Copy trading
A practical copy portfolio review checklist
Review a copy portfolio by comparing its intended rules with the account’s actual exposure and execution. Check leader overlap, performance definitions, costs, data gaps and control outcomes. Keep a dated record so a change in the portfolio can be distinguished from a change in the evidence.
Start with the version you are reviewing
Record the portfolio definition, selected leaders, allocation rules and review period. Note any changes since the previous review. A newly published definition and an existing subscription can represent different configurations; confirm the one relevant to your account before comparing results. Do not silently combine a backtest with tracked or actually executed performance.
Separate configuration from completion. A request sent to the engine is not proof that every intended position changed. Read the current status and available execution evidence. Where copying is unavailable, this checklist still supports research, but it does not turn a portfolio definition into a live track record.
Check the portfolio as one account
Review total equity, available collateral, gross exposure and market concentration on a consistent account basis. Include manual positions and other subscriptions where they share the same account. Evaluating each copied leader in isolation can miss the combined risk that the account actually carries.
Look for overlapping leaders. Several wallets can independently hold the same directional position, making a portfolio less diversified than its leader count suggests. Hypothetical example: three separate leaders all hold BTC longs. Following all three adds three sources of decisions, but may still concentrate exposure in the same market move.
Reconcile outcomes with execution and costs
Compare the same period and performance basis. Record deposits and withdrawals separately from gains or losses. Inspect whether open positions, venue fees and funding are included in the result. Review builder and creator fees according to the published terms; do not add a fee twice if it already appears inside a reported cost.
Investigate material follower-versus-leader differences through eligible markets, size limits, timing, slippage, rejected requests and available collateral. Keep missing evidence explicit. A lower follower return is a reason to understand the difference, not proof of one particular failure without inspecting what happened.
Review controls and record the decision
Read the current pause, stop and close explanations before requesting a change. Know whether an action affects future copying, existing positions or both. Confirm the resulting state after the request rather than assuming the button click achieved the intended outcome. Review permissions through the approved wallet workflow; a portfolio review never requires sharing a private key.
End with observed changes, unresolved issues and the reason for the next review. Check again after material allocation changes, unusual exposure, execution problems or a coverage change. Preserve prior decisions rather than rewriting them to fit later returns. The checklist supports an informed review; it does not certify a portfolio as safe or profitable.