CoinTalk

90% of Crypto Recovery Services Are Scams – Here’s How to Get Your Bitcoin Back Without Losing More

In the unpredictable world of cryptocurrency, a single wrong click can turn your hard-earned Bitcoin into a ghost on the blockchain. Picture this: you’re a busy trader in the United States, balancing a full-time tech job while dabbling in crypto on the side using Coinbase. One phishing email later, and suddenly, $10,000 in BTC is gone. Panic sets in. You frantically Google  crypto recovery services,  and before you know it, your inbox is flooded with messages from self-proclaimed Bitcoin recovery experts promising miraculous results for a  small upfront fee.  Sound familiar?  

Every day, thousands of investors – from beginners on EUR-based exchanges to seasoned professionals holding ETH in hardware wallets – face this nightmare. Over the years, I’ve witnessed the devastation firsthand. Friends, family, and readers have shared stories of lost savings, from falling victim to romance scams to being caught in rug pulls. The pain is real, but there’s hope. Crypto recovery isn’t just a dream; it’s a field that blends blockchain forensics, legal strategies, and cutting-edge technology. And while it’s fraught with risk, when done correctly, it can help you reclaim what’s yours.

BNB Price Prediction 2025: Will Binance Coin Skyrocket to $2,000 or Crash Hard?

you know one truth — the market never sleeps, and neither does Binance Coin (BNB). Right now, as you’re reading this, thousands of traders are refreshing their BNB charts, asking one question: Is this the time to buy, or is BNB’s run almost over?

As of October 2025, BNB is trading around $1,305, marking an impressive 126% surge over the past year. That’s not just a price rally — it’s a statement. Despite relentless regulatory pressure on Binance and increased scrutiny from the SEC and EU authorities, the token has continued to defy the odds. But is this momentum sustainable, or are we heading for another harsh correction before the next leg up?

What Is BNB and Why Does It Matter Now?

Before diving into predictions, let’s get one thing straight: BNB isn’t just another speculative coin. It’s the backbone of the Binance ecosystem, powering everything from trading fee discounts to transaction fees on the BNB Smart Chain (BSC).

Launched in 2017 as an ERC-20 token and migrating to its own chain in 2019, BNB quickly became a central player in the DeFi and NFT space. It’s what fuels smart contracts, decentralized apps, and liquidity pools across Binance’s growing blockchain network.

In simpler terms, BNB is the  Swiss Army knife  of crypto — useful, versatile, and essential for anyone active in the Binance world.

Why BNB Is Climbing in 2025

The rally isn’t random — several real factors are pushing BNB’s value higher.

First, Binance’s ecosystem is expanding rapidly. The launch of opBNB, its Layer-2 scaling solution, has slashed gas fees and improved network efficiency, attracting developers from Ethereum and other chains. More developers means more dApps, and more dApps mean greater BNB demand.

Second, the auto-burn mechanism continues to tighten supply. In Q2 2025 alone, Binance burned over 1.7 million BNB, a massive supply cut that naturally boosts scarcity.

Finally, market sentiment is glowing green. Technical data shows over 70% of recent trading days have been positive, with the $1,200 level acting as a solid support zone. That kind of consistency is rare in crypto — and it’s giving traders confidence to  buy the dip.

BNB Price Forecast for 2025: Bullish or Overheated?

So, where is BNB heading next? Analysts are divided between conservative optimism and outright bullishness.

Forecast models from CoinCodex suggest BNB could reach between $1,231 and $1,604 by year-end, while CoinPedia sees the token climbing to as high as $2,292 if market conditions remain favorable.

This growth outlook is supported by Binance’s $100 million liquidity boost for DeFi projects, continued integration of AI-based blockchain products, and potential approval of a BNB ETF.

However, it’s not all smooth sailing. If Bitcoin dips below $100K, BNB could temporarily slide to the $900 range. European traders are also watching how the new MiCA regulations might affect BNB’s trading pairs in EUR.

Still, most experts agree on one thing: BNB remains one of the strongest large-cap assets heading into 2026.

BYDFi: A Rising Alternative for Global Traders

For over 5,000 years, one asset has stood as the undisputed champion of wealth preservation: gold. It's the ultimate safe-haven, the timeless hedge against inflation and uncertainty. But in the 21st century, a new challenger has emerged. It's digital, it's decentralized, and its supporters call it "Digital Gold." This is the core of the Bitcoin vs. Gold debate. But is this comparison just a clever marketing slogan, or does Bitcoin truly possess the properties to challenge the king of hard money? To answer this, we must go beyond the hype and analyze both assets based on the fundamental properties that make a good store of value.

