Forex Essentials
Apr 17, 2024

What is Forex Copy Trading? Advantages and disadvantages (and cautions!)

Many people may be concerned about their own lack of trading skills and experience in forex trading. For such people, copy trading may be a very attractive option. This article will explain in detail what copy trading is, its advantages and disadvantages, and some cautions.

First, in conclusion, copy trading is a technique that automatically copies the trades of other successful traders. Even those who are not confident in their own skills and knowledge have the potential to achieve superior trading results by following the trades of proven traders. On the other hand, however, there are disadvantages and precautions that you should be aware of.

This article will help you understand what the advantages of copy trading are, the key points to success and risks to be aware of, as well as how to choose the right platform when using copy trading. You will also be able to objectively compare the advantages and disadvantages of copy trading and use this information to help you decide whether to incorporate it into your own trading strategy.

Now, let's step into the world of copy trading. First, we will explain what copy trading is.

What is forex copy trading?

Although a high level of skill and experience is required to be successful in forex trading, copy trading may be an attractive option for those who are not confident in their abilities or have time constraints.

In conclusion, copy trading is a mechanism that automatically copies the trades of other traders. In other words, by automatically reflecting the trades made by a superior trader in your own account, you can earn the same profits as that trader.

By utilizing copy trading, traders have the potential to achieve the same results as successful traders, regardless of their own trading skills or time constraints.

Let's take a look at how it works and how to use it.

How Copy Trades Work

Forex copy trading is a mechanism that automatically duplicates the trades of professional traders. Copy trading allows even novice traders to earn the same profits as experienced traders.

The mechanics of copy trading are very simple. Using a reliable trading platform, you evaluate and compare traders' past trading history, performance, and trading styles, and select the trader with the best success rate for you.

By linking the selected trader to your account, every time the trader makes a trade, the same trade is automatically reflected in your account. In other words, when a trader makes a profit, your account does as well.

Because copy trading is automated, trades are executed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You no longer need to follow market trends, and trades are executed automatically even when you are at work or sleeping at night.

In general, forex copy trading is a revolutionary mechanism that saves time and effort while achieving a high success rate. It is a useful tool for a wide range of traders, from beginners to advanced traders.

How to Use Copy Trade

The general use of copy trades through the trading platform is as follows

Copy trading is a mechanism that automatically duplicates the trades of traders registered on the platform. First, the user creates an account on the platform and provides the required information. They then select the trader they wish to copy trade with.

When selecting a trader, it is important to carefully check past trading performance, trading strategies, and risk management capabilities. On the platform, each trader's performance and past trading history are publicly available, and these can be used to find a reliable trader.

Go to the profile page of the trader you have chosen and set up the copy trade. By setting the investment amount, you determine how much to invest in the trader you are copying. You can also set this as part of your own portfolio at this time.

On some platforms, copy trades are executed automatically. Each time a trader executes a new trade, the trade is automatically copied. Other platforms, on the other hand, have the option to confirm the trade before executing it. In this case, the user confirms the trader's trade and decides whether to copy it to his or her account.

Copy trading is a useful technique for inexperienced traders or traders with limited time, allowing them to leverage the knowledge of successful traders. However, it is important to choose traders carefully and to understand the risks involved.

Advantages of Forex Copy Trading

In forex trading, success requires spending the skill and time to accurately predict market trends, but for those who lack confidence in their own skills and experience, copy trading is an innovative approach. In this section, we will discuss in detail the three benefits that copy trading offers. 

1. Risk diversification and stability 

Copy trading is one of the trading techniques that diversifies risk and allows for stable trading. By automatically replicating the trades of multiple traders, one can diversify into a variety of strategies.

For example, if trader A, who is strong in short-term trading, and trader B, who is skilled in long-term holding, copy their trades at the same time, there will be no immediate impact on profit and loss even if the market trend changes.

Furthermore, copying a professional trader's trades allows you to take advantage of their knowledge and experience, which improves stability. In addition, copying trades is automatic, limiting the risk of errors in judgment due to inexperience, allowing even novice traders to trade calmly.

