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Building Your First Crypto Prop Trading Plan

This image is a clean and bold visual introducing the topic of creating a crypto prop trading plan. Set against a dark purple background, the text reads “Building Your First Crypto Prop Trading Plan” in large, white and lavender font. The phrase

Ever heard someone say, “I trade with someone else’s money”? That’s proprietary (prop) trading in a nutshell. In the crypto world, it means using a firm’s capital, not your own, to trade digital assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, or altcoins. The deal is simple: you bring the skill, they bring the funds.
But why is this model gaining traction in crypto? Because the crypto market is 24/7, insanely volatile, and full of opportunity. Traditional markets close. Crypto doesn’t. And for a prop firm, that means more chances to profit through your skills. For you? It means more ways to build wealth – if you’re prepared.

In this blog, we will not only dive into the depth of building your first crypto prop trading plan but also discuss the essentials you would need in your crypto trading journey.

Why Crypto + Prop Trading = Opportunity?

Imagine combining high liquidity, fast-moving markets, and simulated funded accounts with zero personal risk. Sounds like a dream, right?

Here’s the formula:
Your skills + firm’s capital = shared profits.

But it’s not just about profits. It’s about learning discipline, managing emotions, and building something serious in a chaotic market.

Can Anyone Do It? Who Is It For?

Ask yourself this:

  • Do you love analyzing charts for hours?
  • Can you remain calm when Bitcoin drops $3,000 in an hour?
  • Are you ready to follow a strategy instead of gut instinct?

If you answered “yes” even once, you’ve got potential. Prop crypto trading isn’t about degrees or experience. It’s about skill, control, and consistency.

Understanding the Basics Before You Begin

The Difference Between Spot and Futures, in Crypto

Spot = You trade on the current price fluctuations
Futures = You speculate on future prices.

Prop Trading vs Traditional Trading: A Quick Primer

Feature

Traditional Trading

Prop Tradin

Capital

Your own

Firm’s capital

Risk

Yours

Shared or limited

Profit

100% yours

Split with firm

Stress

All on you

Shared pressure

With a good plan, prop trading removes your biggest bottleneck: capital.

Why a Crypto Trading Plan Matters More in Crypto Prop Trading

Crypto is volatile. Without a crypto trading plan, you’re not trading – you’re gambling.

A trading plan is your GPS in the chaos. It tells you:

  • When to enter
  • When to exit
  • When to sit out

It removes the guesswork. And in prop trading, it’s often the difference between getting paid and getting booted.

Laying the Groundwork for Your Crypto Trading Plan

What is a Crypto Trading Plan?

A crypto trading plan is not just a fancy spreadsheet with a few targets scribbled in. It’s a comprehensive, written roadmap that guides your every trading decision. It defines:

  • Your trading strategy
  • Your risk parameters
  • Your entry and exit rules
  • Your market conditions for participation
  • Your daily schedule
  • Your review process
This infographic answers the question “What Is A Crypto Trading Plan?” by outlining six key components every trader should include. The title sits at the top, followed by two rows of rounded rectangles, each containing a core element. These include: Your Trading Strategy, Your Risk Parameters, Your Entry and Exit Rules, Your Market Conditions for Participation, Your Daily Schedule, and Your Review Process. Each section is paired with a simple icon, such as a magnifying glass, chart, circular arrow, or stopwatch. The background features a dark purple gradient with soft wave-like patterns, and the Hola Prime Cryptos logo is placed in the top-right corner.

Think of it like a flight manual for pilots. Without it, you’re improvising in a field where improvisation often leads to disaster.

A crypto trading plan isn’t rigid – it evolves. But it must be structured. It must reflect who you are as a trader, not who someone else is on YouTube.

Why Do Most Traders Fail Without a Crypto Trading Plan?

Here’s a question: Would you build a skyscraper without blueprints?
Then why trade without a crypto trading plan?