The Test of Scarcity

A store of value must be scarce. If it can be created easily, it will lose its value over time. Gold is scarce due to the difficulty of mining it, but its total supply on Earth is unknown, and production can increase with better technology. Bitcoin, on the other hand, has a mathematically guaranteed, absolutely finite supply of 21 million coins, enforced by its code. We know the exact supply, and no one can ever create more. In a world of unlimited money printing, this digital, provable scarcity is arguably Bitcoin's most powerful feature.

The Test of Durability

An asset must last. Gold excels here; it is a physical element that does not corrode or decay, which is why ancient gold coins are still with us today. Bitcoin's durability is digital. It is not a physical object but a network of thousands of computers. As long as that network continues to run, Bitcoin is arguably even more durable, as it cannot be physically destroyed. Both assets score very high marks for their ability to stand the test of time.

The Test of Portability and Divisibility

This is where the digital nature of Bitcoin creates a stark difference. Gold is physically heavy, expensive to transport securely across borders, and difficult to divide into small amounts for transactions. You cannot easily send a billion dollars' worth of gold across the world in an afternoon. With Bitcoin, you can. You can send any amount, from a few cents to billions of dollars, to anyone, anywhere in the world, in a matter of minutes, for a relatively small fee. This makes Bitcoin an infinitely more portable and divisible store of value for a global, digital age.

The Test of Verifiability

You must be able to easily verify that your asset is authentic. Verifying the purity of a large amount of gold requires specialized equipment and expertise. Verifying the authenticity of a Bitcoin transaction is a simple mathematical process that is handled automatically by the network. The public ledger provides a perfect, undeniable history of every transaction, making counterfeiting impossible.

The Verdict: A Role for Both?

So, which is the better investment? The answer depends on your goals. Gold's multi-millennia track record gives it unparalleled stability and trust. It is a low-volatility, defensive asset. Bitcoin is a young, high-volatility asset with asymmetric upside potential, built for a digital future. Many modern investors are concluding that this isn't an"either/or" question. They see a role for both in a diversified portfolio: gold as the stable, historical foundation, and Bitcoin as the high-growth, digital challenger. This comparison is a vital part of answering the broader question: [Should I Buy Bitcoin? A Guide to Making Your Own Decision].

It's the one characteristic of Bitcoin that everyone knows, even those outside of crypto: its breathtaking volatility. You've seen the charts—the dramatic climbs and the stomach-churning drops. For many potential investors, this price instability is the single biggest barrier to entry, the one major fear that holds them back. But is this volatility a sign of a flawed asset, or is it a natural feature of a groundbreaking new technology? As your guide, I'm here to tell you that it's the latter. Let's break down the real reasons why Bitcoin is so volatile so you can look at the market with understanding, not fear.

The Primary Reason: Bitcoin is a Young Asset in Price Discovery

The most important thing to understand is that Bitcoin is an incredibly young asset class. While gold has had thousands of years to find its place in the global financial system, Bitcoin has been around for just over a decade. The world is still collectively trying to figure out what it is and what it's worth. Is it a global currency? A store of value like digital gold? The backbone of a new internet? This process of the free market trying to assign a value to a completely new technology is called "price discovery," and it is an inherently volatile process.

Factor 2: A Small Boat in a Big Ocean

Compared to traditional asset classes like gold (a~13 trillionmarket)or the global stock market (a 13 trillion market) or the global stock market (a ~13 trillion market) or the global stock market(a 100 trillion market), Bitcoin's market capitalization is still relatively small. This means that it takes a much smaller amount of money to move its price in a significant way. Think of it like a small boat in the ocean. A small wave (a single large buy or sell order) can rock the boat violently. A massive cruise ship (like the gold market) barely even notices the same wave. As Bitcoin's market capitalization grows over time, this volatility is expected to decrease.

Factor 3: The Influence of Speculation and News

Because Bitcoin is still in its price discovery phase, its value is heavily influenced by speculation and market sentiment. This makes it highly sensitive to news cycles. A major announcement about institutional adoption can cause a surge in buying, while news of a potential government regulation can trigger a sharp sell-off. Unlike the stock market, which has established valuation metrics like P/E ratios, Bitcoin's price is often a reflection of the collective "mood" of the market, which can change very quickly.

