Everyone talks about DCA. 100 francs into Bitcoin every month. Automatic. Emotionless. Brilliant.
But nobody talks about the opposite.
When do you sell? How do you sell? All at once? Or in stages too?
I experienced firsthand with FARTBOY what happens when you have NO exit plan: 178,000 francs on the screen, didn't sell, down to 40,000. A simple DCA Out would have saved me.
In this article I'll explain:
- What DCA Out is and how it works
- Why it's psychologically easier than finding "the perfect moment"
- 3 concrete DCA Out strategies with examples
- And why my bot does this automatically
What Is DCA Out?
You know DCA In: buy regularly. Every month. Regardless of whether the price is high or low.
DCA Out is the mirror image: sell regularly. In stages. Regardless of whether you think "it'll go higher."
Instead of selling EVERYTHING at once (and having to nail the perfect moment), you sell in tranches:
- 20% at 2x your purchase price
- 30% at 5x your purchase price
- 30% at 10x your purchase price
- 20% you keep as a "moonbag" (allowed to go to zero)
Sounds boring? It is. But it works.
Why You Need a Selling Plan
Most crypto investors have a buying plan. "I buy 200 francs worth every month."
But ask them: "When do you sell?" And you get:
- "When it's enough." (What's enough?)
- "When I need it." (When is that?)
- "Never. I HODL forever." (Even at -80%?)
The problem: without a selling plan, you're at the mercy of your emotions. And emotions are BAD at selling.
When prices rise you think: "It's going higher. Why sell now?" When prices fall you think: "It's too low now. I'll wait until it recovers."
Result: you NEVER sell. Or you sell at the absolute bottom out of panic.
Remember this: DCA In solves the timing problem for buying. DCA Out solves the timing problem for selling. Both together create a system that works without emotions.
My FARTBOY Mistake: What DCA Out Would Have Prevented
The real numbers from my FARTBOY trade:
What happened (no plan):
- Bought at ~$0.002
- Peak at $0.194 (roughly 100x)
- Didn't sell at the peak
- Partially sold at $0.15 (good!) and at $0.02 (bad)
- Bought back at $0.085 and $0.019 (FOMO)
- Today: remaining position at $0.008
What would have happened with DCA Out:
| Stage | Trigger | Sold | Realized |
|---|---|---|---|
| At 5x ($0.01) | 20% of position | ~160,000 tokens | ~$1,600 |
| At 20x ($0.04) | 30% of position | ~240,000 tokens | ~$9,600 |
| At 50x ($0.10) | 30% of position | ~240,000 tokens | ~$24,000 |
| Rest (moonbag) | Never | ~160,000 tokens | Hold |
| Total realized | ~$35,200 |
Instead of panicking in and out at various prices, I would have systematically realized $35,200. And kept the remaining 160,000 tokens as a moonbag, guilt-free.
3 DCA Out Strategies
Strategy 1: Multiplier-Based (for Volatile Assets)
Sell at fixed multiples of your purchase price.
| Multiple | Sell | Example (bought at $1,000) |
|---|---|---|
| 2x | 20% | Sell $400, keep $1,600 |
| 5x | 30% | Sell $1,500, keep $3,500 |
| 10x | 30% | Sell $3,000, keep $3,500 |
| Rest | Moonbag | Allowed to go to zero |
Best for: Memecoins, small altcoins, highly speculative positions. Anything where you can expect 10x or more (or total loss).
Strategy 2: Time-Based (for Long-Term Positions)
Sell a fixed percentage per quarter or year.
- Every quarter: sell 5% of position
- Or: sell 10% every December
- Or: after 4 years (one BTC cycle) sell 50%
Best for: Bitcoin, Ethereum, long-term positions. When you believe in the long-term value but want to lock in gains regularly.
Strategy 3: Goal-Based (for Concrete Plans)
Define BEFOREHAND what you need the money for.
- "When my portfolio reaches CHF 50,000, I sell 20% for the mortgage."
- "At CHF 100,000 I sell another 20% for the emergency fund."
- "The rest stays for 10 years."
Best for: People with concrete life goals. Connecting crypto gains to real-world needs makes selling EMOTIONALLY easier.
The Psychology: Why DCA Out Works
1. You don't have to find the perfect moment. Nobody sells at the absolute top. With DCA Out you sell SPREAD OUT. Some sales are too early. Some too late. On average: better than not selling at all.
2. Each sale reduces the pressure. After the first partial sale you think: "No matter what happens, I've already realized something." That takes the panic out. You make better decisions for the rest.
3. You avoid the "Endowment Effect." Psychologists call it the endowment effect: you value what you own higher than it's worth. "My Bitcoin is worth 100,000, I'm not giving it up." DCA Out breaks through this because you decide BEFOREHAND. Not in the heat of the moment.
Remember this: The perfect selling moment doesn't exist. But a good selling plan is better than no plan and panic at -50%.
DCA Out + DCA In = Complete System
Imagine combining both:
DCA In: CHF 200 into Bitcoin every month. Automatic. Via standing order.
DCA Out: Sell 5% of your position at every new all-time high. Automatic (e.g., via limit order).
What happens? You buy cheaply in bear markets. You sell at high prices in bull markets. Without emotions. Without timing. Without FOMO.
That's essentially what my bot does, just with fixed rules instead of fixed percentages. It buys when the filters are green. It sells when they turn red. DCA In and DCA Out on autopilot.
The Most Common Objections
"But if I sell at 2x and it goes to 100x?"
True. You miss gains. But you also miss the crash after. And you have REAL money in your account. Ask yourself: What's worse — having sold at 2x and "missed" 98x? Or NOT having sold at 100x and watching 95x disappear at 5x?
I know the answer. I learned it with FARTBOY.
"DCA Out costs fees."
Yes. But less than you think. 4 sales at 0.1% fee = 0.4% total. In return you have a plan instead of panic. That's the best deal in trading.
"I don't need the money. Why sell?"
Because crypto IS NOT MONEY until you convert it to francs. 100,000 on the screen is a number. 100,000 in your bank account is money. That difference cost me 140,000 francs.
Summary
- DCA In = buying plan. Solves the timing problem for entry.
- DCA Out = selling plan. Solves the timing problem for exit.
- Both together = a complete system without emotions.
- Define your plan BEFORE you buy. Not after. Not "when it feels right."
- My bot does DCA Out automatically. It sells when the filters turn red. No discussion.
→ DCA vs Lump Sum: What the Data Says — DCA In compared by the numbers
→ My Rule #1: Take Out What You Put In — Step 1 of DCA Out
→ How I Didn't Sell at 178,000 — What happens WITHOUT a selling plan
→ DCA Savings Plan Calculator — Calculate your DCA In plan
→ What Does the Bot Say Right Now? — Current signal
Your Dominic, the guy who had a buying plan but no selling plan. And the difference cost 140,000 francs.
Disclaimer: This is not investment advice. Every selling strategy has pros and cons. Only invest what you can afford to lose.
