Home › Learn › What Is Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA)?

What Is Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA)?

Dollar-cost averaging means buying a fixed amount at regular intervals. See how it works and its limits.

The idea

Instead of investing a lump sum at one moment, you invest a fixed amount on a schedule, for example every week. When the price is low you buy more units, and when it is high you buy fewer.

Why people use it

DCA reduces the risk of buying everything just before a drop and removes the pressure of timing the market. It also builds a habit of consistent investing.

Limits

DCA does not guarantee a profit or protect against a long decline. If the asset keeps falling, you keep buying into a loss. Fees on frequent small purchases can also add up.

Getting started

Choose an amount you can comfortably invest regularly, a schedule, and assets you have researched. Review the plan periodically rather than reacting to every price move.

Ready to practice? Create a free Dutch Trade account to explore crypto markets.

Open the app

Educational content only, not financial advice. Crypto assets carry a high risk of loss.

Keep learning

Look up unfamiliar words in the crypto glossary or browse coin markets.