Everything I do comes straight from David Bennett’s Day Trading Grain Futures — my absolute gold standard. I’ve taken that same logic and applied it across asset classes without overcomplicating things.

    Session open bias  The first 5-15 minutes set the tone for me every single day.
    In grains and index futures it’s the regular market open. On ETH perps it’s the US session start (around 13:30 UTC / 15:30 my time) when volume really kicks in.
    Price above the open or initial high = I’m looking for longs.
    Price below = I’m looking for shorts.
    Zone mapping  I rely on the early-session highs and lows plus Volume Profile (VPVR) for POC, value areas, and imbalances. My charts are clean — you’ll always see VPVR front and center because it’s that important to me.
    Setups (only in the direction of bias)
    Breakouts of the session highs/lows, bounces off support/resistance or value-area edges, and clear bullish/bearish imbalances.
    I almost never take counter-trend trades unless the reversal evidence is screaming at me.
    Timeframes  Strictly 5- and 15-minute charts.
    Exits — Minimum 1:2 to 1:3 reward-to-risk. I scale out partially (take +1R, trail the rest) and move my stop to breakeven aggressively once I’m up $50 or +1R. On ETH I have a hard time filter — I’m usually flat by 19:00 my time if momentum dies.

I treat futures like a craft. Options feel more like art to me, and prediction markets are basically pure betting. My edge is repetition, not prediction.
The Markets I Actually Trade
Asset Class
    
Examples
    
How I Approach It
Grain / Ag Futures
    
Corn ($ZC), Wheat ($ZW), Soybeans ($ZS)
    
My original love -- slow-paced, trendy, and predictable. I even follow the physical side (ploughed fields, yield forecasts, the whole thing).
Index Micros
    
Micro E-mini S&P ($MES), Micro E-mini Dow ($MYM)
    
Fast scalps right at the open, breakouts, and imbalances. Volatility is higher so stops need more room.
Crypto Perps
    
ETH (mainly), with BTC correlation
    
Same exact system, just adapted to 24/7. I watch funding rates and BTC correlation closely. You’ll see me shorting ETH a lot in the journal.
I do hold some longer-term crypto convictions (BTC as long-term storage, ETH for actual use), but my active trading is 100 % intraday -- no overnight holds, ever.
Risk Management (This Is My Real Edge)

    Per-trade risk is 0.5-1 % of my account max. I calculate position size from the exact stop distance before I click a single order.
    Daily loss limit: I stop after two losers or roughly 2–3R total drawdown. No exceptions.
    Stops are non-negotiable and I cut losers immediately.
    Leverage stays conservative - 5–10× max on crypto so I never flirt with liquidation.
    Journaling is sacred. Every trade gets reviewed. Pre-session prep and post-session notes happen without fail.
    Psychology-wise I keep coming back to The Mental Game of Trading. Patience is literally everything (“the waiting game” is my desktop wallpaper for a reason). I trade from a desktop only -- no phone execution, ever.

My Tools & Setup

    Kraken Pro for ETH perps (VPVR, order book, hotkeys, built-in position calculator).
    Optimus Flow for traditional futures (DOM, chart-based orders, clean volume profile).
    I hammer demo/sim accounts for practice and back-testing — I’ve run 50+ ETH US sessions just to stay sharp.

How I See It Overall
This is a simple, rule-based, discretionary system that’s repeatable by design. I wait for the market to declare its bias, then I ride the imbalance with volume-profile context and iron-clad risk rules. No cluttered charts, no revenge trading, no hype.The strengths are obvious to me: the system is clear, the risk discipline is tight, and I’ve successfully ported grain-futures logic into volatile ETH perps while adjusting for funding and session timing. The journal keeps me honest.The risks are real too. Discretionary bias reading can make me hesitate in chop (I call myself out publicly when that happens -- “remind me not trading this market”). Crypto volatility is a different beast than grains, so the same R:R targets demand tighter execution. And because I size small and risk tiny percentages, compounding takes time — but that’s exactly how I like it.At the end of the day I’m a patient, high-probability, session-timed day trader. I do fewer things better, stay self-funded, and keep the whole thing punk/anarchist in spirit: low-key, anti-hype, and 100 % my own work.That’s the system. If you’ve been following the journal you’ve already seen it in action.

