🚨 What is PnL and why does that % seem “like a movie”? (Futures/Trading)
If you've ever seen something like: PnL -99.59% / +300% / -600%
and thought “this is manipulated”… stop for 30 seconds 👇
✅ 1) What is PnL?
PnL = Profit and Loss.
It is the result of your operation.
📌 There are 2 types:
Unrealized PnL: gain/loss “in the air” (open position).
Realized PnL: gain/loss “closed” (operation has already finished).
Simple example: You bought BTC and it goes up → Positive PnL.
You bought BTC and it goes down → Negative PnL.
✅ 2) Why does the % seem exaggerated?
Because in futures, the % is usually calculated on your margin, not on the total value of the asset.
📌 With leverage, the % inflates.
Example:
You put 10 USDT of margin
You operate as if it were 100 USDT (x10)
The price moves 1% ➡️ In your margin, it can appear as ±10%
💣 That’s why you see things like:
“-99%” even though the price didn’t drop 99%
“+300%” even though it was a small movement
It’s not magic: it’s leverage + poor management.
✅ 3 rules to avoid being destroyed (the 3 that save accounts)
1) Fixed risk per operation
Risk a maximum of 1%–2% of your account per trade.
If you don’t know how much your 1% is, don’t trade.
2) Always use Stop Loss
Without SL, you are an easy target: 📌 “I got liquidated” almost always means:
I leveraged + didn’t set a stop + endured losses.
3) Don’t trade in noise/news
If there are “strange news” or the market is crazy: ✅ reduce size
✅ or just don’t trade
The market always provides opportunities, but your account doesn’t revive.
🔥 It’s not the market against you. It’s your risk poorly calculated.