KARDGuide · Last updated: October 13, 2026
What are long and short positions?
A long position bets that price will rise: you profit if it rises and lose if it falls. A short position bets that price will fall: you profit if it falls and lose if it rises.
Long position
When you go long you buy the contract. Its value rises as price rises. Compared with a spot purchase you can open a larger position using leverage, which magnifies both profit and loss.
Short position
When you go short it is as if you sold an asset you don't own; if price falls you close the position cheaper and keep the difference. Theoretically a short's loss is unlimited because price can in theory rise without limit, which is why stops matter.
Why it matters
Every futures contract has a long side and a short side. The balance between the two and the funding they pay show which side the crowd is on; a crowded side can struggle if price moves against it.
Example
You went long BTC at 80,000 and it rose to 82,000: you are up about 2.5%. The same move would have cost you about 2.5% if you had been short.
Where do you see it in KARDVANE?
In the Pro terminal you can enter your long and short positions in My positions and watch the distance to stop and liquidation live; the link between direction and crowding is on the coin pages.
Go to the related pageOpen the Pro terminal
FAQ
Do I need to own the coin to short?
No. In futures you short through the contract; what you need is margin.
Is long or short riskier?
Both are risky with leverage. A short's loss is theoretically unlimited while a long's is at most the position value; in both cases stops and position size are what matter.
Related guides
This page is educational; it is not investment advice.