Most traders fail because they:

  • Jump into trades based on emotion or hype
  • Don’t define risk upfront
  • Lack consistency
  • Don’t review their trades

Your crypto trading plan keeps you grounded when your emotions try to take over. It’s your anchor in volatile seas.

Your Mindset: Asset or Liability?

You might have the best tools, indicators, and capital. But if your mindset is reactive, you’ll lose.

Ask yourself:

  • Can I take a loss without chasing it?
  • Can I sit through a winning trade without prematurely exiting?
  • Do I need validation to feel right?

Your mindset is either your greatest asset or your biggest liability.
Crypto markets will test you. Every hour. Every candle.

Discipline: The Most Underestimated Trading Skill

People chase the “best way to trade crypto,” but ignore the one thing every successful trader masters – discipline.

Discipline is:

  • Not trading when your setup isn’t there
  • Sticking to your stop-loss even when the chart looks like it might reverse
  • Journaling your mistakes and actually learning from them

Without discipline, your trading strategy for crypto is irrelevant.
Your plan may tell you what to do. But discipline ensures you do it.

Setting Clear Trading Goals

Financial Goals vs Performance Goals

Most traders start with one goal: “I want to make $10,000 a month.”

But that’s a financial goal, and without a performance framework, it’s meaningless.

Instead, break it down:

  • How many trades do I plan per week?
  • What is my risk/reward ratio?
  • What win rate do I need to hit my goal?

Performance goals like “Maintain a 2:1 RR with 55% win rate” help you back into financial targets. They’re measurable, trackable, and realistic.

Short-Term vs Long-Term Crypto Trading Objectives

Short-term objectives:

  • Pass a prop firm challenge
  • Stick to your plan for 30 straight days
  • Avoid overtrading

Long-term objectives:

  • Consistently withdraw profits for 12 months
  • Scale from $25K to $100K funding
  • Transition from part-time to full-time trader

The mix matters. You can’t climb Everest without the base camps.

Realistic Expectation Setting in Crypto Markets

Crypto markets can 10x your portfolio – or wipe it out in hours. Expecting to win every trade? Delusional. Expecting a consistent monthly ROI like a salary? Dangerous.

Instead:

  • Expect volatility
  • Expect streaks (winning and losing)
  • Expect learning curves

The best way to crypto trade is with tempered ambition, not blind optimism.

Choosing the Right Prop Firm

What Makes a Good Crypto Prop Firm?

Not all prop firms are built equal. Ask yourself:

  • Do they provide crypto trading specifically?
  • How fast are their payouts?
  • Do they allow holding positions over the weekend?
  • Are spreads fair?

The firm you choose should align with your strategy, not force you to change it.

Must-Have Features: Payouts, Leverage, Support

Fast payouts mean liquidity.
Reasonable leverage (up to 5x) means flexibility.
Live support means you’re not left hanging when your trade is stuck.

A good firm supports your journey; a bad one adds friction.

Comparing Popular Prop Firms: A Practical Checklist

Feature

Firm A

Firm B

Firm C

Payout Speed

1 hour

2 days

1 week

Crypto Support

Yes 

No

Yes

Leverage 

5x

No

No

Weekend Holding

Yes

No

Yes

Entry Fee

$49

$50

$62

 

Make your own comparison table. Don’t fall for hype – use your checklist.

Crafting Your Personal Trading Strategy for Crypto

What’s Your Trading Style? Scalping, Swing, or Position?

Each has pros and cons:

  • Scalping: Fast, high-frequency, more stress
  • Swing: Slower, big moves, patience needed
  • Position: Long-term, macro view, capital-heavy

Ask: What suits your temperament, availability, and capital?

Don’t force yourself to scalp just because Twitter loves it.

How to Build a Crypto Strategy That Suits You

Start with:

  • Your available time
  • Your attention span
  • Your preferred indicators
  • Market hours and liquidity

Then define:

  • Entry triggers
  • Exit plans
  • Timeframes
  • Risk parameters

The best trading strategy for crypto isn’t the flashiest – it’s the one you can follow religiously.

