When I first started trading crypto, I didn’t know what I was doing — and I wasn’t alone. The market was wild, charts were confusing, and my trades were all over the place. Like many beginners, I thought, “If I could just follow someone who knows what they’re doing, I’d be fine.”
That’s how I stumbled into the world of Telegram trading signal groups.
At first, it felt like I had found the shortcut to making fast, consistent gains. I joined one group. Then another. Then another. Before long, I was in 10 different Telegram signal groups, trying to keep up with calls flying at me all day.
Most of those trades didn’t work out. Some were absolute disasters.
Looking back, I see all the red flags I missed. So here’s what I wish I knew before I put my trust — and money — into random Telegram signals.
1. Most Signal Groups Are Designed to Sell You Something
The first thing I learned: “free” doesn’t mean free.
Many free Telegram groups exist for one reason — to upsell you into a paid VIP group. You’ll get a few lucky calls, maybe some well-timed entries that make you think these guys know what they’re doing. Then comes the pitch:
“We only drop the real gems in VIP.”
“Free signals are delayed — VIP gets the calls first.”
It’s smart marketing. They show you a taste of success, then make you feel like you’re missing out if you don’t upgrade.
What I didn’t realize then is this: they make more money from subscriptions than from trading.
If someone’s consistently making great profits from trading, why would they sell signals instead of compounding their own capital?
2. A Lot of Signal Providers Don’t Take Their Own Trades
This one hit hard.
I once followed a signal to buy a small-cap token. The group admin hyped it hard. I bought in. A few hours later, the token tanked. I asked if they were still holding.
“That one was just for educational purposes.”
So… no real money on the line. Just a “call” with no accountability.
Over time, I learned that many signal providers are marketers first, traders second (or not traders at all). They post flashy screenshots, use trading lingo, and make it look like they’re crushing it — but they don’t actually trade most of what they post.
If they win, they brag. If they lose, they disappear or quietly delete the message.
3. Conflicting Signals Create Chaos, Not Clarity
With 10 groups sending signals all day, I constantly felt pulled in different directions:
One said long ETH. Another said short it.One was bullish on a breakout. Another warned of a fakeout.Everyone seemed to call different levels at the same time.
It created mental noise. I’d hesitate, overthink, or jump between trades without conviction. I wasn’t following a plan — I was chasing signals and hoping something stuck.
The more groups I joined, the less clarity I had.
Eventually, I realized more signals ≠ better trades. It just meant more confusion and a higher chance of acting impulsively.
4. Most Groups Don’t Teach You Anything
I joined Telegram signal groups thinking I’d learn how to trade. Instead, I got a lot of:
“Buy here, target here, SL here.”
No context. No explanation. No reasoning.
I blindly copied trades without understanding the logic. And when they didn’t work, I had no idea why.
Real growth came when I stopped copying and started learning. The best groups I’ve found later on actually explain the trade — why they’re entering, what they’re watching, and how they manage risk.
Those are rare. Most are just “copy this and pray.”
5. Signals Without Risk Management Are Dangerous
A lot of signals didn’t even include stop-losses. Some said things like:
“Just hold. This will moon.”
Other times, the trades were overleveraged, or targeting massive unrealistic gains. I once followed a call that ended up wrecking 25% of my portfolio in a day.
The lesson?
Any signal that doesn’t emphasize risk management is a red flag.
Now I won’t even consider a signal unless it clearly states:
EntryStop-lossTake profitReason for the trade
And even then, I do my own analysis before touching it.
6. Pump-and-Dump Schemes Are Real
Some of the smaller groups I joined focused on micro-cap tokens with low liquidity. They’d say something like:
“Buy $ABC right now. Big news incoming!”
I’d buy in, only to watch the price shoot up for a few minutes — then tank just as fast.
Classic pump-and-dump.
Looking back, it was obvious. The admins would:
Buy the token earlyTell the group to buyCreate hypeSell into the pump
These groups aren’t giving signals — they’re using you to exit their positions.
7. There Are a Few Good Groups — But They Don’t Rely on Hype
After blowing money with bad signals, I eventually found a couple of quality Telegram groups. They had a few things in common:
Low noiseClear trade logicTransparent performance trackingNo overpromisingA focus on education, not hype
They weren’t trying to sell dreams. They weren’t calling “100x gems” every week. And they didn’t disappear after a losing streak.
These groups didn’t just give trades — they gave me a framework for thinking, and that was way more valuable.
8. You’ll Outgrow Signals Eventually
At some point, I realized something important:
No one will ever care about my money as much as I do.
Not a signal provider. Not a group admin. Not some faceless VIP chat.
And until I took full responsibility for my trades — wins and losses — I wasn’t really a trader.
Now, I use signal groups for ideas, not entries. I check their calls against my own plan. I wait for confirmation. I set my own risk levels.
Signals can be helpful, but they’re no substitute for independent thinking and personal discipline.
Final Thoughts
Telegram signals can seem like an easy way to shortcut your learning curve. And in theory, following experienced traders sounds smart.
But here’s the truth:
Most signals are hype over substanceFew are built on real, consistent strategiesBlindly following them can cost you more than you think
If you’re new to trading, be careful who you trust. Don’t confuse noise with value. And remember: You don’t need 10 groups shouting “buy now” to become a good trader.
What you need is clarity, patience, and a system that makes sense to you.
So if you’re in Telegram groups right now, here’s my advice:
Leave the ones that feel scammy or overly aggressiveStick to those that teach you, not just tell youKeep a journal of what works and what doesn’tAnd above all — don’t let someone else’s trade ruin your account
Trust yourself. Learn the craft. And build something that lasts.
What I Wish I Knew About Telegram Signals Before Joining 10 Groups was originally published in Coinmonks on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.