On most centralized exchanges, pairs such as BTC/USD or ETH/USD move in discrete ticks—the smallest price step the venue uses in the quote. MyCryptoCal models that step as a “tick” (same field as legacy “pip decimals”): for example a $0.01 step on BTC vs more decimals on memecoins. Perpetuals, inverse contracts, and coin-margined products can use different tick tables; always read your contract spec.
Ticks vs extra decimals
Extra decimals help you read spread and micro-moves. Risk math should use the same increment definition in your journal, your exchange UI, and the calculator—mixing “points” labels across apps is a common way to mis-size stops.
Why the step size matters
When you set a stop “50 ticks away,” you are fixing how far price can move against you before exit. The dollar risk of that distance scales with position size in base coins (or contract equivalents) and the quote. The tick value calculator turns “one tick at this size on this pair” into USD.
Use it together with the position size calculator so stop distance in ticks lines up with your risk cap.
How tick size shows up on your exchange
Spot, margin, and perp UIs often show “tick size,” “price precision,” or “minimum step” in the contract details. Before you trust any on-screen P/L label, confirm whether the app is counting minimum ticks or a coarser step in the chart. Meme and micro-cap pairs can carry many decimals—journal the exact step you used for the stop.
When you log trades, write both the tick distance of the stop and the USD outcome at a known size. That habit makes reconciliation with MyCryptoCal straightforward.
Worked intuition (no exchange promises)
Suppose your model says each tick is worth about one dollar at your chosen BTC size. A 40-tick stop then maps to about forty dollars of risk if fills occur near your model. Fees, spread, funding, and gaps sit outside that napkin math—treat calculators as planning tools, not guarantees.
- Write the tick definition at the top of every note.
- Record whether you are on spot, isolated perp, or cross margin.
- Recompute tick value when you change leverage or contract mode.
From definition to habit
Once ticks feel boring and mechanical, risk management gets easier: stops become distances, distances become dollars through tick value, and dollars become a fraction of equity through your risk cap. Margin, P/L, and funding views stack on the same foundation.