Choosing the optimal leverage for crypto trading isn’t as simple as picking a random ratio like 10x, 50x, or 100x. The right leverage depends on your trading style, the volatility of the coin, and how much risk you can realistically handle. Get it wrong, and even a small price swing could wipe out your account in seconds.
At Leverage.Trading, we’ve seen thousands of traders struggle with this exact decision. The truth is, beginners should rarely go above 1:10, while experienced scalpers and day traders sometimes push as high as 1:50 or more, provided they use strong risk management strategies and avoid common pitfalls like overleveraging.
In this guide, I’ll break down which ratios fit different trader types, when high leverage can actually work in your favor, and how to know if you’re stepping into dangerous territory. Keep reading, because the difference between 10x and 50x could mean the line between growing your account… or losing it all overnight.
The most optimal leverage for crypto is between 10x up to 99x but this of course relative to your time frame and experience.
Depending if you are a scalper, active day trader, or swing trader you are going to choose a different level of margin for the cryptocurrency markets.
The general rule of thumb is that crypto traders should use a maximum of 1:10 when starting due to high market volatility.
This is to minimize the risk while still amplifying potential profits.
To make things as clear as possible, I’ve prepared a table that shows good levels of margin for crypto traders with different approaches and different experiences:
| Scalper | Day trader | Swing trader | |
| 0-6 months experience | 1:25 | 1:10 | 1:8 |
| 7-12 months experience | 1:32 | 1:22 | 1:12 |
| 13-18 months experience | 1:42 | 1:30 | 1:15 |
| 1,5-3 years experience | 1:55 | 1:38 | 1:18 |
| 3-4 years experience | 1:72 | 1:45 | 1:21 |
| 4-5 years experience | 1:88 | 1:55 | 1:23 |
| 5+ years experience | 1:99 | 1:70 | 1:25 |
As seen in the table above, the shorter the timeframe the more borrowed funds are allowed in crypto. This is directly correlated with holding periods in the markets and short-term traders benefit more from higher margin than long-term swing traders.
It is less risky for scalpers to hold positions for a few seconds in crypto than swing traders who might hold a position for 3 weeks.
What does leverage ratio mean in crypto and how does it work?
When trading with leverage, the ratio tells you how many times your initial deposit, or your margin collateral, will be multiplied.
For example, if you want to trade altcoins with increased purchasing power and have made a deposit of $500, you want to use a ratio of 10x, your maximum position size would be $5000.
This works by multiplying your initial deposit by the ratio, in this case, 10x, to get your maximum buying power.
A 10x ratio of $500 will enable you to open positions worth $500.
The ratios are the building blocks of leveraged crypto trading and without them, you would not be able to choose how much capital you want to use.
In the table below I explained how different levels affect your position sizes in crypto trading.
| 1:5 (5x) | 1:25 (25x) | 1:55 (55x) | 1:125 (125x) | |
| $500 | $2500 | $12.500 | $27.500 | $62.500 |
| $1200 | $6000 | $30.000 | $66.000 | $150.000 |
| $3000 | $15.000 | $75.000 | $165.000 | $375.000 |
| $7500 | $37.500 | $187.500 | $412.500 | $937.500 |
As you increase the ratio your maximum position increases accordingly and as seen in the table above it is possible to open a position size worth $62.500 with only $500 at a ratio of 1:125.
When deciding on your favorite ratio you need to consider both the risk factor and the potential for profits.
A higher ratio always increases both the risk and the potential reward of each position.
You must consider both the risks of market volatility as well as your potential profits.
After all, margin is a tool that should be used to increase profits when done right, however, everything should be done in moderation.
When you choose a ratio for crypto you need to consider two things:
Once you know your time frame you can use the table above.
The volatility of the coin can easily be measured by using the ATR indicator.
ATR stands for Average True Range.
This indicator will tell you how frequently your coin fluctuates up and down in price and also how much.
This information is essential when choosing the perfect level of leverage for crypto trading since it will tell you how volatile your coin is.
Once you have learned how it works you can apply it to your charting software.
Apply the indicator and set the chart to the 1D time frame.
The 1-day time frame will show you the larger swings which will tell you on average how much the price fluctuates.
The general rule is:
If you want more safety while trading try to lower the ratio another point or two to avoid a trading liquidation.
Most crypto traders are underfunded, meaning that they lack sufficient capital to make good money from speculating the markets.
Borrowed capital is a great tool that can boost your earnings significantly, even in very short time frames.
Scalpers and day traders benefit the most from high leverage trading since they make a living by entering and exiting cryptocurrencies during very short time frames.
Swing traders with longer holding times of more than a day can also benefit from borrowed money but at much lower ratios.
The big drawback of using credit is of course the potential for larger losses that might incur if you are not careful.
This is a common risk and especially for novice traders, it can be hard to control the already volatile crypto markets with added buying power.
As long as you can control the risk with strategies for leverage traders and proper risk management tools it’s safe to say that leverage has a lot to offer any trader.
The best way to try it out to see if it works for you is to start with a demo account on a broker that offers paper trading.
It’s also a good idea to know all about margin trading commissions before you start to make sure you know the ins and outs of fees before depositing your own money.
Related: Try our crypto position size calculator to find out your perfect position size
In this article, I’ve examined what the most optimal multiplier is for crypto traders and how you should think when choosing your margin ratio. Depending on whether you are a complete newbie who likes to swing trade or if you are an experienced scalper, there are some different standards to follow.
To make more money from your crypto trading, adding credit is a good tool to have when you lack proper funding, however, make sure you look over the increased risk with this syle of investing.
Most professional traders would not make it without their account sizes which are worth well over $250.000.
Using leverage for long-term investing is not always recommended but when it comes to short-term trading you can benefit greatly from having more capital at your disposal.
The standard ratio on popular crypto exchanges that offer multiplier is from 1:1 to 1:125.
As you start, it is always wise to stay on the safe side to learn how margin-traded markets work before increasing your ratio. A ratio of 1:10 should be your maximum if you are new to cryptocurrency trading.
At a moderate level, margin can increase your profits up to 10 times and even 50 times when you are right. However, your potential losses and fees will increase as well. It’s always good to start small before increasing your buying power.
This article is published under Leverage.Trading’s Risk-First Education Framework , an independent learning system built to help traders quantify and manage risk before trading.