 David Bennett's book is a gold standard for practical, no-nonsense day trading in volatile futures markets like grains (corn, soybeans, wheat on CME). Its core strength is a simple, repeatable system based on price action, risk management, and execution during high-volatility sessions—principles that translate exceptionally well to ETH perpetual futures on platforms like Kraken Pro. ETH's 24/7 nature and high intraday swings (often 3–10% during US hours) mimic the "open volatility" Bennett describes for grains.

Since you're in Varna (EET, UTC+2), I'll tailor tips to your local time, focusing on US market open hours (~15:30–22:00 EET), when ETH liquidity peaks and correlates with S&P 500/ES minis. Here's a detailed adaptation guide, broken into key book concepts with ETH-specific tweaks. (Assume you're using 5–15 min charts on Kraken Pro for intraday.)

1. Adapting the "Initial Move" and Session Open Setup

• Bennett's Core: At grain market open (e.g., 9:30 AM CT for CME grains), watch the first 5–15 minutes to gauge the "initial move" (up/down range). This sets your bias: bullish if above open, bearish if below. Map quick support/resistance from highs/lows.
• ETH Adaptation: Crypto has no fixed open, but treat US session start (~15:30 EET / 13:30 UTC) as your "open" — that's when volume surges (London-NY overlap).
  • Tip: In the first 15–30 minutes (15:30–16:00 EET), note ETH's "initial swing" from the pre-US low/high. If price breaks above the 15-min high, go long (target +2–3x risk). If below low, short.
  • ETH Twist: Add funding rate check (via Kraken Futures tab) at session start — positive funding favors shorts (longs pay you), negative favors longs.
  • Example Setup: If ETH opens US session at $2,900 and swings +$50 in first 15 min, bias long with stop below session low (-$30 risk, target +$90–$150).

2. Support/Resistance and Zone Mapping

• Bennett's Core: Use early session highs/lows, pivots, and volume clusters to draw "zones" for entries (e.g., buy near support after rejection).
• ETH Adaptation: On Kraken Pro, enable VPVR (Volume Profile) for visible range — it shows ETH's "value areas" like grain pit levels. Combine with round numbers ($2,900, $3,000) and previous day's highs/lows.
  • Tip: During your 15:30–19:00 EET window, map zones in the first hour: e.g., POC (longest volume bar) as fair value. Enter long on bounce from VAL (value area low), stop below it.
  • ETH Twist: Watch BTC correlation — if BTC rejects a level, ETH often follows. Use Kraken's order book for live depth (thicker bids = stronger support).
  • Risk Management: Bennett's 1:2–1:3 reward:risk ratio fits ETH — but cap leverage at 5–10x to avoid liquidation (ETH can wick $100+ fast).

3. Trend Bias and Trade Management

• Bennett's Core: Once bias forms, trade in that direction only; trail stops on winners, cut losers quick. Avoid counter-trend until reversal proof.
• ETH Adaptation: In US hours, ETH trends stronger with macro (e.g., Nasdaq moves). If initial move is up, only long until a lower low forms.
  • Tip: Use Bennett's "add-on" rule: Partial out at first target (+1R), trail the rest with a 15-min close below trailing stop. For ETH, add a time filter — exit by 19:00 EET if no momentum (volume drops post-overlap).
  • ETH Twist: Incorporate funding resets (every 8 hours, e.g., ~18:00 EET) — if negative and you're long, it pays you to hold briefly.
  • Example: Long ETH at $2,920 support (bias from initial up-move), target $2,970 (1R = $30 risk, so 1:3 = $90 profit). Trail stop to entry after +$50.

4. Risk and Money Management

• Bennett's Core: Risk max 1% per trade, 2–3 trades/day; position size based on stop distance. Journal everything.
• ETH Adaptation: With ETH's volatility, stick to 0.5–1% account risk per trade. Use Kraken's position calculator for leverage-adjusted size.
  • Tip: Bennett's "daily loss limit" (e.g., 2–3R total) is crucial for ETH — stop after 2 losing trades in US session to avoid tilt.
  • ETH Twist: Factor in slippage (crypto spreads widen in thin hours) — use limit orders. Track funding P&L separately in your journal.
  • Daily Routine: Pre-session (15:00 EET): Review overnight ETH moves. Post-session (19:00+): Journal wins/losses like Bennett's monthly reviews.

