading desks and Telegram groups alike: Is the crypto market bullish or bearish? Surprisingly, the answer might be neither. Current indicators suggest that we are in a neutral zone — an ambiguous space where the market is no longer surging with euphoric gains but isn’t plunging into panic either.

From January through mid-May, the total crypto market cap has grown from $1 trillion to $2 trillion. This swift rebound signals recovery, but not full-blown optimism. Instead, many analysts — ourselves included — interpret this as a healthy correction and stabilization following intense early-year volatility.

This kind of environment often marks the early stages of a maturing cycle. Unlike the sharp swings we saw in previous bull and bear markets, 2025’s trend suggests more measured growth, driven by fundamentals rather than hype. In other words, the market might finally be learning from its past.

That doesn’t mean the space lacks activity. Sectors like DeFi lending and AI-related tokens continue to gain traction, with significant TVL inflows. Retail interest in meme coins also remains high in select regions. But overall, what we’re seeing is consolidation — not chaos.

In this neutral setting, strategy matters more than sentiment. It's no longer about jumping into trending narratives or panic-selling on dips. Instead, identifying projects with real use cases, sustainable economics, and strong communities has become the foundation of long-term success.

For traders and builders alike, the current landscape offers both challenges and opportunities. Risk-adjusted returns are key, and disciplined portfolio rebalancing could be one of the most underrated strategies right now.

As we continue monitoring market signals, we remain committed to surfacing actionable insights backed by real-time data, not just narratives. Whether the next breakout is weeks or months away, staying informed — and unemotional — may prove to be your best edge.

How Token Metrics Helps in a Neutral Market Environment:

In times of neutral momentum, making profitable crypto decisions becomes more complex — and that's where Token Metrics shines:

  1. Actionable AI Signals:
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  2. Investor & Trader Grades:
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  3. Smart Rebalancing Alerts:
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  4. Sector-Based Insights:
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  5. Sentiment & Volume Monitoring:
    Our platform tracks shifts in on-chain activity, social sentiment, and volume trends to spot early signs of market reversals — especially useful when traditional signals stall.

In a market where being early beats being emotional, Token Metrics equips you with the clarity and tools to trade with confidence.

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🚀 Announcing the Launch of the Token Metrics API & SDK — Powered by $TMAI

Token Metrics Team
5 min
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Introducing the Token Metrics API: Power Your Crypto Tools with AI-Driven Intelligence

We’re thrilled to announce one of our most important product launches to date: the Token Metrics API is now live.

This powerful crypto API gives developers, quant traders, and crypto startups direct access to the core AI infrastructure that powers the Token Metrics platform. Whether you’re building trading agents, investor dashboards, research tools, or mobile apps, our API and SDKs provide everything you need to build with real-time crypto data and intelligence—right out of the box.

For the first time, you can plug into the same AI API that drives our ratings, signals, and predictions—and embed it directly into your products, tools, or internal systems.

🔍 What’s Inside the Token Metrics API?

Our crypto API is designed to give you high-performance access to the exact data models we use in-house:

✅ AI Trading Signals

Access bullish and bearish calls across thousands of tokens. These API endpoints are powered by machine learning models trained on historical price action, sentiment data, and blockchain activity.

✅ Investor & Trader Grades

Through our API, you can pull dynamic 0–100 grades on any token. Designed for long-term or short-term views, these scores factor in volatility, momentum, market cap trends, and our proprietary AI predictions.

✅ AI Reports & Conversation Crypto Agent

Query the API to generate custom reports and insights using our smart crypto assistant. Analyze market trends, token health, and investment opportunities—without writing your own models.

✅ Token Performance Data

Retrieve token-level analytics like ROI, predictive volatility, and asset rankings. Perfect for powering dashboards, investor tools, or internal models.

✅ Market Sentiment Models

Use the API to access our AI-modeled sentiment engine, built from social media, news data, and trend signals—ideal for gauging crowd psychology.

All Token Metrics API endpoints are RESTful, fast, and easy to integrate. SDKs for Python, Node.js, and other environments help developers onboard quickly.

🛠️ What You Can Build With the Token Metrics API

Our users are already building next-gen tools and automation using the Token Metrics API:

  • 🤖 CEX Trading Agents — Automate entries and exits with real-time signals and token grades
  • ⛓️ DEX Arbitrage Engines — Scan price differences across DeFi and act instantly
  • 📊 Analytics Dashboards — Build data-driven tools with predictive metrics and visualizations
  • 💬 Alert Bots for Telegram & Discord — Deliver actionable alerts using our signal API
  • 📱 Web & Mobile Crypto Apps — Enhance portfolios and research apps with AI intelligence

With just a few lines of code and an API key, you can turn static crypto apps into dynamic, intelligent systems.

💸 Affordable Pricing & $TMAI Utility

We’ve designed our crypto API pricing to be flexible and accessible:

  • Plans start at $99/month, with high usage limits
  • Save up to 35% when you pay with our native token, $TMAI
  • All tiers include access to powerful AI tools and real-time crypto data

Whether you're a solo dev or scaling a trading startup, there’s a plan built for you. Paying with $TMAI also deepens your utility in the Token Metrics ecosystem—this is just the beginning of native token perks.

🧪 Try the Token Metrics API for Free

Not ready to commit? Try our free API tier with:

  • Limited endpoints to explore
  • Access to live documentation and test queries
  • Sample code and SDKs for instant implementation

Start exploring at tokenmetrics.com/api

🌐 Why We Built This Crypto API

Token Metrics has always been focused on empowering smarter investing. But as the market evolves, we believe the future lies in infrastructure, automation, and open access.

That’s why we built the Token Metrics API—to give developers access to the exact AI systems we use ourselves. Our models have been fine-tuned over years, and now, that same intelligence can power your platform, tools, or trading agents.

Whether you're building research platforms, signal-based apps, or automated execution tools—this API is your edge.

⚡ Start Building with Token Metrics API for FREE→ tokenmetrics.com/api

The crypto market never sleeps—and with the Token Metrics API, neither do your tools.

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