Most of my money is in ETFs and individual stocks, which I think of as “real investing.” I try to stick to long-term strategies, diversify, and avoid chasing hype. Lately, though, I’ve been dabbling with a small FX and BTC account, mostly out of curiosity and to experiment with shorter-term trading strategies. The thing is, it feels very different from the stock/ETF world. The speed, the volatility, the way positions can swing in a matter of minutes or hours, it’s almost a completely different mindset.
Because of that, I’ve been wondering: should a small FX or crypto account really count as investing, or is it just pure speculation? On one hand, you’re still putting capital to work, analyzing charts or economic indicators, and managing risk. On the other hand, the risk-reward profile and time horizon feel totally different from traditional investing.
I’m curious how other people approach this. Do you treat FX or crypto accounts as a legitimate part of your portfolio, or is it just a side hobby, almost like gambling but with more structure? And for those who do include it in their portfolio, how do you reconcile the extreme volatility with your broader investment strategy?
I’m interested in hearing different perspectives because I’m trying to figure out where I stand. Does it make sense to classify FX/BTC as investing if the account is small and experimental, or is it better to mentally separate it from my long-term ETF/stock holdings?