Factor 4: A 24/7 Global Market

The traditional stock market closes every day and over the weekends. This gives traders and the market as a whole time to digest news and cool off. The Bitcoin market never sleeps. It is a 24/7/365 global arena. This constant activity means that price action can be continuous and relentless, with significant moves happening at any hour of the day, contributing to its volatile nature.

How Smart Investors Approach Volatility

Experienced investors understand that volatility is the price of admission for the potential of high returns. Instead of trying to time the market's wild swings, they use a strategy designed to embrace it: Dollar-Cost Averaging(DCA). By investing a fixed amount of money at regular intervals, they turn volatility into an advantage, buying more Bitcoin when the price is low and less when the price is high. Understanding volatility is a key part of answering the bigger question: [Should I Buy Bitcoin? A Guide to Making Your Own Decision].

This is perhaps the most common and most important question in the world of modern finance. You've seen the headlines, you've watched the price charts, and you've heard the stories. Now, you're asking yourself: "Should I buy Bitcoin?" It's a question driven by a mix of hope, curiosity, and a healthy dose of fear. As an expert guide, I'm not going to give you a simple yes or no. No honest person can. Anyone who promises you guaranteed returns is selling you something. Instead, I'm going to do something far more valuable: I'm going to walk you through the questions that experienced investors ask themselves before they invest a single dollar.

The Case for "Yes": Why Investors Are Bullish on Bitcoin

There are powerful, logical reasons why many of the world's smartest investors have allocated a portion of their portfolio to Bitcoin. The arguments generally center on three core ideas.

1. Is it "Digital Gold"?

This is the most powerful narrative. The argument is that in a world where governments can print unlimited amounts of money, devaluing currencies, Bitcoin is a "hard asset" with a fixed, unchangeable supply of only 21 million coins. It cannot be created out of thin air. For this reason, many view it as a long-term store of value and a hedge against inflation, much likephysical gold has been for centuries.

2. Does it have the "Network Effect"?

Bitcoin was the first, and it remains the largest, most secure, and most decentralized cryptocurrency by a wide margin. It has the highest name recognition and the most robust infrastructure built around it. In the volatile world of crypto, many see Bitcoin as the "safe haven" asset, the one most likely to endure over the long term due to its powerful network effect.

3. Does the "Halving" Matter?

Approximately every four years, the amount of new Bitcoin created is cut in half in an event called the "halving." This pre-programmed supply shock has historically been followed by a significant bull market. Investors who buy Bitcoin are often betting that this fundamental economic principle of decreasing supply with potentially increasing demand will continue to drive the price up over time.

The Case for "No": The Risks You Must Acknowledge

It would be reckless to consider the upside without looking at the significant risks with clear eyes.

1. Can You Handle the Volatility?

This is non-negotiable. Bitcoin's price is famously volatile. It is not uncommon to see price drops of 20%, 30%, or even over 50% in a bear market. If the thought of your investment being cut in half without you panic-selling keeps you up at night, Bitcoin may not be the right asset for you. You must be prepared for extreme volatility.

2. Are You Prepared for the Responsibility?

Owning Bitcoin directly means you are your own bank. This is both empowering and a huge responsibility. It requires you to take your digital security seriously, managing wallets and private keys. If you lose your private keys, your Bitcoin is gone forever. There is no customer support line to call.

3. What About the Regulatory Uncertainty?

Governments around the world are still deciding how to regulate Bitcoin. Future regulations, while potentially bringing more legitimacy, could also impact its price and usage in ways we can't yet predict. This remains a tangible,long-term risk.

How to Approach It If You Decide to Buy

If you've weighed the pros and cons and have decided that Bitcoin has a place in your portfolio, the next question is how to buy it. For most people, the most prudent approach is Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA). This means investing a smaller, fixed amount of money on a regular schedule (e.g., $100 every month), regardless of the price. This strategy reduces the risk of investing a large sum at a market top and smooths out your
average entry price over time.

The final step is choosing a secure and reliable venue to make your purchase. You need a platform with a strong security track record, deep liquidity, and a user-friendly interface.

You've likely seen the term floating around on social media, often accompanied by a list of cryptocurrencies and predictions of massive price surges. The term is ISO 20022, and it's being called one of the most significant upgrades in the history of global finance. The narrative is simple: the coins that are "compliant" with this new standard are destined to be the chosen assets for the future of banking. But what is this standard, and is the hype justified? As your guide, let's separate the facts from the fiction.

