2026-01-18 16:24:34

RIVER's recent trend has thoroughly exposed an interesting trading strategy. The big players' approach is very clear: gradually accumulate spot positions at low prices, then immediately open heavy long positions in futures. Meanwhile, they aggressively push up the spot price while using futures to smash the market and create a price gap. The difference between spot and futures is forcibly driven to -2%, causing the funding rate for shorts to plummet into negative territory. In this way, the big players sit back and enjoy the benefits—no need for a market surge to make money; they can simply earn from the funding fees collected from the short side every hour.

This strategy essentially exploits the structural contradictions between spot and futures markets for arbitrage. The invisible harvesting machine of funding rates kicks into gear, with one hand reversing the other. As we move into 2026, this type of trading method is likely to become more and more common. The liquidity in the altcoin market is relatively concentrated, giving big players more room to operate, allowing them to repeatedly use this tactic throughout the year. Changing coins, changing cycles, but the same script keeps playing out. The repeated switching of funding rates from positive to negative has become the most stable tool for harvesting profits from retail investors.

Have you seen similar cases? Share your observations in the comments.

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consensus_failure

· 01-21 09:30

It's the same old trick again, using contract sell-offs to absorb fees, really played out Entering when the fee rate is negative? Isn't that asking for death I've seen this too many times, RIVER's move is a textbook manipulation script Altcoins are just casinos, better recognize this fact early Relying solely on fee rates for easy profits? Sounds easy but prone to pitfalls, I prefer to stay on the sidelines This kind of tactic is indeed effective on small-cap coins; once liquidity is controlled, there's no rescue Spot and futures linked to scalp retail investors, beginners are most likely to fall for it Honestly, I'm more concerned about when a real liquidity protection mechanism will be implemented Repeatedly switching fee rates is indeed the most stable tool for harvesting, that hits hard

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GasWhisperer

· 01-20 10:40

honestly the funding rate arbitrage game never stops evolving... watched this exact pattern play out with three alts last month, the fee structure gets more brutal every cycle. pretty predictable honestly once you see the mempool patterns align with the spot-perp spread like this

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BearMarketBuilder

· 01-18 16:51

Damn, this strategy is too brilliant. Spot and futures contracts fighting each other is really an invisible harvesting machine. --- It's the same old trick of rate reversal; I've seen through it long ago, it happens every time. --- This kind of gameplay in 2026 will definitely explode more. Low liquidity in altcoins means being exploited for profit. --- Left hand to the right hand, the market maker makes a comfortable profit, while retail investors get slaughtered every day. --- Negative fee rates, when short sellers wake up, they get completely wiped out. --- RIVER's move this time is really ruthless. The spot-futures price difference is -2%, it's hard not to make money. --- The key is that this strategy is so stable. You can earn without a market surge; I need to learn. --- Earning fees every hour is even easier than making money from contracts. The market makers really know how to play. --- Repeating this script with another coin, the liquidity of altcoins is so low that they get completely eaten up. --- Spot dumping and futures pumping, with short funding rates skyrocketing—this kind of scheming is unmatched.

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AirdropF5Bro

· 01-18 16:50

Damn, the spot contract system is really amazing, I’m so confused I don’t know which hand is which anymore. I just want to ask, why are so many people still falling into the trap with such obvious routines? The part about the funds rate switching back and forth was spot on, the feeling of earning passively must be so satisfying. RIVER really played out the tactics so blatantly this time, next time I encounter such abnormal price gaps, I’ll just slip away. This is a common problem with altcoins; once liquidity is concentrated, the manipulators start doing whatever they want. The contract dump trick is really ruthless, once you get cut once, you’ll understand how it feels. Watching the rate switch from positive to negative, I knew someone was harvesting. I’ll never touch such obvious gambling schemes again, it’s too heartbreaking.

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GateUser-6bc33122

· 01-18 16:31

This trick is really ruthless. Spot contracts are just for show; repeatedly cutting traders' profits with high fees is truly incredible. I've seen through the market maker's moves long ago, but the key is retail investors are still getting trapped. Left hand to the right hand, in the end, it's us small traders who suffer. RIVER is a classic example, and there will definitely be more in the future. Funding rates switching from positive to negative is simply the perfect harvesting mechanism. That's why I don't even touch contracts now—there are too many tricks involved. When the spread between spot and futures widens, you should be alert; it's obvious to anyone with a clear eye. The waters are even deeper in altcoins; the market maker's room for manipulation is really huge. Whether going long or short in contracts, it's all wrong; in the end, everyone gets cut. I've seen too many of these cases; these tricks are just repeated plays of the same few patterns.

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WalletDoomsDay

· 01-18 16:29

Damn, this technique is really amazing. Hedging with spot contracts makes the funding rate go negative, isn't that a reasonable way to cut profits? Actually, I saw it a long time ago, but I didn't expect it to be so blatant. Shitcoin whales are really bold. The repeated switching of funding rates is an arbitrage machine. The feeling of making money while lying down is so satisfying. No wonder everyone is using this method. It seems that shorting shitcoins is basically free money. You only lose if you go against the whales. Contract dumping combined with spot pumping, fighting each other, ordinary people really can't compete.

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FomoAnxiety

· 01-18 16:27

Wow, I've been fed up with this left-hand/right-hand stuff for a long time, and now even altcoins are starting to get involved... --- This contract spot price difference game is really clever; when the fee rate turns from positive to negative, it's a meat grinder. --- So, those who still dare to trade contracts are really brave; the funding rate is just the vampire's bloodsucking tool for the market makers. --- RIVER's recent operation is a textbook example of a cut, and next time, who knows which coin will fall into the trap. --- Knowing through it doesn't help; liquidity is in the hands of the big players, and we retail investors are just destined to be slaughtered. --- I just want to ask, has anyone really made money by avoiding these tricks, or are they all just armchair strategists after the fact? --- Spot and contract arbitrage is becoming more and more cliché, but the problem is, people still keep rushing in... --- The most dangerous time is when the fee rate crashes into negative numbers; that's when the market makers truly close the net.

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