5. Psychological and Execution Tips

• Bennett's Core: Discipline over prediction; practice on sim accounts; trade small until consistent.
• ETH Adaptation: Use Kraken's demo mode for ETH perps to simulate US hours. Focus on execution speed — Kraken's interface is fast, but set hotkeys for quick entries.
  • Tip: Bennett's "repetition builds edge" — backtest 50+ ETH US sessions on TradingView (Kraken symbols) using his initial move rules.
  • ETH Twist: Crypto FOMO is real — counter it with Bennett's "wait for setup" patience, especially during news (e.g., CPI at 15:30 EET).

Potential Challenges & Enhancements

• Volatility Mismatch: Grains are ~1–3% daily; ETH can be 5–15% — scale down Bennett's targets (e.g., 1:2 ratio instead of 1:3).
• Tools on Kraken: Use built-in indicators (MA, RSI sparingly — Bennett hates complexity) + VPVR for volume zones.
• Resources: Combine with crypto-specific books like "The Mental Game of Trading" for ETH's emotional swings. Track progress over 20 US sessions (~1 month at 5 days/week).

Since childhood there I've been a keen radio enthusiast. I remember having an old Blaupunkt as well as a Philips radio tuners from my father, sitting in my room tuning different radio stations. 

Now I think to re-start this passion and really liked this one Grundig RT 200 tuner which looks so stylish with its wooden cover, silver controls and golden back light. 

• FM (Frequency Modulation): 87.5 – 108 MHz

• MW (Medium Wave / AM): 510 – 1620 kHz

• LW (Long Wave): 145 – 350 kHz

• SW I (Short Wave I): 3.15 – 8.8 MHz

• SW II (Short Wave II): 8.6 – 22.5 MHz

I've been demo testing Optimus Flow futures trading platform of Optimus Futures for the last couple of weeks and I have to say that it is rather more intuitive and easy to use compared even to Tradovate.. 

It feels good to be back trading #dow $mym  

DOM is very easy to use and to place orders, as well as you can place orders from the chart and the volume profile settings are amazing. Also predetermined stop-loss and take-profit orders are great to use for my strategies.

Here is a screen shot from chart set up and DOM.

Currently, I am in a process of switching broker as had to close my Tradovate/NT account. Maybe, I'll write a post about that later on, maybe not. I've been testing Optimus Flow platform for the last few days and my first impressions are great, it feels very intuitive to use, no hustle at all. It has great features for day trades and especially for those who apply volume profiles and trade from DOM.

Here we go with my first demo trade today, trading Micro Dow Eminis - $MYM for $15 bucks gross or that would be around $13 and something after comms and fees.

This is for today trading #dow $my_f $mym_f

Initially as of too tight stop got stopped out; however either due to stubborn revenge trading or due to conviction that the price action would go higher into bullish imbalance, re-entered at same price for a profit.

Trading micro e-mini dow futures today. Entered at a break out; however there were no enough buyers to get the price action pulling the price higher as well as I noticed a lot of sell orders sitting above break even -- most likely take profit orders for the days. So I chose to play safe and close at a small loss.

Here we are:

I am back trading micros on emini dow contracts. Still feel cautious and am in and out the market for some fast scalps as this one:

Shorting wheat $ZW_F at open.

Wow, the market is very volatile. I'm back trading MYM. Shorting at open.

In these volatile conditions, need wider stops. Got stopped out.

Back trading Micro Dwo Minis. Had an entry at a breakout on bullish imbalance; hit a second order by mistake and had two running orders which turned in my favour. Now closed both positions. Will revert with an update during PM session. 

This is for today -- trading long on bullish imbalance.

Here we go with today's trading session.

This is how you make it trail. Since days of declines in wheat market, the price met some support at $5.60/bu and bounced on intraday basis. 

Here already secured profits and will let it trail and either hit SL in profit or TP in bigger profit.

Here we go at the close of the grains session.

Here in profit now trading lower on imbalance. 

