Inclement markets have defined the crypto space since Bitcoin (BTC) sold off on April xix, and indecisive markets like these can test the patience and fortitude of even the almost defended traders and analysts, especially when the incessant calls for a lesser are met with lower lows.

While the periods of low trading book and whipsaw cost movements may exist the perfect weather condition for whale-sized traders to play in, the average investor doesn't stand a chance, especially with multimillion-dollar funds now beginning to get in on the action.

Data shows that instead of day trading and attempting to time the market lesser, dollar-toll averaging (DCA) is the best method for retail investors looking to build long-term profits in both traditional and crypto markets.

In 2022, Money Metrics pointed out that investors who dollar-cost averaged into BTC starting from the December 2022 pinnacle were yet in profit three years afterwards.

Coin Metrics tweeted:

"Despite #Bitcoin is still trading 30% beneath ATHs, dollar toll averaging from the superlative of the market in Dec 2022 would have returned 61.viii%, or 20.ane% annually. Similarly for #Ethereum (withal downwardly 71% from its peak), dollar cost averaging from Jan 2022 would accept returned 87.6%, or 27.ix% annually."
Graph illustrating positive BTC returns from dollar-cost averaging. Source: Coin Metrics

While the graph is a petty dated now, one tin encounter that over the long term, consequent investments spread over fourth dimension have led to an overall increase in portfolio value.

Currently, with BTC downward more than than 47% from its all-time loftier of $64,863 and the cryptocurrency market continuing to send mixed signals, it may be an opportune moment to deploy the DCA strategy.

There's more to investing than just "buying the dip"

Let'south take a look at the results of dollar-cost averaging into multiple cryptocurrencies from 2022–2018 through the end of June 2022.

The starting bespeak for each assay will be the day of the token's 2022–2018 balderdash market best high value, and weekly investments of $ten will be applied from that bespeak forrad.

The acme for Bitcoin during the wheel came on December. 15, 2022, when BTC traded for $19,497, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

Using the DCA estimation tool provided by CostAVG.com, i tin can encounter that if $10 was invested in BTC on a daily ground from Dec. 15, 2022 until June 30, 2022, the total investment of $i,850 would take seen a 306% increase in value to be worth $seven,519.

Bitcoin dollar-price averaged portfolio over time. Source: CostAVG.com

If one were to inquire the opinions of most fund managers or traders who earn a living in the traditional investing world, a 306% increase in portfolio value over a four-year period is a spectacular charge per unit of return.

Ether kicks back an outsized return

The price of Ether (ETH) exploded from late 2022 through early 2022 as the rise of decentralized finance (DeFi) and nonfungible tokens (NFT) exponentially increased the use of the Ethereum smart contract blockchain and boosted demand for ETH.

Increased demand helped ignite a rally that sent Ether's price to $4,363 on May 12, 2022, only its cost has since fallen most l% to merchandise below $2,200 at the time of writing.

During the 2022 bull market, the price of ETH reached an best loftier of $ane,396 on Jan. 12, 2022. Investors who used the DCA strategy, investing $x per calendar month starting at the acme, would have spent a total of $1,810 and generated a portfolio value of $xv,507 at Ether's current toll. This represents an increase of 757%.

Related: Ethereum 2.0 approaches half dozen meg staked ETH milestone

Ether dollar-toll averaged portfolio over fourth dimension. Source: CostAVG.com

The percentage gain for Ether is more than double what it would be for Bitcoin, giving some acceptance to those who have argued that Ether has been a meliorate investment over the by couple of years.

Smaller-cap altcoins besides benefit from the DCA strategy

To bear witness the do good of applying the DCA strategy to smaller-cap altcoins, allow'due south do a quick analysis of Theta, which has been one of the breakout stars of 2022.

THETA began a parabolic toll climb in December 2022, with its price increasing from around $0.80 to $2.40 by Jan. 1, 2022. Information technology so skyrocketed to an all-fourth dimension high at $fourteen.28 on Apr 15.

According to Blockchaincenter.internet, which offers data for dollar-cost averaging a diversity of tokens at a ready investment of $10 per day, if an investor had begun investing in THETA on Jan. 1, 2022, the cumulative investment of $12,480 would at present be worth more $638,000 — a 5,000% increase.

THETA dollar-cost averaged portfolio over time. Source: Blockchaincenter.net

While information technology'due south obvious that not all altcoins performed every bit well as THETA during that time period, it's a good example of how steady investing into a smaller-cap project can reward patient investors.

The benefit of dollar-cost averaging is that it removes emotion from the investment process and allows the investor to focus on other things, whereas day traders spend hours behind screens and often take on more losses than gains.

This also removes the need to search for marketplace tops and bottoms and allows investors to gain exposure to a variety of avails in a measured, consistent manner.

No technique is perfect, and not every crypto project will make substantial gains or even survive until the side by side balderdash market place cycle, merely dollar-cost averaging is 1 approach that has provided consequent results for amateur and expert investors akin

Want more than information about trading and investing in crypto markets?

  • Altcoin Roundup: Post-crash prices requite investors a chance to build a diversified portfolio
  • Altcoin Roundup: Stablecoin pools could be the next borderland for DeFi
  • Bitcoin heading for worst quarter since start of 2022 bear market
  • Crypto market place volatility peaks as Bitcoin and altcoins seek to recover
  • Ethereum could go to $10K in 2022 and outperform Bitcoin, says veteran trader

Quotes in this newsletter taken from previously published sources have been lightly edited.

The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer and do non necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph.com. Every investment and trading motion involves risk, you should conduct your own inquiry when making a decision.