5가지 리스크 관리 전략

Calculate your trade size so that you only lose a small percentage of your total account balance, even if a stop-loss is triggered.
True diversification means holding assets that do not have a high correlation. For example, hold stablecoins, tokenized gold (RWA), or traditional stocks that do not move in tandem with Bitcoin.
Move long-term holdings to a hardware wallet, comply with regulations, and use only transparent exchanges to minimize custody risk.
Protect yourself from hacking by avoiding suspicious links, using burner wallets (temporary wallets) when using DeFi, and enabling app-based 2FA instead of SMS.

Introduction

Minimizing risk is a top priority for most investors and traders. Even if you have a high risk tolerance, you weigh the risk-reward ratio of your investments. But risk management means more than just choosing less risky trades or investments.

The Importance of Risk Management

It is widely known that virtual assets are a high-risk asset class accessible to general investors. Unlike traditional markets, the virtual asset market operates 24 hours a day and faces unique risks such as exchange bankruptcies, smart contract exploits, and bridge hacks.

Therefore, it is important to adopt sound risk management practices and strategies to reduce exposure to potential risks. This is also an essential step to becoming a successful and responsible trader.

Let's look at 5 risk management strategies that can help your virtual asset portfolio.

Strategy 1: The 1% Rule

The 1% rule is a simple strategy where you do not expose more than 1% of your total capital to risk in a single investment or trade. However, many beginners confuse the risk amount with the position size.

Assuming you invest $10,000, following the 1% rule means you should not lose more than$ 100 in a single trade. It does not mean buying only $100 worth of Bitcoin.

Instead, you calculate the position size based on the stop-loss point. Let's look at an example.

You want to buy Bitcoin (BTC).
Technical analysis shows the invalidation point (stop-loss) is 5% below the current price.
To lose only $100 (1% of the account) on a 5% drop, the total position size should be$ 2,000.
Calculation: $2,000 (position) x 5% (loss) =$ 100 risk.

Using this method allows you to take larger positions while strictly limiting your actual account risk.

Strategy 2: Setting Stop-Loss and Take-Profit Points

A stop-loss order sets the asset price at which a position will close. The stop price is set below the current price, and when triggered, it prevents further losses.

A take-profit order works in reverse, setting the price at which you want to close the position and lock in existing profits.

You must watch out for slippage and unexpected gaps. For example, in a flash crash scenario, the price can plummet from $100 to$ 90, skipping a stop-loss set at $99. To mitigate this, avoid using high leverage. With high leverage, you may be liquidated before the stop-loss is executed.

It is better to set these limits in advance rather than in moments of high emotion. It may feel unfamiliar to think of take-profit orders as part of risk management, but remember that delaying profit realization increases the risk that the market will move against your position.

Strategy 3: Diversification and Hedging

Portfolio diversification is one of the most popular tools for reducing overall risk. However, in the virtual asset market, the correlation between assets is very high. If Bitcoin crashes, most altcoins are likely to crash even harder. Therefore, buying 10 speculative altcoins is not true diversification.

True diversification involves holding assets that move independently of the virtual asset market. This can include:

Stablecoins: Keeping part of your portfolio in stablecoins (or cash) allows you to avoid volatility and wait for buying opportunities at lower prices.
Real-World Assets (RWA): Tokenized gold or government bonds.
Traditional Finance (TradFi) Assets: Stocks, real estate, or bonds.

Hedging is a more advanced strategy. Let's assume you enter a BTC sell futures contract to defend against this risk because you expect the Bitcoin price to fall. If the Bitcoin price drops, the short position profit offsets your portfolio loss.

However, futures trading carries liquidation risks and funding fees. For beginners, the safest hedging method is simply selling some virtual assets to convert to cash or stablecoins.

Strategy 4: Custody Risk

The collapse of massive firms like FTX and Celsius serves as a reminder of the importance of custody risk. Leaving funds on a centralized exchange essentially means becoming an unsecured creditor.

To manage this risk, choose reputable platforms. You need to find exchanges with a proven track record and strong regulatory compliance. Another method is to move long-term holdings to a hardware wallet and leave only what is necessary for trading on the centralized exchange.

Another option is to use wallet-as-a-service solutions, allowing you to utilize virtual asset markets and services while maintaining full control over your funds.

Strategy 5: Operational Security

Operational security is critical. No matter how good your trading strategy is, you can lose everything to hacking or fraud. Pay attention to the following:

Phishing Risk: Never click links in emails or DMs impersonating airdrops or security alerts. If in doubt, choose the safe method of checking news directly through official channels. To prevent mistakes, it is good to bookmark legitimate pages you visit frequently.
Malicious Contracts: Be careful with smart contracts you approve. Use a burner wallet when interacting with new or risky DeFi protocols.
2FA: Always use an authentication app (Google OTP, etc.) or hardware key (YubiKey, etc.) for exchange security. Be wary of SMS 2FA, which is vulnerable to SIM swapping attacks.

Conclusion

Proper risk management requires more than just looking at price charts. It includes protecting private keys, understanding smart contract risks, and setting appropriate position sizes to survive market volatility.