  Everything I do comes straight from David Bennett’s Day Trading Grain Futures — my absolute gold standard. I’ve taken that same logic and applied it across asset classes without overcomplicating things.

    Session open bias  The first 5-15 minutes set the tone for me every single day.
    In grains and index futures it’s the regular market open. On ETH perps it’s the US session start (around 13:30 UTC / 15:30 my time) when volume really kicks in.
    Price above the open or initial high = I’m looking for longs.
    Price below = I’m looking for shorts.
    Zone mapping  I rely on the early-session highs and lows plus Volume Profile (VPVR) for POC, value areas, and imbalances. My charts are clean — you’ll always see VPVR front and center because it’s that important to me.
    Setups (only in the direction of bias)
    Breakouts of the session highs/lows, bounces off support/resistance or value-area edges, and clear bullish/bearish imbalances.
    I almost never take counter-trend trades unless the reversal evidence is screaming at me.
    Timeframes  Strictly 5- and 15-minute charts.
    Exits — Minimum 1:2 to 1:3 reward-to-risk. I scale out partially (take +1R, trail the rest) and move my stop to breakeven aggressively once I’m up $50 or +1R. On ETH I have a hard time filter — I’m usually flat by 19:00 my time if momentum dies.

I treat futures like a craft. Options feel more like art to me, and prediction markets are basically pure betting. My edge is repetition, not prediction.
The Markets I Actually Trade
Asset Class
    
Examples
    
How I Approach It
Grain / Ag Futures
    
Corn ($ZC), Wheat ($ZW), Soybeans ($ZS)
    
My original love -- slow-paced, trendy, and predictable. I even follow the physical side (ploughed fields, yield forecasts, the whole thing).
Index Micros
    
Micro E-mini S&P ($MES), Micro E-mini Dow ($MYM)
    
Fast scalps right at the open, breakouts, and imbalances. Volatility is higher so stops need more room.
Crypto Perps
    
ETH (mainly), with BTC correlation
    
Same exact system, just adapted to 24/7. I watch funding rates and BTC correlation closely. You’ll see me shorting ETH a lot in the journal.
I do hold some longer-term crypto convictions (BTC as long-term storage, ETH for actual use), but my active trading is 100 % intraday -- no overnight holds, ever.
Risk Management (This Is My Real Edge)

    Per-trade risk is 0.5-1 % of my account max. I calculate position size from the exact stop distance before I click a single order.
    Daily loss limit: I stop after two losers or roughly 2–3R total drawdown. No exceptions.
    Stops are non-negotiable and I cut losers immediately.
    Leverage stays conservative - 5–10× max on crypto so I never flirt with liquidation.
    Journaling is sacred. Every trade gets reviewed. Pre-session prep and post-session notes happen without fail.
    Psychology-wise I keep coming back to The Mental Game of Trading. Patience is literally everything (“the waiting game” is my desktop wallpaper for a reason). I trade from a desktop only -- no phone execution, ever.

My Tools & Setup

    Kraken Pro for ETH perps (VPVR, order book, hotkeys, built-in position calculator).
    Optimus Flow for traditional futures (DOM, chart-based orders, clean volume profile).
    I hammer demo/sim accounts for practice and back-testing — I’ve run 50+ ETH US sessions just to stay sharp.

How I See It Overall
This is a simple, rule-based, discretionary system that’s repeatable by design. I wait for the market to declare its bias, then I ride the imbalance with volume-profile context and iron-clad risk rules. No cluttered charts, no revenge trading, no hype.The strengths are obvious to me: the system is clear, the risk discipline is tight, and I’ve successfully ported grain-futures logic into volatile ETH perps while adjusting for funding and session timing. The journal keeps me honest.The risks are real too. Discretionary bias reading can make me hesitate in chop (I call myself out publicly when that happens -- “remind me not trading this market”). Crypto volatility is a different beast than grains, so the same R:R targets demand tighter execution. And because I size small and risk tiny percentages, compounding takes time — but that’s exactly how I like it.At the end of the day I’m a patient, high-probability, session-timed day trader. I do fewer things better, stay self-funded, and keep the whole thing punk/anarchist in spirit: low-key, anti-hype, and 100 % my own work.That’s the system. If you’ve been following the journal you’ve already seen it in action.