2. Trading methods that are possible even for beginners

Copy trading offers the following advantages as a trading method that can be used by beginners.

Copy trading allows even novice traders to trade, compensating for their lack of experience and allowing them to both learn and profit. By automatically replicating the trades of successful traders and leveraging their knowledge and skills, you can be sure to make a profit. You can also observe market trends and strategies and pursue profitability while increasing your knowledge.

In addition, automated execution eliminates difficult decisions and allows you to trade more efficiently. Risk management is also assisted, eliminating the need to take concentrated risk on a single trade.

3. Leverage the knowledge and experience of our talented traders 

Copy trading automatically mimics the trades of professional traders and allows you to take advantage of their knowledge and experience. This eliminates the need to spend time analyzing the market and planning strategies on your own.

It is also possible to learn and improve one's own trading skills by observing the trades of superior traders. Furthermore, by copying the trades of multiple traders, you can diversify your risk and achieve stable trades.

However, it is important to choose the right trader, be aware of risk management, and be cautious. This will allow you to maximize the benefits of copy trading.

Disadvantages of Forex Copy Trading

While copy trading is an attractive technique, it also has its disadvantages. In order to take advantage of copy trading without sacrificing your own trading skills and risk management capabilities, you need to understand its disadvantages as well.

In this section, we will discuss not only the disadvantages, but also the countermeasures and key points to overcome the disadvantages. By understanding and counteracting the disadvantages, you will be able to trade more effectively and maximize your investment results.

Now let's look at some specific disadvantages.

1. Difficult to select a trader 

Copy trading requires a large number of traders to choose from. Finding a reliable trader among them can be a difficult task, especially for beginners and inexperienced traders.

Relying too much on past performance as a selection criterion may also increase risk, since it is no guarantee of future results. Therefore, it is important to be prudent in selecting traders and to consider not only past performance, but other factors as well.

Counter-measure

When selecting a trader, consider the following

  • Trade Strategy
  •    
  • Risk management
  •    
  • Explanation of the trader's trading policy
  •    
  • Ratings & Reviews

When choosing a trader to follow in a copy trade, it is important to consider several points.

Trading Strategy: Make sure the trader's strategy matches your investment goals. It is important to see whether the trader aims to trade for the short term or take a long-term view.

Check how risk is managed: It is also important to look at how much risk the trader takes and how he or she manages that risk.

Signal Trader Commentary: How transparently traders explain their trades and how they respond to questions will also be part of the evaluation. Finally, feedback and evaluations from other investors will also be considered, but it is important to analyze them from an objective perspective.

Using a demo account: A demo account allows you to try out a trader's strategy before making real trades. This makes it easier to find a trader that fits your investment goals.

Start with a small investment: By starting with a small investment, you can experience real trading while minimizing risk.

2. Risk of loss

The risk of loss from copy trades is explained in detail.

Someone else's loss is also your loss: In copy trading, trade decisions depend primarily on the signal provider (the trader from whom you are copying). Therefore, if the signal provider's judgment is incorrect, it will directly lead to a loss.

Discretionary trading, on the other hand, relies on yourself to make all trading decisions. Therefore, your skill, knowledge, and experience directly determine your profit and loss.

Risk from Dependence: In copy trading, risk management depends primarily on the signal provider's strategy. If the signal provider manages risk properly, there is no problem, but if not, there is significant risk. 

In discretionary trading, on the other hand, risk management depends on one's own judgment. Therefore, you can trade according to your own risk tolerance. 

Counter-measure

To manage the risk of copy trading, the following measures are important.

Do your research: When choosing a signal provider, investigate not only their past performance, but also their strategies and risk management practices. 

Manage your own risk: It is important to manage your own risk as well. For example, you can set up your account to automatically stop trading after a certain level of loss. 

Improve your trading skills: It is also important to improve your own trading skills. And it is also important to understand the copy trading system and have a plan in case of system failure.

