When your balance is too low to copy a trade, Polyfollow skips that trade and tells you. Here's how it works and what to do.
What Happens With Low Balance?
When a copy can't be placed because of insufficient funds:
| Event | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Trade detected | We check the balance your copies can use |
| Balance too low | The trade is skipped (not placed) |
| You're notified | "Trade skipped - low balance", at most once every 6 hours |
| 5 skips in a row | That copy shows Needs funds and new buys stop |
| Sells continue | The trader's exits are still copied for positions you hold |
Notification You'll See
When a copy starts waiting for funds:
"Your balance ran out, so new copies are paused. We still copy this trader's exits, and copying resumes on its own when funds arrive."
How to Resume
You don't need to do anything. Copying resumes automatically once your balance can fund copies again, whether the money comes from a deposit, a sale or a payout from a resolved market.
You can also resume by hand from Dashboard → Active Copies → Resume.
Sells Still Execute
While a copy is waiting for funds, the trader's exits are still copied.
| Status | Buys | Sells |
|---|---|---|
| Copying | Yes | Yes |
| Needs funds | No | Yes |
| Paused by you | No | No |
If a trader exits a position you copied, you exit too, and the cash from that sale can resume the copy.
Checking Your Status
In your Active Copies section:
| Indicator | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Copying | Actively copying |
| Needs funds | Balance too low for new buys; exits still copied |
| Paused | Paused by you, or by a stop loss or take profit |
Pro Tips
- Keep a buffer - Always have 20-30% more than your max trade size
- Check your balance - Visible on Dashboard and Settings
- Set up notifications - Get alerts in-app when paused
- Multiple traders - Diversify so one pause doesn't stop everything
FAQ
Why is my copy waiting for funds?
Your balance was too low to copy 5 trades in a row from that trader. Money in open positions can't fund new copies.
Will I miss trades while it waits?
New buys are skipped. The trader's exits are still copied, so your open copies follow them out.
How much balance do I need?
At minimum, enough to cover one copy: your amount per trade, or the minimum per order if you limit each order.
Does it resume automatically?
Yes. When a deposit, a sale or a payout brings your balance back, copying resumes on its own. No manual action needed.