The Role of Technical Indicators in Building a Trading Strategy For Crypto

MACD, RSI, Bollinger Bands, Ichimoku – tools, not magic spells.

Pick 1-2 core indicators. Combine them with:

  • Market structure
  • Price action
  • Support/resistance

Example:

“I enter long trades when RSI crosses 30, price forms a double bottom near support, and volume increases.”

Clean. Simple. Effective.

Should You Use Bots or Stay Manual?

Bots are tempting. They promise:

  • 24/7 execution
  • No emotion
  • Backtestable logic

But ask:

  • Do you understand how the bot works?
  • Can you override it when markets get weird?
  • Does it fit the prop firm rules?

Start manual. Build understanding. Then automate.

Risk Management: The Non-Negotiable Element

The Golden Rule: Never Risk More Than X%

So, what’s X? For most traders, it’s 1-2% of their account per trade.

Why? Because:

  • A losing streak of five trades doesn’t wipe you out.
  • You can think clearly without panic.
  • You stay in the game long enough to see results.

Ask yourself:

If I lose this trade, can I trade again tomorrow with the same mental clarity?

If the answer is no, your position size is too large. Risk management is not optional.. It is one of the most imporant things to take care of in building your first crypto trading plan.

Position Sizing Explained with Crypto Examples

Let’s say you’re having a simulated funded with $25,000 in a prop account.

You decide to risk 1% per trade = $250 risk.

If you’re trading BTC/USDT and your stop loss is $500 wide:

  • Position Size = Risk / Stop Loss = $250 / $500 = 0.5 BTC contract

That’s it. Now you have your sizing.
No guessing. No YOLOing. No “let’s just add a little more.”

Position sizing keeps you consistent, especially when your emotions try to override logic. This is very important aspect of a crypto trading plan.

Stop-Loss and Take-Profit: Not Just Buzzwords

A stop-loss is not just a number; it’s a decision boundary.

Your take-profit is not a dream target; it’s your reward for following the system.

Ask:

  • Does your stop make sense based on market structure?
  • Is your take-profit aligned with volume and resistance?

Set them before the trade. Don’t move them in panic. That’s not trading – it’s gambling – its not a crypto trading plan.

Building the Plan: From Framework to Execution

Components of a Complete Crypto Trading Plan

Every solid crypto trading plan includes:

  • Trading objectives
  • Markets and instruments traded
  • Timeframes used
  • Entry/exit rules
  • Risk management plan
  • Psychology protocols
  • Journaling and review routine

Your plan is your mirror. It must reflect your strengths, weaknesses, and approach. Don’t copy-paste someone else’s PDF. Make your own crypto trading plan.

This image highlights the essential elements required to build a comprehensive crypto trading plan, focusing specifically on trading objectives. The top of the image displays the heading “Components Of A Complete Crypto Trading Plan – Trading Objectives” in bold white text on a dark purple background. Below the heading are seven rounded boxes arranged across two rows, each labeled with a specific component: Markets and Assets Traded, Timeframes Used, Entry/Exit Rules, Risk Management Plan, Psychology Protocols, and Journaling and Review Routine. The visual maintains a sleek, professional look with smooth gradients and wave patterns, and the Hola Prime Cryptos logo is present in the top-right corner.

Defining Your Entry and Exit Criteria

Ask yourself:

  • What confluences do I need to enter?
  • Do I enter on candle close or breakout?
  • How do I know when the move is exhausted?

Example entry plan:

“Enter long if BTC breaks above 50 EMA on 15m chart, RSI > 50, and volume spikes 30% above average.”

Exit plan:

“Take profit at 2R, or if price closes below 20 EMA on 5m chart.”

Defined logic = less hesitation = better execution.

Journaling and Performance Review: Tracking What Matters

A journal is not just a record – it’s your data goldmine.

