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A long position means you expect the price to go up. A short position means you expect the price to go down. These are the two basic directions of a trade. In Entry Finance, you choose direction directly in the trading panel with the Long and Short controls described in Open positions and orders.

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Long position

When you go long, you benefit from rising prices. This is the more intuitive trade for beginners:
  • buy lower
  • sell higher
If the market goes up after you enter, your position makes money. If it goes down, your position loses money.

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Simple long example

You open a long on ETH at 2,000 USDC.
  • If ETH rises to 2,100, the position is in profit
  • If ETH falls to 1,900, the position is in loss

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Short position

When you go short, you benefit from falling prices. Shorting is useful when you think the market may drop, or when you want to protect another position.

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Simple short example

You open a short on ETH at 2,000 USDC.
  • If ETH falls to 1,900, the position is in profit
  • If ETH rises to 2,100, the position is in loss

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Why this matters

Understanding long and short positions helps you read the market more clearly. You do not have to think only in terms of “buying a coin.” In derivative markets, you can choose a direction:
  • bullish view -> long
  • bearish view -> short
This gives you more ways to react to market conditions.

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Important beginner takeaway

Being correct about direction is the core of trading. Before thinking about leverage or advanced order types, ask one simple question: Do I think price is more likely to go up or down from here? Once you understand that, the next step is learning how Margin explained and Leverage explained affect the size and risk of that idea.