What Is ISO 20022? A Universal Language for Money

Before we touch crypto, we need to understand the old system. For decades, the global financial system has run on a messaging standard called SWIFT. Think of it as a financial language, but one that is old, limited, and clunky—like a text-only email from the 1990s. ISO 20022 is the long-awaited upgrade. It is a new, highly structured, and data-rich universal standard for exchanging financial messages. It's like upgrading the entire world's financial system from basic text to modern, interactive HTML emails. This new standard allows for far more detailed information to be sent with every transaction, which is crucial for everything from international payments to compliance and security.

Why Is the Crypto World So Excited? The "Bridge" Narrative

The excitement in the crypto space comes from the idea that as the entire global banking system—we're talking trillions of dollars a day—migrates to this new standard, they will need modern, efficient networks to operate on. The theory is that certain cryptocurrencies, which are already built with the principles of fast, data-rich transactions, will be perfectly positioned to act as the "bridge" for this new financial system. The projects that can format their transaction data to be compatible with the ISO 20022 standard are seen as having a massive head start in the race for institutional adoption.

The So-Called "ISO 20022 Compliant" Cryptos

You will consistently see a specific list of cryptocurrencies associated with this narrative. These are projects that have focused on enterprise-level solutions and cross-border payments. The most commonly cited include XRP (Ripple), XLM (Stellar), IOTA, Quant (QNT), and Algorand (ALGO). These projects are either part of ISO 20022 standards bodies or have built their technology to be easily compatible with the new messaging format.

A Crucial Reality Check: What "Compliance" Really Means

This is the most important part of this guide. While the narrative is powerful, you must understand a critical distinction. ISO 20022 is a messaging standard, not an endorsement of any specific cryptocurrency. A project being "compliant" means its technology can create and process messages that fit the new format. It does not mean that SWIFT, the Federal Reserve, or any major bank has officially chosen that crypto to run their systems. The idea that there is a magical "switch" that will be flipped on a certain date, causing these coins to be instantly adopted, is a dangerous oversimplification.

How You Should Think About It as an Investor

So, is it all just hype? Not necessarily. A project's focus on becoming ISO 20022 compatible is a strong signal of its intent and professionalism. It shows that the team is not just focused on retail investors, but is building for the future of enterprise and institutional finance. This focus on real-world utility and integration with the traditional financial system is a powerful bullish factor. However, it should be viewed as one piece of a much larger research puzzle, not as a guaranteed golden ticket.

You're holding a leveraged position in a perpetual contract, and you notice something curious. Every few hours, a small amount of money is either debited from or credited to your account. It’s not a trading fee, and it’s not your P&L from the price movement. This is the funding rate in action. While it may seem like a minor detail, for anyone holding a position for more than a few hours, this mechanism is a crucial and often misunderstood part of the trading engine. As your guide, let's explore what the funding rate is, why it's essential, and how it directly impacts your bottom line.

The Core Purpose: Keeping the Market in Sync

First, we must understand the unique nature of a perpetual contract. Unlike a traditional futures contract, it has no expiration date. In theory, you can hold it forever. This creates a problem: what keeps the price of the perpetual contract from drifting far away from the actual, real-time price of the underlying asset (the "spot price")? The answer is the funding rate. Its one and only job is to act like a magnet, constantly pulling the perpetual contract price back towards the spot price through a clever incentive system.

How It Works: A Payment Between Traders

The funding rate is a periodic payment exchanged directly between traders who are holding long and short positions. The exchange itself does not collect this fee; it merely facilitates the transfer. The direction of the payment is determined by which side of the market is more aggressive. If the perpetual contract is trading at a price higher than the spot price, it means there is more buying pressure, and the market is bullish. To restore balance, the funding rate will be positive. In this scenario, traders holding long positions will pay a small fee to traders holding short positions. This incentivizes new shorts to open and encourages longs to close, helping to push the perpetual price back down towards the spot price. Conversely, if the perpetual contract trades lower than the spot price, the funding rate will be negative, and shorts will pay longs to incentivize buying pressure.