Log:

  • Entry and exit time
  • Setup name
  • Screenshot of chart
  • Emotional state
  • Outcome and learnings

Review weekly:

  • What’s working?
  • What’s bleeding you slowly?
  • Are you following your rules?

Your trading journal is your mirror and microscope.

Creating Your Daily/Weekly Trading Routine For a Good Crypto Trading Plan

A routine eliminates randomness. Try this:

Daily routine:

  • 7:00 AM: Market scan
  • 7:30 AM: Trade plan written
  • 8:00 AM–12:00 PM: Active trading
  • 12:30 PM: Trade review and log

Weekly routine:

  • Sunday: Backtest session + prep watchlist
  • Wednesday: Mid-week review
  • Saturday: Deep journal review + strategy tweak

No routine = reactive trading.
Routine = intentional, focused, accountable trading.

The Best Way to Trade Crypto Within a Prop Firm

What Makes Prop Firm Trading Different?

In a prop firm:

  • You don’t own the capital.
  • You must follow rules (max daily loss limits and overall loss limits).
  • You often need to pass a challenge first.

This means:

  • Risk management is non-negotiable
  • Discipline is monitored
  • Strategy has to be repeatable

In exchange, you get capital, leverage, and structure. It’s like being a professional athlete – you follow the playbook to stay on the team.

Time Management: When to Trade, When to Walk Away

Crypto is 24/7. But you are not.
Trying to catch every move? You’ll burn out.

Define:

  • Your trading hours (based on your timezone and liquidity)
  • When not to trade (after losses, before news, during sideways action)

Top crypto trading windows:

  • London Open  
  • New York Open  
  • Midnight Breakouts (Post-NY close volatility)

Discipline with time = energy preserved = better focus.

News, Events, and Volatility Management

Crypto reacts violently to:

  • CPI reports
  • Fed meetings
  • ETF approvals/rejections
  • Exchange hacks or regulations

Best approach?

  • Use an economic calendar
  • Reduce trade size before major events
  • Use wider stops during extreme volatility

Don’t be a hero. Be a survivor.

Prop Trading Challenges: How to Prepare and Pass

Almost every prop firm requires you to pass a  challenge.

Key metrics:

  • Profit target (e.g., 10%)
  • Max daily loss (e.g., 3%)
  • Max total drawdown (e.g., 5–8%)
  • Time limits (e.g., 30 days)

How to pass:

  • Trade less. Size right. Avoid revenge trading.
  • Focus on high-probability setups, not quantity.
  • Hit your daily goal, then stop. Don’t overtrade.

The goal isn’t just to pass. It’s to prove you can manage capital with care.

Tools for the Trade

Must-Have Platforms and Trading Software

You wouldn’t build a house with your bare hands. So why try trading without the right tools?

Here’s what your crypto trading toolkit should include:

  • Trading Platforms: MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and DXtrade
  • Order Execution Tools 
  • Advanced tools and resources provided by prop firms:  
  • Mobile Platforms: For monitoring  and executing  strategies

Your setup needs to be:

  • Fast
  • Reliable
  • Easy to customize

One glitch during a volatile BTC move can destroy your day.

Data Feeds and News Alerts for Crypto Traders

Crypto moves on data, but not all data is equal.

Essential news feeds:

  • CoinDesk
  • The Block
  • CryptoPanic (custom alerts)
  • Twitter/X (for fast rumors and narratives)
  • Whale Alert (wallet and transfer tracking)

Set alerts for:

  • BTC/USD breaking levels
  • Fed announcements
  • ETF decisions
  • Crypto regulations in the US, China, EU

Staying informed isn’t optional – it’s strategic.

Charting Tools That Actually Help

Visual clarity = better decisions.

