Learn · Futures 101
Crypto Futures for Noobs
Everything you need to execute a Chartman Calls call on Binance, Bybit, MEXC, or Aster — even if you’ve never touched futures before. Read it once. Reference it forever.
Spot crypto only makes you money when prices go up. Futures let you profit when coins rip up OR crash down — because you can go LONG (bet it rises) or SHORT (bet it falls).
Futures also let you use leverage. 5x leverage means a 1 % move in the coin = a 5 % move in your PnL. That cuts both ways — which is why the rules below matter.
Chartman signals are designed for futures: entry, stop loss, three take-profit targets. They work on any of the exchanges listed below.
The 5 Rules Before You Click Buy
Risk ≤ 2 % per trade
If your account is $1,000, never lose more than $20 on a single call. Use position size + SL distance to decide the size.
Always use a stop loss
Every Chartman call ships with an SL. Plug it in. No SL = no trade.
Start with Isolated margin
Isolated caps damage to one position. Cross margin will drain your whole balance if things go south.
Leverage is a tool, not a turbo button
Beginners: 3x–5x. Intermediate: up to 10x. 20x+ is for people who understand funding, liquidation cushion, and sizing.
Paper-trade first if unsure
Bybit has a testnet, Binance has a demo mode. Run 10 paper calls before risking real USDT.
Binance Futures Quiz — Cheat Sheet
Binance makes you pass a short multiple-choice quiz before it lets you open futures. Here are the concepts it tests. Read these once and you’ll pass on the first try.
What is leverage?
Borrowed capital that multiplies both your gains and losses. 10x leverage = 10x profit and 10x loss per price move.
What is liquidation?
Exchange closes your position when your margin is too small to cover losses. Once liquidated, your margin is gone.
Isolated vs Cross margin?
Isolated caps the loss to the margin assigned to that single position. Cross shares your whole futures wallet — safer against liquidation but risks your full balance.
Funding rate?
Periodic payment between longs and shorts to keep perpetual price close to spot. Positive = longs pay shorts. Paid every 4 or 8 hours depending on exchange.
Maintenance margin?
Minimum equity you must keep in a position. If equity drops below it → liquidation.
What is a perpetual contract?
A futures contract with no expiry. Price tracks spot via funding rate.
Why use a stop loss?
To cap downside. Every Chartman call has one — always set it.
Why not 100x leverage?
Because a 1 % adverse move liquidates you. Beginners stick to 3x–10x.
Step-by-step per exchange
⚠️ Requires futures quiz before first trade
Biggest liquidity, lowest fees, required quiz before you can enable futures. Best for USDⓈ-M (USDT-settled) perpetuals.
- Create & verify your spot account (ID + selfie, 5 min).
- Go to Derivatives → USDⓈ-M Futures → Open Now.
- Read the short risk disclosure, then start the futures quiz (~15 multiple-choice).
- Answer: higher leverage = higher liquidation risk, isolated vs cross margin, funding rates, maintenance margin, etc. Cheat sheet below.
- Pass once — futures stay unlocked. Transfer USDT from Spot → Futures wallet.
- Pick the pair from the Chartman call (e.g. BTCUSDT). Set leverage (we recommend 3x–10x for beginners).
- Choose Isolated margin (caps loss to the position), set order type Limit at the entry price, add SL + TP from the call.
- Place the order. Track it from Positions tab. Close partial at TP1 if you want to de-risk.
No quiz required
Cleaner UI than Binance, no quiz, great mobile app. Also USDT-perpetuals. Good liquidity on majors and mid-caps.
- Sign up + KYC (some regions allow trading before full KYC, but limits are smaller).
- Deposit USDT via a network that matches your withdrawing wallet (BEP20 / TRC20 / ERC20 — **match the network or funds are lost**).
- Top-right menu → Derivatives → USDT Perpetual → select pair.
- Switch to Isolated margin. Set leverage 3x–10x.
- Enter limit order at the call’s entry. Paste SL + TP values from the call.
- Confirm and monitor from Positions. Bybit has one-click Close Position when you want out.
No quiz required
Tons of altcoin pairs (including brand-new listings). Slightly thinner liquidity on small caps, but if you want exotic pairs this is your shop. No quiz.
- Sign up. Basic KYC unlocks futures; many regions allow trading with email + phone only.
- Fund your Futures wallet (transfer from Spot inside MEXC).
- Top nav → Futures → USDT-M → pick the pair from the Chartman call.
- Set leverage (slider top-left of the order panel). Use Isolated.
- Place a Limit order with the call’s entry. Fill in SL/TP in the same panel.
- MEXC shows PnL live on the position row — close manually or let SL/TP fire.
No quiz required
On-chain perps DEX (BNB Chain + Arbitrum). Self-custodial — your wallet, your keys. No KYC, no quiz. Trade straight from MetaMask.
- Install MetaMask (or any EVM wallet). Fund it with USDT on BNB Chain or Arbitrum.
- Open asterdex.com → Connect Wallet → approve.
- Pick the perp pair (Aster lists BTC, ETH, SOL + majors).
- Deposit USDT into the Aster vault (one-time approval tx).
- Choose leverage + isolated margin. Place Limit order with SL + TP.
- Every fill is a signed tx — keep a tiny bit of gas (BNB / ETH) in the wallet. No withdrawal delays; funds stay in your wallet between trades.
- Open the call on your dashboard. Note: pair, direction (LONG/SHORT), entry, SL, TP1/TP2/TP3.
- Open the pair on your exchange. Switch to Futures (USDT-M perpetual).
- Choose Isolated margin. Pick leverage 3x–10x (higher = faster liquidation).
- Decide position size so that if SL hits, loss ≤ 2% of your account. Use the exchange’s built-in calculator.
- Place a Limit order at the entry price (or just below for LONG / just above for SHORT).
- Once filled, set SL + TP (both most exchanges let you enter them in the same order form).
- Let it run. Optionally close 30–50 % at TP1, move SL to entry (breakeven), ride the rest to TP2/TP3.
Ready to run your first call?