If you're ~15% in the red, is it crazy to sell?

[thegoatiest]

Hey,
I didn't act on the recent crash,,, i had bought at about 230$ markets currently just above 200$
I know the right idea is likely to hold, as the market will go up eventually.. but i predict in the intermediate term it'll go down further.
I guess this is where the psychology of trading comes into play.. I'm in regret and want to sell at a 15% loss in order to have a chance of making the 15% back and then be able to continue trading as i was before the recent dip.

When you're 'marooned' with coins that are worth less than you bought them is the right idea; always to hold?
I just want to practise trading further... and have no spare capital to do so.. 

[bitmover]

Nobody knows what will the Bott be.

Ethereum may never recover, and go to 10 usd or less.

I am holding , but I think its a highly risk move.


There is no shame in selling at 15% loss. Better than sell at 90% loss

[Harlot]

The only way I would be selling my coins when I am on a negative portfolio is when I know I will be shorting the cryptocurrency. Because this is the only time I can also gain money in the way back up. To tell you honestly -15% is not that a big of a loss and selling it and buying it back at a cheaper  price is always a good idea as it is one of the moves pros are doing. But if you are thinking of shorting BTC right now, I don't think it is a good idea as we really don't know if BTC will go down more from where it is now.

[tenakha]

It's a good idea if you have another plan to make a profit. Perhaps the coin will return late at the old price. There is always chance to earn money, just you should always follow market and not hesitate to risk smart when the time comes.

[ShadowBits]

Hey,
I didn't act on the recent crash,,, i had bought at about 230$ markets currently just above 200$
I know the right idea is likely to hold, as the market will go up eventually.. but i predict in the intermediate term it'll go down further.
I guess this is where the psychology of trading comes into play.. I'm in regret and want to sell at a 15% loss in order to have a chance of making the 15% back and then be able to continue trading as i was before the recent dip.

When you're 'marooned' with coins that are worth less than you bought them is the right idea; always to hold?
I just want to practise trading further... and have no spare capital to do so.. 

Of course, you need to cut your losses before it comes a greater loss. Sometimes you need to set aside your pride and emotions in order to become a good trader.

[The Sceptical Chymist]

One of the biggest enemies to a trader is emotion--fear, specifically.  When the thing you bought is dropping in value, it's hard not to get scared and think that it's going to continue to fall.  That's especially true when you're investing more money than you can afford to lose, i.e., when you're gambling with next month's rent money.  That's one reason why you always hear the threadbare phrase "don't bet more than you're comfortable losing".

Assuming you can afford the loss, keep in mind that no one has ever made money buying high and selling low.  If you're confident that bitcoin (or whatever it is that you bought) is destined to increase in value past the point where you bought it, my advice would be to just hold.  OP sounds like he's getting antsy because the market is volatile.  Guess what?  Crypto is probably more volatile than any other market in existence, so chances are whatever you invested in will go back up.  If you keep trading, you're probably more likely to lose money than if you just sit tight.

Ethereum may never recover, and go to 10 usd or less.

I doubt that will happen.  I'm not a big fan of altcoins, but I do think ETH is going to be one of a handful that will survive long-term, and I don't think it'll stabilize anywhere near $10.

[Dilerium90]

Hey,
I didn't act on the recent crash,,, i had bought at about 230$ markets currently just above 200$
I know the right idea is likely to hold, as the market will go up eventually.. but i predict in the intermediate term it'll go down further.
I guess this is where the psychology of trading comes into play.. I'm in regret and want to sell at a 15% loss in order to have a chance of making the 15% back and then be able to continue trading as i was before the recent dip.

When you're 'marooned' with coins that are worth less than you bought them is the right idea; always to hold?
I just want to practise trading further... and have no spare capital to do so.. 

Your first mistake is that you have not diverted your funds, as far as I understand. You have invested the entire amount in the purchase of Ethereum. This has tied your hands and you cannot help buying a coin at a different price, do not sell a part. Try to consider risks next time and set stop loss. My opinion - to sell.