The Strategic Implications for Your Trades

Understanding the funding rate is what separates an intermediate trader from a professional. For a short-term scalper who holds a position for only a few minutes, the funding rate is largely irrelevant. However, for a swing trader who might hold a position for days or weeks, it can become a significant factor in their overall profitability. If you are holding a long position during a period of high positive funding, you are essentially "paying rent" to keep that position open. This cost can eat into your profits over time. On the other hand, a trader holding a short position during the same period would be earning a steady yield from the funding payments, which can offset other costs or even add to their profits.

From Hidden Fee to Strategic Tool

The funding rate is more than just a fee; it's a real-time indicator of market sentiment. A consistently high positive funding rate shows a strong bullish consensus, while a negative rate indicates bearishness. Professional traders watch this data closely. They understand that a position's success is not just about the entry and exit price, but also about the cost of holding it. Before placing any long-term leveraged trade, it is essential to understand all the core concepts and risks, as detailed in our main guide: [Leverage Trading in Crypto: A Guide to the Double-Edged Sword].

Let's be clear about one thing: in the high-stakes world of leverage trading, the stop-loss order is not just another tool. It is your seatbelt. It is your fire escape. It is the single most important mechanism that separates a professional trading strategy from a reckless gamble. While our last articles discussed the dangers of liquidation, this guide will give you the practical knowledge to prevent it. Knowing that you should use a stop-loss is easy. Knowing how to place one strategically is what will save your account.

What a Stop-Loss Truly Represents

A stop-loss order is a pre-set instruction you give to an exchange to automatically close your position at a specific price. Its purpose is not to avoid losses—losses are an inevitable part of trading. Its true purpose is to ensure that your losses are small, planned, and survivable. It is the point you decide, with a calm and rational mind before you enter a trade, where your trade idea is officially proven wrong. By setting it in advance, you remove emotion from the equation, preventing the disastrous hope that a losing trade will "turn around."

The Amateur vs. The Professional: How to Set Your Stop-Loss

This is where many aspiring traders make a critical mistake. The amateur trader often sets an arbitrary stop-loss based on a random percentage, such as "I'll risk 10% of my margin on this trade." This approach is flawed because it completely ignores the market's actual behavior and structure. The professional trader thinks differently. They don't place a stop-loss based on an arbitrary number; they place it based on technical analysis. The most common and effective method is to place your stop-loss at a logical price level that invalidates your reason for entering the trade. For a long position, this means placing it just below a key support level. For a short position, it means placing it just above a key resistance level. This way, your trade is only closed if the market's structure breaks down, proving your initial analysis was incorrect.

Why Leverage Makes This Non-Negotiable

In spot trading, a 10% price drop is a 10% loss. In leverage trading, that same 10% price drop could be a 100% loss—a full liquidation. The magnifying effect of leverage means there is virtually no room for error. This
is why a strategically placed stop-loss is your only true defense against liquidation. For example, if you place your stop-loss at a point where the asset's price has moved 1% against you, your loss on a 10x leveraged position is a manageable 10% of your margin. Without that stop-loss, you are giving the market permission to continue moving against you until it triggers a 100% loss.

Your Stop-Loss is Your Business Plan

Think of every trade as a small business venture. Your entry price is your investment, your take-profit target is your revenue goal, and your stop-loss is your business plan for what happens if things go wrong. No
serious business operates without a plan for managing downside risk, and neither should you. Before placing any leveraged trade, it is essential to understand all the core concepts and risks, as detailed in our main guide: [Leverage Trading in Crypto: A Guide to the Double-Edged Sword].

You're setting up a leveraged trade. You've chosen your asset, decided on your entry price, and selected your leverage. Then, just before you execute, you see it: a small but critical choice between "Isolated Margin" and "Cross Margin." This is not a minor setting to be ignored. The choice you make here will fundamentally change how the platform manages your risk and could be the difference between a small, contained loss and a catastrophic account wipeout. As your guide, let's break down exactly what this choice means so you can make the right decision for your strategy.

The Poker Table Analogy

To understand the difference, imagine you are at a poker table with your entire wallet of cash in your pocket.

• Isolated Margin is like taking a specific amount of cash—say, $100—out of your wallet, putting it on the table, and declaring, "This is all I am willing to risk on this one hand."
• Cross Margin is like putting your entire wallet on the table and declaring, "I will use any and all of the money in this wallet to keep all of my hands in the game."

