Swing Trading: Holding Period, Costs and Funding

September 21, 2026

6 minutes

Last Updated: November 4, 2026

Swing trading means holding a position for several days to a few weeks to capture a bigger price move than a single day allows. On EVEDEX, perpetual futures never expire, so a swing trade can stay open for weeks without a roll; at an example funding rate of 0.01% per 8 hours, holding costs about 0.9% of notional over 30 days.

This guide covers how long a swing trade usually lasts, how it compares with day trading, what funding costs over 3, 7 and 30 days, how to set stops and size a multi-day position, and how swing trading perpetual crypto futures works on EVEDEX.

Key takeaways

EVEDEX, a platform for multi asset trading, offers perpetual futures on crypto, gold, forex and stocks that never expire, so a swing position needs no roll.
A swing trade lasts from two days to a few weeks and targets a move that needs more than one session.
Fewer trades mean fewer fees, but every day in the market adds overnight risk.
On perpetual futures the holding cost is funding: at an example 0.01% per 8 hours, about 0.9% of notional over 30 days.
Swing traders usually run lower leverage than day traders, because positions must survive more noise.

How long is a swing trade?

Most swing trades last from two days to a few weeks. The holding period follows the setup: a breakout above resistance, a pullback to support or a reaction to a scheduled event such as a central bank rate decision, which can move pairs in the forex market for days. Once the move has played out, or the stop-loss is hit, the trade is closed.

Swing trading vs day trading

By the usual definition, a day trader closes every position before the day ends and trades many times a session, so fees decide much of the result. Swing traders open a few positions a week and hold them through the night, so they pay fewer fees but face gaps, weekend news and the cost of staying open. On perpetual futures without expiry, that cost is funding rather than a roll into a new contract.

Spot, futures or perpetuals?

Route	Short selling	Leverage	Cost of holding
EVEDEX: perpetual futures	Yes	Up to 200x on BTC, ETH and SOL for positions up to $50,000, lower on most pairs	Funding, calculated every 8 hours and charged hourly
Spot purchase	No	None	None beyond trading fees
Futures with an expiry date	Yes	Set by the venue	Rolling into the next contract before expiry

Funding is what makes the holding period expensive or cheap. On EVEDEX it is calculated every 8 hours and charged hourly at one eighth of the rate, and it changes with the market, so it can also be received. At an example rate of 0.01% per 8 hours, a long position pays about 0.03% of notional a day:

3 days: about 0.09% of notional.
7 days: about 0.21%.
30 days: about 0.9%.

The mechanics are described in the EVEDEX funding rate documentation.

Is swing trading profitable?

A swing trade pays off when the move captured is larger than the fees on entry and exit plus the funding paid while holding. Currency traders face the same question, how profitable is forex trading, and regulator data shows that most retail accounts lose once spreads and overnight costs are paid.

A 4% move over a month minus about 1% of funding at the example rate leaves far less than it seems, and with leverage both the move and the cost scale up. Tracking every trade in a journal shows quickly whether the setups beat their costs.

Stops and position sizing for multi-day trades

A position that has to survive several days of noise needs a wider stop than an intraday trade, and a wider stop means a smaller position for the same risk. Set the stop where the setup is proven wrong, then size the position so that hitting it costs a fixed small share of the account. That is also why swing traders tend to use moderate leverage: the closer the liquidation price, the more likely ordinary volatility closes the trade early.

Swing trading perpetual futures on EVEDEX

EVEDEX is a hybrid exchange for perpetual contracts with no expiry date, so a swing trade can stay open for weeks on one USDT balance.

Swing trading: perpetual futures never expire, so a multi-day position needs no roll into a new contract.
Holding cost: funding, calculated every 8 hours and charged hourly at one eighth of the rate; it can be paid or received.
Markets: 52 perpetual markets, according to EVEDEX data as of November 4, 2026: 39 crypto pairs, gold, silver, oil, US stocks, an index and two forex pairs, so you can trade gold around the clock without weekend gaps.
Margin: cross margin only, in USDT, held in a personal smart account on Arbitrum.
Fees: no more than 0.015% maker and 0.045% taker before cashback.
KYC: no classic KYC; you sign in with a wallet, email or social account, and every deposit passes an automated AML check.
Minimum deposit: 6 USDT; not available in restricted countries.

Perpetual contracts carry a high risk of loss.

FAQ

Swing trading means holding a position for several days to a few weeks to capture a bigger price move than a single day allows. It sits between day trading, where everything is closed by the evening, and long-term investing. Swing traders pay fewer fees than day traders but carry overnight risk and holding costs.

Usually from two days to a few weeks. The exit is planned around the setup: a breakout that needs a few sessions to play out, or a pullback that should reach the next level within days. Once the move has played out or the stop-loss is hit, the trade is closed. A trade held for months is closer to investing.

Neither is better by default. Swing trading needs fewer decisions and pays fewer fees, but carries overnight risk and funding on perpetual futures. Day trading avoids holding costs but multiplies fees and demands constant attention. The better style is the one whose setups you can test and follow without breaking your own rules.

On perpetual futures, open positions pay or receive funding at regular intervals. At an example rate of 0.01% per 8 hours, a position pays about 0.03% of its notional a day, close to 1% over 30 days, which is a real hurdle for a move of a few percent. Funding changes with the market and can also be received.

On EVEDEX you can swing trade crypto perpetual futures with no expiry, so a position can stay open for weeks without rolling into a new contract while funding is paid or received. Spot exchanges suit buying and holding without leverage, and futures with an expiry date need a roll before they settle.

It can be when the moves you capture are larger than the fees on entry and exit plus the funding paid while holding. A 4% move over a month minus about 1% of funding at an example rate leaves far less than it seems, so a trade journal is the quickest way to see whether your setups beat their costs.

Set the stop-loss where the setup is proven wrong, then size the position so that hitting the stop costs a fixed small share of the account. Multi-day trades need wider stops than intraday ones, so the position is smaller for the same risk, and leverage usually stays moderate to keep the liquidation price far away.

Yes. On EVEDEX, gold, silver, oil, EURUSD and USDJPY trade as perpetual futures next to crypto, 24/7 and on one USDT balance, so a swing position can stay open over the weekend without a gap. At brokers, spot gold and forex close for the weekend and charge a swap for every night a position stays open.