[Thirdspace]

... but i predict in the intermediate term it'll go down further.
I guess this is where the psychology of trading comes into play..

if you "predict" it will drop a lot further down, for another 10-15% (before it recovers)
then I suggest to just sell it and time it right to buy it back before it recovers

... i had bought at about 230$ markets currently just above 200$
~
I'm in regret and want to sell at a 15% loss in order to have a chance of making the 15% back and then be able to continue trading as i was before the recent dip.

if you think in the next 3 months the price will fluctuate with strong support at ~$200
then a good strategy is to sell with 3-5% profit and ride the waves to recoup your loses
for example: sell at $206-$210 and buy back at $200-$203, adjust target prices based on market trends

[Tytanowy Janusz]

Some of users here are on 90% loss and would do a lot to be in your position. I find daytrading the one and only strategy for current market situation (even if last week looks very green alt/btc ). Hodling is the riskiest strategy. There is no quarantee that your coin will recover.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4456137.msg39881422#msg39881422
There is topic about risks in holding and trading strategy.

Hodlers of those coins was also sure that their coins will recover someday (those are top 10 coins from december 2013)
Omni -90%
Peercoin -80%
Namecoin - 75%
Quark -95%
Bitshares -~100%
Wordcoin -~100%

And they are on ~80% loss on market that growed 20 times.

[jrrsparkles]

If you can't hold on the further more loss then it not a bad thing to sell your coins for small loss but ethereum is one of the best crypto currency so you may trust it and hold it longer if you don't want to be in any loss but you know it will take time sometimes forever too!

[josephdd1]

A 15% loss is quite a hard loss but it all depends on your future plans and your confidence in market recovery. For example, if you're investing with a long term mindset than I would not worry otherwise I would. I agree its a difficult decision but also very personal.

[damba_]

I would sell at 15% loss only if I am expecting this coin will fall even lower and then I would buy it back when it reaches lowest price.
It is easy to say, but when you have to sell at loss, for most people it is hard to do.

[Marcel555]

As a trader, if you feel you might have git your analysis wrong and the value is heading rock bottom, then cut your losses.
.as an investor, a long term holder, little changes in price shouldn't much bother you.

Except of course it reaches a point and you admit you were wrong in your foundamental analysis. Then cut your losses. Otherwise, KEEP HODLING

[bit-freedom]

There are no right or wrong in trading, you should trust your own decision and strategy.
 
However, I will not sell ETH at this price even if it is in 15% loss. I think that it is a low price for ETH and we never know when the price will start to rise.

[o_e_l_e_o]

Hodling is the riskiest strategy. There is no quarantee that your coin will recover.

Hodlers of those coins was also sure that their coins will recover someday (those are top 10 coins from december 2013)
Omni -90%
Peercoin -80%
Namecoin - 75%
Quark -95%
Bitshares -~100%
Wordcoin -~100%

That's not an argument against holding / long term investing though. That's an argument against trash altcoins. It is easily possible that someone could have day traded any of the coins you listed (or indeed any coin at all) and also lost 80% or more.

If you pick a coin that has a working product and real world use (such as bitcoin or the tiny handful of altcoins that fulfil this criteria), then holding long term is a completely viable strategy.

[harleymasters]

As far as I know, when you sell your entire coin at a loss of 15% and wait for it at a lower price, you will have a lot of psychological pressure. That leads to mistakes that make you FOMO. However, a 15% loss is not a bad idea when you have a certain rating of the market can reduce and increase the ability to accumulate for yourself. Make your capital split into several parts to minimize risk. Learn how: "take a loss" is also a trading method to learn with a professional trader. Good luck!!

[cryptorima]

I don't like to sell out my purchased cryptocurrency at loss. Cause I always like to buy protensial coins and if price dropped 15% then I will hold it untill price increase again.

[atrocityx]

Its definitely not crazy but you need a better strategy than that... set stop losses with what youre willing to lose at a strategic point before the trade, so you don't get in these scenarios.

[onrise]

I don't like to sell out my purchased cryptocurrency at loss. Cause I always like to buy protensial coins and if price dropped 15% then I will hold it untill price increase again.

15% is just not enough in the volatile crypto market. Something like 50% people have it but still waiting for the right time to sell it as once the bitcoin picks up the price will shoot quickly and within few days itself your portfolio can turn into green.

[Iluka]

Don't rush to sell it. eth will bacome to 230$ very quickly. i guess it will happen in next few weeks. Moreover, it could go higher easily...