Your chart should show:

  • Candlesticks (NOT line charts)
  • Volume
  • Key EMAs (20, 50, 200)
  • RSI or MACD
  • Support and Resistance levels

Charting tools is king here. Use:

  • Multi-timeframe analysis
  • Replay mode for practice
  • Templates for each setup

And remember:

“The cleaner your chart, the clearer your mind.”

Backtesting and Strategy Optimization

What is Backtesting and Why You Must Do It

Would you fly a plane that hasn’t been tested? No?

Then why trade a strategy you’ve never backtested?

Backtesting = Running your strategy on past market data to test viability.

Benefits:

  • See if your strategy works before going live
  • Spot flaws before they cost real money
  • Build statistical confidence in your system

Confidence comes from evidence, not hope.

Tools for Crypto Strategy Backtesting

Manual or coded – backtest at least 100 trades before deploying.

Track:

  • Win rate
  • Average R:R
  • Drawdowns
  • Strategy failure points

How to Interpret Backtesting Results Like a Pro

Avoid this trap: “80% win rate, I’m rich!”
Ask deeper questions:

  • Did the wins come from one market condition?
  • Was the drawdown within your risk tolerance?
  • What happens when volatility drops?

Also analyze:

  • Max consecutive losses
  • Equity curve smoothness
  • Market fit (does it work only on BTC? or also on ETH?)

You’re not just validating your strategy. You’re understanding its personality.

Emotional Discipline and Psychology

How to Handle a Winning Streak

Strange question? Think again.

Winning streaks often lead to:

  • Overconfidence
  • Overleverage
  • Rule-breaking

Solution? Lock partial profits. Stick to your risk % even when things feel “easy.”

After 3 green trades in a row, pause. Reassess. Are you still following your plan, or just feeling invincible?

“The markets don’t care how good your last trade was.”

How to Survive a Losing Streak

Losses suck. But they’re inevitable.

When you hit a losing streak:

  • Reduce size by 50%
  • Pause after 3 losses in a day
  • Journal in detail
  • Revisit your backtest data for confidence

Your edge didn’t vanish – it’s just on vacation.

Building Emotional Resilience in Fast Markets

Crypto is noisy. Everyone’s shouting “BUY NOW” or “SELL EVERYTHING.”

You need to build a quiet center within your mind.

Practice:

  • Pre-trade meditation or breathing
  • Affirmations tied to your trading rules
  • Post-trade reflections

Discipline isn’t just about not trading impulsively. It’s about staying neutral, no matter what the chart throws at you.

Real-Time Adjustments: Staying Agile

When to Stick to the Crypto Trading Plan

When it’s working. When the data supports it. When emotions say “break it.”

Remember:

A good plan followed well beats a perfect plan ignored.

Don’t ditch your plan after one bad day. Trends take time. Stick to it if your edge is intact.

When to Adapt: Is the Market Changing or Are You?

Sometimes, your plan stops working.

Ask:

  • Is market volatility lower?
  • Are breakouts failing more?
  • Have key levels become fakeouts?

Adapt, don’t panic.

Tweak small things:

  • Widen stops
  • Change session timing
  • Reduce number of trades

A plan should be a living document, not a tombstone.

Mistakes First-Time Crypto Prop Traders Make

Overleveraging: The Fastest Path to a Margin Call

5x leverage looks good.
10x sounds like magic.
More than 10xx is a recipe for regret.

Use leverage as a tool, not a shortcut.

Prop firms often limit your leverage, and for good reason. Manage it wisely. One oversized trade can wipe out your entire prop account.

Ignoring the News Cycle

Crypto is news-sensitive. A random tweet can shift billions.

First-timers often:

  • Trade right before a news bomb
  • Ignore macroeconomic updates
  • Misjudge weekend liquidity shocks

Always check the macro calendar. It’s your market map.

Emotional Trading and Revenge Trades

Lost a trade? Good. It happens.

Now don’t:

  • Jump into a “make it back” trade
  • Increase the size out of frustration
  • Break your rules because “it looks good.”

Revenge trading is ego, not logic. And ego kills accounts.