Isolated Margin: Containing Your Risk

When you select Isolated Margin, you are assigning a specific amount of your capital (your margin) to one single position. That margin is completely walled off from your other positions and the rest of your account balance. If the trade goes against you and gets liquidated, the maximum you can possibly lose is the specific margin you assigned to that one trade. The rest of your account balance remains untouched. This makes it an incredibly powerful tool for risk management.

Cross Margin: Sharing Your Risk

When you select Cross Margin, you are using your entire available account balance as a shared pool of margin for all of your open positions. If one position starts to lose money and nears its liquidation price, the system will automatically draw more margin from your available balance to prevent that liquidation. The advantage is that it gives your trades more breathing room and can help you survive larger price swings. However, the danger is immense. A single, disastrously bad trade can act like a black hole, draining your entire account balance as it tries to save itself, potentially leading to the liquidation of not just that one position but your whole portfolio.

Which One Should You Use? A Clear Recommendation

The choice depends entirely on your experience and strategy. For the vast majority of traders, especially those who are not yet seasoned professionals, the answer is clear: Isolated Margin should be your default choice. It provides a built-in safety net that forces you to define your risk on a per-trade basis, preventing one bad decision from destroying your entire account. Cross Margin is a tool for highly advanced traders, market makers, or those running sophisticated, multi-position strategies where different trades are designed to hedge one another. It requires constant monitoring and is far less forgiving. Before placing any leveraged trade, it is essential to understand all the core concepts and risks, as detailed in our main guide: [Leverage Trading in Crypto: A Guide to the Double--Edged Sword].

As a trader, you learn the basic formula early on: buy low, sell high. This is a great strategy when the market is rising, but it leaves you with a frustrating problem: how do you make money when the market is falling? Relying only on price increases is like trying to win a fight with one hand tied behind your back. The answer, and the tool that unlocks the other side of the market, is called shorting. Understanding what it means to "short" crypto is a fundamental step in moving from a casual investor to an advanced trader. As your guide, I'll explain this powerful concept, how it works in practice, and the critical risks you must be aware of.

A Simple Analogy: Selling a Concert Ticket You Don't Own

The idea of selling something you don't have can be confusing, so let's use a real-world example. Imagine a famous band is coming to town, and tickets are selling for $200. You believe the hype is overblown and the price will drop. You borrow a ticket from a friend who already has one, promising to return it next week. You immediately sell that borrowed ticket for the current market price of $200. A few days later, just as you predicted, the hype dies down and the ticket price plummets to $50. You can now buy a ticket on the open market for just $50, return it to your friend, and you've just pocketed the $150 difference as pure profit. That is the essence of shorting.

How Shorting Works in the Crypto World

In crypto, you don't literally borrow a Bitcoin from a friend. Instead, this process is handled seamlessly through derivatives products, like perpetual futures contracts, on a professional trading platform. When you open a short position, you are essentially borrowing the asset from the exchange and immediately selling it at the current price. Your goal is to buy it back later at a lower price to close the position and profit from the difference. The entire transaction—the borrowing, selling, and eventual repurchasing—is managed within your leveraged trading account.

Why Would a Trader Short Crypto?

There are two primary strategic reasons to open a short position. The most obvious is pure speculation. If your analysis, whether technical or fundamental, leads you to believe that an asset's price is likely to fall, opening a short position is the most direct way to profit from that prediction. The second, more sophisticated reason is hedging. Imagine you are a long-term holder of a significant amount of Ethereum. You don't want to sell your holdings, but you anticipate a short-term market downturn. You can open a leveraged short position on Ethereum to offset the potential losses in your spot portfolio. Any losses your long-term holdings incur from the price drop would be balanced by the profits from your successful short position.

The Critical Risk of Shorting: Unlimited Losses

This is the part of the guide you cannot afford to skip. When you buy an asset (go "long"), your risk is capped. The lowest the price can go is zero, so the most you can ever lose is your initial investment. Shorting is different, and its risk is unforgiving. If you short an asset and its price begins to rise instead of fall, your potential losses are, in theory, infinite, because there is no ceiling on how high an asset's price can go.

A powerful, sudden price increase can lead to a "short squeeze," where many short sellers are forced to buy back the asset at a high price to close their losing positions, pushing the price even higher and causing catastrophic losses. This is why using a stop-loss order is not just recommended when shorting; it is an absolute necessity for survival. Before placing any leveraged trade, it is essential to understand all the core concepts and risks, as detailed in our main guide: [Leverage Trading in Crypto: A Guide to the Double-Edged Sword].