Martingale, grid ladders and aggressive averaging-down share one idea: add to a losing futures position so a modest bounce pays for the whole series. In a quiet range the bot can print many tiny greens. On a trending day the position size grows while margin shrinks, and the exchange liquidates you. Spot averaging can leave you underwater; perpetual futures add funding costs, forced closure and slippage when the book gaps.
Vendors sell “set and forget” grids with backtests from calm months and hide the max drawdown. Ask for the depth limit (how many adds), the leverage, whether margin is isolated, and what happens when volatility regime changes. If there is no portfolio stop — only faith that price “must” mean-revert — you are financing a lottery with geometric stakes. Small experimental size and a hard kill switch are the only adult version; “passive income” marketing is not.
If this already cost you money, start at Get help. If someone now offers paid “recovery”, read Fake recovery first.
This article is for general information only. It is not legal or financial advice. Details change. If you have lost money, contact your bank or card issuer and use the routes on the help pages.