Cross-Sectional Altcoin Portfolio [BackQuant]

Cross-Sectional Altcoin Portfolio [BackQuant]

Introducing BackQuant's Cross-Sectional Altcoin Portfolio, a sophisticated trading system designed to dynamically rotate among a selection of major altcoins. This portfolio strategy compares multiple assets based on real-time performance metrics, such as momentum and trend strength, to select the strongest-performing coins. It uses a combination of adaptive scoring and regime filters to ensure the portfolio is aligned with favorable market conditions, minimizing exposure during unfavorable trends.

This system offers a comprehensive solution for crypto traders who want to optimize portfolio allocation based on cross-asset performance, while also accounting for market regimes. It allows traders to compare multiple altcoins dynamically and allocate capital to the top performers, ensuring the portfolio is always positioned in the most promising assets.

Key Features

1. Dynamic Asset Rotation:
The portfolio constantly evaluates the relative strength of 10 major altcoins: SOLUSD, RUNEUSD, ORDIUSD, DOGEUSDT, ETHUSD, ENAUSDT, RAYUSDT, PENDLEUSD, UNIUSD, and KASUSDT.
Using a ratio matrix, the system selects the strongest asset based on momentum and trend performance, dynamically adjusting the allocation as market conditions change.

2. Long-Only Portfolio with Cash Reserve:
The portfolio only takes long positions or remains in cash. The system does not enter short positions, reducing the risk of exposure during market downturns.
A powerful regime filter ensures the system is inactive during periods of market weakness, defined by the Universal Trend Performance Indicator (TPI) and other market data.

3. Equity Tracking:
The script provides real-time visualizations of portfolio equity compared to buy-and-hold strategies.
Users can compare the performance of the portfolio against holding individual assets (e.g., BTC, ETH) and see the benefits of the dynamic allocation.

4. Performance Metrics:
The system provides key performance metrics such as:
Sharpe Ratio: Measures risk-adjusted returns.
Sortino Ratio: Focuses on downside risk.
Omega Ratio: Evaluates returns relative to risk.

Maximum Drawdown: The maximum observed loss from a peak to a trough.
These metrics allow traders to assess the effectiveness of the strategy versus simply holding the assets.

5. Regime Filter:
The system incorporates a regime filter that evaluates the overall market trend using the TPI and other indicators. If the market is in a downtrend, the system exits positions and moves to cash, avoiding exposure to negative market conditions.
Users can customize the thresholds for the long and short trends to fit their risk tolerance.

6. Customizable Parameters:
Traders can adjust key parameters, such as the backtest start date, starting capital, leverage multiplier, and visualization options, including equity plot colors and line widths.
The system supports different levels of customizations for traders to optimize their strategies.

7. Equity and Buy-and-Hold Comparisons:
This script enables traders to see the side-by-side comparison of the portfolio’s equity curve and the equity curve of a buy-and-hold strategy for each asset.
The comparison allows users to evaluate the performance of the dynamic strategy versus holding the altcoins in isolation.

8. Forward Test (Out-of-Sample Testing):
The system includes a note that the portfolio provides out-of-sample forward tests, ensuring the robustness of the strategy. This is crucial for assessing the portfolio's performance beyond historical backtesting and validating its ability to adapt to future market conditions.

9. Visual Feedback:
The system offers detailed visual feedback on the current asset allocation and performance. