Spot copy trading allows users to automatically replicate the trades of experienced traders. However, various issues can lead to copy trading failures. Understanding these reasons can help you optimize your strategy and avoid common pitfalls.
This article explores the primary causes of copy trading failures, from both the user and the trader perspectives, and provides actionable solutions.
User-Side Reasons for Copy Trading Failure
Insufficient Account Balance
One of the most frequent reasons for a failed copy trade is an inadequate balance. Each spot trade requires a minimum amount of USDT to execute.
For example, if a specific copy trade requires 20 USDT but your account holds less than that, the order will not be placed. To avoid this, always ensure your trading account has sufficient funds. Transfer or deposit additional USDT to meet or exceed the required amount for each trade.
Please note: if a trade fails due to insufficient funds, it will not be automatically executed later, even if you add more funds to your account.
Low Order Amount
The platform enforces a minimum order size for each cryptocurrency. If your configured copy trade amount is below this minimum, the trade will fail.
It's important to distinguish between:
- The platform's minimum order size: A fixed, non-negotiable threshold per cryptocurrency.
- Your self-set copy amount: The amount you choose to allocate per trade in your copy trading settings.
The minimum order size varies by cryptocurrency and changes over time based on market value. The following table provides examples for reference (data is illustrative and not current):
| Tier | Trading Pair | Approx. Minimum Order (Sept 2023) | Value Range (USDT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OKB-USDT | 0.1 OKB | 4-5 |
| 2 | BTC-USDT | 0.00001 BTC | 2-3 |
| 3 | ETH-USDT | 0.001 ETH | 1-2 |
| 4 | LTC/USDT, XRP/USDT, DOGE/USDT | Varies (e.g., 0.01 LTC) | 0.5-1 |
| 5 | BCH/USDT, SOL/USDT | Varies (e.g., 0.01 SOL) | 0.1-0.5 |
For Fixed Amount Users:
Your trade will fail if your set "amount per copy trade" is below the platform's minimum for that coin. For instance, if the BTC minimum is 3 USDT, you must set your copy amount to at least 3 USDT.
For Ratio Copy Users:
Your effective order size is calculated as: (Trader's Order Value) × (Your Set Multiplier). This result must be above the platform's minimum.
Example: If a trader places a 6 USDT order for BTC (min. order 3 USDT), your multiplier must be at least 0.5x (6 × 0.5 = 3). A lower multiplier will cause a failure. It's wise to review a trader's average order size and adjust your multiplier accordingly to ensure it always meets the minimum requirement.
👉 Explore more strategies for calculating optimal copy trade sizes.
Exceeding Self-Set Maximum Investment
You can set a maximum total amount you wish to invest with a specific trader. This is a cap on the sum of all your currently active copy trades with that individual.
- Important: This cap only counts the funds currently invested in open positions. It does not include the capital from trades you have already closed and sold.
If the sum of your active investments reaches your self-set maximum, no new copy trades will be triggered, causing subsequent orders to fail. To continue copying, you must either close some existing positions to free up allocation or increase your maximum investment limit in the settings.
Example Scenario:
| Copy Order | Active Trade 1 | Active Trade 2 | Closed Trade 1 | Closed Trade 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invested Amount | 50 USDT | 50 USDT | 10 USDT | 10 USDT |
| Total Active Investment | 100 USDT | |||
| Your Set Maximum | 200 USDT | |||
| Result | 100 < 200 → Can place new trades |
Price Spread Protection
To protect users from large discrepancies in entry price, a spread protection mechanism is in place. If the price at which your copy trade executes differs from the original trader's price by more than 0.5%, the system will cancel your order to prevent a poor entry.
Example:
- A trader buys BTC at 20,000 USDT.
- The maximum allowed copy trade price is 20,000 × (1 + 0.5%) = 20,100 USDT.
- If the market moves rapidly and the price jumps to 20,200 USDT by the time your order is placed, the 1% difference triggers spread protection, and your buy order fails.
This mechanism ensures your profitability is not severely impacted by market volatility and execution delays.
Trader-Side Reasons for Copy Trading Failure
Exceeding the Maximum Order Limit
To maintain market stability and prevent excessive slippage, the platform limits the total value of assets a trader and all their copiers can collectively buy for a specific cryptocurrency.
For instance, the maximum collective buy order for BTC might be 5,000,000 USDT. If the trader and their community reach this limit, the trader will be temporarily blocked from initiating new copy trades for that asset. While the trader might still personally trade, followers will be unable to copy new buys in that coin until the trader sells some of the existing position, freeing up capacity.
Daily Copy Trade Limit
Traders are subject to a daily limit on the number of copy trades they can initiate. A common limit is 500 copy trades per day. Once this limit is reached, the trader cannot start any new copy trades for the remainder of the day, preventing all their followers from entering new positions until the limit resets.
Low Trader Account Balance
A trader must maintain a minimum account balance to initiate copy trades. A typical requirement is holding at least 500 USDT. If a trader's balance falls below this threshold, they will be temporarily unable to signal new trades, which in turn causes all copy trades for their followers to fail. The trader must deposit more funds to resume activity.
Reasons for Spot Copy Selling Failure
Copy sell failures are rare but can occur under extreme market conditions. The most common scenario is during a period of violent price decline, where liquidity vanishes, and market makers withdraw their orders.
If the system cannot execute a market sell order for your entire position due to a lack of buyers, the automated sell may fail. In such cases, you may need to manually intervene to place a limit order or find another way to exit the position. Other uncontrollable system anomalies can also rarely interrupt the selling process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common reason a copy trade doesn't execute?
The most common user-side reason is an insufficient USDT balance in the trading account. Before copying a trader, always ensure you have enough funds to cover the minimum order requirements for the assets they typically trade.
Does the platform automatically retry a failed copy trade?
No, the system does not retry failed orders. If a copy trade fails due to insufficient funds, a low amount, or price spread, you will need to manually adjust your settings or add funds before the next trade signal from your chosen trader.
How can I check the current minimum order size for a cryptocurrency?
Minimum order sizes are displayed on the trading interface and within the copy trading settings pages for each respective cryptocurrency. These values are updated by the platform and should always be checked directly there, as they fluctuate.
What should I do if my copy selling fails?
If an automated sell order fails, which is rare, you should immediately check the market liquidity for that asset. You will likely need to manually create a sell order, potentially using a limit order instead of a market order to specify your desired price.
Can I change my copy settings after I've started following a trader?
Yes, you can adjust your per-trade amount, multiplier, and maximum total investment at any time. These changes will apply to all future trade signals from the trader.