Measuring and Refining Your Success

What Metrics Matter for Crypto Traders?

Track more than P&L.

Measure:

  • Win/Loss ratio
  • Average risk-reward
  • Max drawdown
  • Weekly consistency
  • Trade frequency

Patterns create clarity. And clarity is power.

KPIs to Track in a Prop Environment

Specific to prop trading:

  • Minimum number of trading days required
  • % required to hit  profit target
  • Drawdown control compliance
  • Rule violations
  • Plan the Time between trades

Your goal is not just profit, but longevity.

Milestone Reviews and Quarterly Strategy Updates

Every quarter:

  • Review top 5 winning trades: Why did they work?
  • Review top 5 losers: What went wrong?
  • Rebalance your edge with updated market conditions

Set a calendar reminder. Growth requires reflection.

Scaling Your Trading Career

Moving from Part-Time to Full-Time

Ask:

  • Am I consistently profitable for 6+ months?
  • Do I have emergency funds for 6 – 12 months?
  • Am I emotionally stable and routine-bound?

Don’t jump from your job too early. Build slow, smart, and strategically.

Scaling Strategies Without Losing Your Edge

Scaling is not just increasing size. It’s about:

  • Keeping your win rate stable
  • Managing new emotions that come with bigger numbers
  • Reinvesting profits wisely

Test scale gradually:

  • Increase position size by 10%
  • Monitor results
  • Only increase again when stable

Slow scaling is sustainable scaling.

Building a Personal Brand as a Trader (Yes, It Helps!)

Why build a personal brand?

  • Attract funding opportunities
  • Build community
  • Get invited to prop firms and trading desks
  • Teach, coach, mentor (create additional income)

Document your journey:

  • Share your analysis
  • Be honest about mistakes
  • Stay humble, stay visible

Your crypto trading plan is private. But your trading persona can be public.

Conclusion: Ready to Trade Like a Pro?

Building your first crypto trading plan is not about finding a “holy grail.” It’s about structure, discipline, and self-awareness.

The best way to trade crypto, especially with a prop firm, is to treat it like a profession, not a hustle.

Start small. Stay consistent. Review constantly.
And when in doubt, ask:

Would a pro trader do this right now?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is a crypto trading plan and why do I need one?

A crypto trading plan is a structured blueprint outlining your trading goals, strategies, risk management rules, and routine. It helps you stay disciplined, minimize emotional decisions, and improve consistency in volatile crypto markets.

2. Can beginners build a crypto trading plan, or is it only for experienced traders?

Absolutely, beginners can and should build a crypto trading plan. It’s a learning tool that helps you understand your behavior, track your trades, and gradually develop the discipline and consistency needed for long-term success.

3. What are the key components of a solid crypto trading plan? In a solid crypto trading plan

core components include your trading style, entry/exit strategy, risk management rules, trading routine, emotional protocols, and journaling process. It should also account for market volatility, position sizing, and backtesting.

4. How do I choose the right prop firm for my crypto trading journey?

Look for prop firms that offer fast payouts, fair rules, crypto-specific trading options, leverage flexibility, educational support, and a clean, transparent funding structure. Avoid firms with unclear policies or excessive restrictions.

5. What is the best way to trade crypto within a prop firm?

Follow the firm’s rules religiously, stick to your predefined strategy, manage risk precisely, and avoid overtrading. Consistency, not speed, is key to passing challenges and maintaining your simulated funded account.

6. How much capital should I risk per trade in a crypto prop account?

Most pros recommend risking 1 -2% of your capital per trade. This prevents large losses, supports emotional clarity, and allows room for recovery even during losing streaks.

7. How do I handle emotions like fear and greed while trading crypto?

Use pre-trade rituals, affirmations, journaling, and routine reviews to stay emotionally balanced. Emotional discipline is just as important as technical skill, especially in fast-moving, high-stakes environments like crypto prop trading.

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