 David Bennett's book is a gold standard for practical, no-nonsense day trading in volatile futures markets like grains (corn, soybeans, wheat on CME). Its core strength is a simple, repeatable system based on price action, risk management, and execution during high-volatility sessions—principles that translate exceptionally well to ETH perpetual futures on platforms like Kraken Pro. ETH's 24/7 nature and high intraday swings (often 3–10% during US hours) mimic the "open volatility" Bennett describes for grains.

Since you're in Varna (EET, UTC+2), I'll tailor tips to your local time, focusing on US market open hours (~15:30–22:00 EET), when ETH liquidity peaks and correlates with S&P 500/ES minis. Here's a detailed adaptation guide, broken into key book concepts with ETH-specific tweaks. (Assume you're using 5–15 min charts on Kraken Pro for intraday.)

1. Adapting the "Initial Move" and Session Open Setup

• Bennett's Core: At grain market open (e.g., 9:30 AM CT for CME grains), watch the first 5–15 minutes to gauge the "initial move" (up/down range). This sets your bias: bullish if above open, bearish if below. Map quick support/resistance from highs/lows.
• ETH Adaptation: Crypto has no fixed open, but treat US session start (~15:30 EET / 13:30 UTC) as your "open" — that's when volume surges (London-NY overlap).
  • Tip: In the first 15–30 minutes (15:30–16:00 EET), note ETH's "initial swing" from the pre-US low/high. If price breaks above the 15-min high, go long (target +2–3x risk). If below low, short.
  • ETH Twist: Add funding rate check (via Kraken Futures tab) at session start — positive funding favors shorts (longs pay you), negative favors longs.
  • Example Setup: If ETH opens US session at $2,900 and swings +$50 in first 15 min, bias long with stop below session low (-$30 risk, target +$90–$150).

2. Support/Resistance and Zone Mapping

• Bennett's Core: Use early session highs/lows, pivots, and volume clusters to draw "zones" for entries (e.g., buy near support after rejection).
• ETH Adaptation: On Kraken Pro, enable VPVR (Volume Profile) for visible range — it shows ETH's "value areas" like grain pit levels. Combine with round numbers ($2,900, $3,000) and previous day's highs/lows.
  • Tip: During your 15:30–19:00 EET window, map zones in the first hour: e.g., POC (longest volume bar) as fair value. Enter long on bounce from VAL (value area low), stop below it.
  • ETH Twist: Watch BTC correlation — if BTC rejects a level, ETH often follows. Use Kraken's order book for live depth (thicker bids = stronger support).
  • Risk Management: Bennett's 1:2–1:3 reward:risk ratio fits ETH — but cap leverage at 5–10x to avoid liquidation (ETH can wick $100+ fast).

3. Trend Bias and Trade Management

• Bennett's Core: Once bias forms, trade in that direction only; trail stops on winners, cut losers quick. Avoid counter-trend until reversal proof.
• ETH Adaptation: In US hours, ETH trends stronger with macro (e.g., Nasdaq moves). If initial move is up, only long until a lower low forms.
  • Tip: Use Bennett's "add-on" rule: Partial out at first target (+1R), trail the rest with a 15-min close below trailing stop. For ETH, add a time filter — exit by 19:00 EET if no momentum (volume drops post-overlap).
  • ETH Twist: Incorporate funding resets (every 8 hours, e.g., ~18:00 EET) — if negative and you're long, it pays you to hold briefly.
  • Example: Long ETH at $2,920 support (bias from initial up-move), target $2,970 (1R = $30 risk, so 1:3 = $90 profit). Trail stop to entry after +$50.

4. Risk and Money Management

• Bennett's Core: Risk max 1% per trade, 2–3 trades/day; position size based on stop distance. Journal everything.
• ETH Adaptation: With ETH's volatility, stick to 0.5–1% account risk per trade. Use Kraken's position calculator for leverage-adjusted size.
  • Tip: Bennett's "daily loss limit" (e.g., 2–3R total) is crucial for ETH — stop after 2 losing trades in US session to avoid tilt.
  • ETH Twist: Factor in slippage (crypto spreads widen in thin hours) — use limit orders. Track funding P&L separately in your journal.
  • Daily Routine: Pre-session (15:00 EET): Review overnight ETH moves. Post-session (19:00+): Journal wins/losses like Bennett's monthly reviews.

5. Psychological and Execution Tips

• Bennett's Core: Discipline over prediction; practice on sim accounts; trade small until consistent.
• ETH Adaptation: Use Kraken's demo mode for ETH perps to simulate US hours. Focus on execution speed — Kraken's interface is fast, but set hotkeys for quick entries.
  • Tip: Bennett's "repetition builds edge" — backtest 50+ ETH US sessions on TradingView (Kraken symbols) using his initial move rules.
  • ETH Twist: Crypto FOMO is real — counter it with Bennett's "wait for setup" patience, especially during news (e.g., CPI at 15:30 EET).

Potential Challenges & Enhancements

• Volatility Mismatch: Grains are ~1–3% daily; ETH can be 5–15% — scale down Bennett's targets (e.g., 1:2 ratio instead of 1:3).
• Tools on Kraken: Use built-in indicators (MA, RSI sparingly — Bennett hates complexity) + VPVR for volume zones.
• Resources: Combine with crypto-specific books like "The Mental Game of Trading" for ETH's emotional swings. Track progress over 20 US sessions (~1 month at 5 days/week).

Since childhood there I've been a keen radio enthusiast. I remember having an old Blaupunkt as well as a Philips radio tuners from my father, sitting in my room tuning different radio stations. 

Now I think to re-start this passion and really liked this one Grundig RT 200 tuner which looks so stylish with its wooden cover, silver controls and golden back light. 

• FM (Frequency Modulation): 87.5 – 108 MHz

• MW (Medium Wave / AM): 510 – 1620 kHz

• LW (Long Wave): 145 – 350 kHz

• SW I (Short Wave I): 3.15 – 8.8 MHz

• SW II (Short Wave II): 8.6 – 22.5 MHz

I've been demo testing Optimus Flow futures trading platform of Optimus Futures for the last couple of weeks and I have to say that it is rather more intuitive and easy to use compared even to Tradovate.. 

It feels good to be back trading #dow $mym  

DOM is very easy to use and to place orders, as well as you can place orders from the chart and the volume profile settings are amazing. Also predetermined stop-loss and take-profit orders are great to use for my strategies.

Here is a screen shot from chart set up and DOM.

Currently, I am in a process of switching broker as had to close my Tradovate/NT account. Maybe, I'll write a post about that later on, maybe not. I've been testing Optimus Flow platform for the last few days and my first impressions are great, it feels very intuitive to use, no hustle at all. It has great features for day trades and especially for those who apply volume profiles and trade from DOM.

Here we go with my first demo trade today, trading Micro Dow Eminis - $MYM for $15 bucks gross or that would be around $13 and something after comms and fees.

This is for today trading #dow $my_f $mym_f

Initially as of too tight stop got stopped out; however either due to stubborn revenge trading or due to conviction that the price action would go higher into bullish imbalance, re-entered at same price for a profit.

Trading micro e-mini dow futures today. Entered at a break out; however there were no enough buyers to get the price action pulling the price higher as well as I noticed a lot of sell orders sitting above break even -- most likely take profit orders for the days. So I chose to play safe and close at a small loss.

Here we are:

I am back trading micros on emini dow contracts. Still feel cautious and am in and out the market for some fast scalps as this one:

Shorting wheat $ZW_F at open.

Wow, the market is very volatile. I'm back trading MYM. Shorting at open.

In these volatile conditions, need wider stops. Got stopped out.

Back trading Micro Dwo Minis. Had an entry at a breakout on bullish imbalance; hit a second order by mistake and had two running orders which turned in my favour. Now closed both positions. Will revert with an update during PM session. 

This is for today -- trading long on bullish imbalance.

Here we go with today's trading session.

This is how you make it trail. Since days of declines in wheat market, the price met some support at $5.60/bu and bounced on intraday basis. 

Here already secured profits and will let it trail and either hit SL in profit or TP in bigger profit.

Here we go at the close of the grains session.

Here in profit now trading lower on imbalance.