> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://prodigyfi.gitbook.io/perps-user-guide/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://prodigyfi.gitbook.io/perps-user-guide/positions/choosing-positions.md).

# Choosing positions

Positions are an investor's exposure to a particular cryptocurrency or multiple cryptocurrencies.

There are two types of positions: long and short.

### Long

When a trader goes long, they purchase a Perpetual contract with the anticipation that the underlying asset's value will appreciate in the future. Rather than purchasing and holding the actual underlying asset, traders obtain artificial exposure to the asset.

<mark style="color:yellow;">To go 10x long $1,000 USD worth of BTC-USD Perpetuals contracts he buys: $1,000 USD / $50,000 USD / BTC = 0.02 BTC.</mark>

### Short

If a trader goes short, they sell a Perpetual contract, anticipating that the underlying asset's value will decrease in the future. Rather than selling the actual underlying asset, traders sell artificial exposure to the asset.

<mark style="color:yellow;">To go 10x short $1,000 USD worth of BTC-USD Perpetuals contracts he sells: $1,000 USD / $50,000 USD / BTC = 0.02 BTC.</mark>


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