3. Lost opportunity to improve investment skills

Using copy trading may reduce your chances of learning about investing on your own. Of particular note is the fact that you will have fewer opportunities to learn on your own. Because copy trading automatically mimics other people's trades, you have less time to look at the market and think for yourself. This may reduce your opportunities to learn on your own, such as understanding market movements and trends and managing risk.

Counter-measure

Be interested: Copy trading is an automatic imitation of someone else's trade, but it is important to be willing to try to understand why the trade was made. By doing so, you can learn how to read the market and reduce risk yourself.

Try it yourself: Instead of using all your money to copy trade, use some of it to trade yourself, so you can learn hands-on.

Use learning tools: There is a lot of information available on the Internet to help you learn about investing. By using them, you can increase your chances of learning on your own.

Using these measures, you can increase your own investment knowledge while copy trading.

Cautions on Forex Copy Trading

Copy trading is an attractive method of replicating the trades of successful traders, but there are some points that require caution. In order to protect your own investment and minimize risk, it is important to understand the precautions that must be taken in copy trading.

Understand the precautions to take when utilizing copy trading to ensure safe and effective trading. We will now explain the specific precautions to take.

Choose a reliable platform

Before you start copy trading, it is important to choose a reliable trading platform. To do so, check the following points

Make sure the platform has the proper permits. This is evidence that the platform is operating according to the proper rules.

Find out what others are saying about that platform. This is the best way to find out what the platform is really about.

Take a close look at the information about the transaction that the platform offers. It is important to make sure that the information is reliable.

Make sure your personal information and money are properly protected. This is necessary to know if the platform is secure.

Check these points and choose a reliable platform. That way, you can safely start copy trading. Do your research and start trading with confidence.

Avoid risk from blind follow-up

One thing to avoid when using copy trading is to blindly follow other traders.

Even professional traders may trade in ways that do not match their risk tolerance or trading style. Choose carefully and do your own research to select signals that match your trading style.

Protect yourself from fraud and abuse

When copy trading using a trading platform, it is important to protect yourself from fraud and abuse. Choose a reliable platform and check its licensing and regulations.

Also, check the reputation and performance of your trading signal provider and be on the lookout for suspicious activity. To ensure the safety of your personal information and funds, pay attention to security measures and use official platforms. Doing your own research and gathering information and making prudent choices will help you protect yourself from fraud and abuse and ensure safe copy trading.

Utilize copy trading with ThreeTrader

Opening an account with ThreeTrader is easy and smooth.

First, find yourself a trader (master) to follow. Next, give that master trader your ID (HubXPIN). Once the account you want to follow is approved, you can start copy trading. The process is simple and anyone can start trading quickly.

ThreeTrade offers Japanese-language services, and customer service is ready to assist you immediately if you have any questions or problems. The opportunity to achieve stable trading and improve your own trading skills awaits you.

Please consider opening an account with ThreeTrader.

Click here to open a live account

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Summary|Copy Trading

Copy trading is a technique that mimics the trades of successful traders in forex trading. This strategy allows you to use the trades of a good trader as a reference even if you lack your own trading skills and knowledge.

The first advantage of copy trading is risk diversification and stability: by mimicking the portfolios of multiple traders in forex trading, investment risk can be spread out and trading can be more stable. It is also easier for beginners to try it out, thus providing a lower threshold for newcomers to forex investing and an opportunity to learn and gain experience in trading. In addition, it provides an opportunity to improve one's own trading skills, as one can benefit from the knowledge and experience of the best traders.

On the other hand, one of the disadvantages of copy trading is the need to be careful in selecting a forex trader. It is important to choose reliable traders and platforms, and one must be wary of scams and fraud. Also, blindly following or relying on them can cause risk. It is important to choose carefully, keeping in mind your investment goals and risk tolerance.

When utilizing copy trading in Forex trading, it is important to have the knowledge and careful selection to maximize the advantages and minimize the disadvantages. Make safe and effective trades while improving your investment skills and being aware of risk management.

Click here to open a live account

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