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RISK · TIME IN TRADE

Trading-Journal Time-in-Trade: A Worked Crypto Example With Fees Included

Time in trade affects results through funding on perpetuals and through exposure to events. Logging it shows whether long holds pay for their cost.

By ChartsPod Editorial Team · Reviewed by ChartsPod Research
Published · Updated · 5 min read

Short answer

Time in trade is exit time minus entry time. On perpetuals, holding costs (or earns) funding each interval: a $30,000 long paying 0.01% per 8 hours costs $3 per interval, so a 10-day hold (30 intervals) costs about $90. Group journal trades by holding time and compare net results after funding: if long holds earn little more than short ones while paying funding and carrying event risk, holding time is a leak.

Worked example

StepValue
Position$30,000 long
Funding0.01% per 8h
Per interval$3
10 days30 intervals
Funding cost≈ $90
Plus trading fees≈ $30
Illustrative net per trade by holding time ($)Illustrative net per trade by holding time ($): < 4h +42 $; 4h–2d +96 $; > 2d +51 $.ILLUSTRATIVE NET PER TRADE BY HOLDING TIME ($)< 4h$+424h–2d$+96> 2d$+51
Longest holds earned less after funding. Original ChartsPod editorial graphic.

Grouping

BucketWhat to compare
< 4hFees dominate
4h–2dFees + some funding
> 2dFunding + event exposure

Funding can be received rather than paid; record the sign.

Conclusion

Related: Trading-Journal Partial Fills: A Worked Crypto Example With Fees Included, Trading-Journal MFE and MAE: A Worked Crypto Example With Fees Included.

Plan the same calculation with ChartsPod's position planner.

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Time in trade is exit time minus entry time.

Test Trading-Journal Time-in-Trade on a perpetual chart; no account is needed to chart.

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Questions readers ask

Why log time in trade?

Funding and exposure scale with it.

How much does funding cost?

Rate × notional × intervals held.

Can funding be positive?

Yes, when your side receives it.

Sources and methodology

Arithmetic uses standard sizing formulas. Fee rates (0.05% taker, 0.02% maker), slippage and funding values are illustrative; check your venue's schedule. Liquidation figures are simplified approximations; exchanges calculate them with their own maintenance-margin rules (see Bybit's documentation).

  1. Bybit: Liquidation process — mark price and margin modes.
  2. ChartsPod: product overview, pricing and FAQ — free terminal, venues, modules, no order placement; checked 17 Oct 2026.

This article explains research tools and workflows. It is not financial advice, does not recommend buying or selling any asset and does not predict prices. Crypto derivatives carry a risk of rapid and total loss of margin.

CHARTSPOD EDITORIAL EDITION · RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ONLY · NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE.