What scalping is and how to start
Scalping means trading small price moves: a trade lasts from seconds to minutes. Here's how it works and why it's harder for a beginner than it looks.
What scalping is
A scalper doesn't try to catch a big move. They take a small stretch, exit quickly and repeat many times a day. The main tools are the order book, the trade tape and a minute chart.
| Style | Trade lasts | What matters most |
|---|---|---|
| Scalping | seconds and minutes | speed, costs, discipline |
| Intraday | minutes and hours | levels, news, a plan for the day |
| Swing | days and weeks | trend, market phases |
A scalper's main enemy: costs
On a big move the fee is barely noticeable, but on a small one it can take everything.
Example. A $1,000 position, 0.05% fee to enter and the same to exit: $1 in total. The target is 0.2%, or $2. Half of the potential profit goes to fees, and that's before the spread and slippage.
That's why scalpers pay such close attention to exchange fee tiers, coin liquidity and limit orders.
What you need to start
- A liquid coin. A tight spread and a thick order book.
- A fast way to place orders. A click on a price and hotkeys, not an order form.
- A stop set in advance. In a fast market, "I'll watch a bit longer" is expensive.
- A journal. Without one you can't tell which trades work and which eat your account.
Why beginners lose
- Too much leverage. At 10x leverage, a move of about 10% against you is enough for liquidation. The lesson on leverage explains this.
- Too many trades. Each trade costs fees. 50 trades a day can cost more than one big mistake.
- Revenge trading. After a loss you want it back at once, and size grows. See the article on trading psychology.
- No statistics. A few lucky trades feel like skill, though the system hasn't been proven.
How to start
- Read how to read an order book.
- Pick one or two liquid coins and watch them without trading.
- Trade on a DEMO account until you have at least 50–100 trades under the same rules.
- Count the result after fees. If it's negative on DEMO, it won't be better on a real account.
- On a real account, start with minimum size and a fixed risk.
The terminal features this style needs are described on the scalping terminal page.
FAQ
How much time does scalping take?
Usually several hours of active work in a row during the market's busiest hours. It's hard to do in short sessions between other things.
Can I scalp without leverage?
Yes, especially at first. Leverage multiplies profit and loss by the same factor, and a beginner's priority is keeping the account.
How much can you make from scalping?
Nobody can honestly promise a number. Many beginners lose money, and results depend on skill, costs and discipline. Start on a DEMO account and count the result after fees.