Three popular crypto strategies — each with distinct advantages, drawbacks, and target audiences.
Full Comparison
| Parameter | Copy Trading | Arbitrage | Spot Trading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market direction risk | Yes | No (neutral) | Yes (heavily) |
| Time required | Minimal | 1–3 hours/day | 2–8 hours/day |
| Minimum capital | $100–500 | $300–1,000 | $100+ |
| Predictability | Low | Medium | Very low |
| Technical barrier | Low | Medium | Medium |
| Passivity | Nearly passive | Active | Active |
Copy Trading: Who It's For
Automatically copies an experienced trader's positions. You don't trade — your capital follows their strategy.
Good fit if: no time for active trading, no trading experience, comfortable with market risk.
Not a fit if: you want predictable results, not comfortable with 20–40% drawdowns.
Realistic returns: 5–20% monthly at moderate risk — can also be negative.
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Arbitrage: Who It's For
Exploiting price differences between exchanges. Market-direction neutral.
Good fit if: want stable, predictable income, comfortable with 1–2 hours of active daily work, patient enough to learn the mechanics.
Not a fit if: want full passivity.
Realistic returns: 3–15% monthly depending on capital and strategy. More predictable than copy trading.
Spot Trading: Who It's For
Buy and sell crypto betting on price movement.
Good fit if: willing to invest heavily in learning, psychologically stable during volatility, long-term horizon (HODL).
Not a fit if: want stable income, no time to monitor markets.
Realistic returns: unlimited upside theoretically — and unlimited downside. Most beginners lose money in short-term trading.
Our Recommendation
Complete beginner: start with Copy Trading ($100–300) + learn arbitrage in parallel.
Have 1–2 hours daily: arbitrage — best risk/return ratio.
Long-term investor: HODL top crypto (BTC, ETH) + small portion in Copy Trading.
Want to combine: arbitrage for stability + Copy Trading for upside potential.
FAQ
Can you use all three strategies simultaneously? Yes. Many experienced traders use arbitrage as a stable base, Copy Trading for additional returns, and long-term holding for growth potential.
Which strategy is safest? Arbitrage — least dependent on market direction. But no strategy with guaranteed returns exists.
Does Copy Trading require technical knowledge? Minimal — you need to read trader metrics (ROI, drawdown, win rate). No technical analysis needed.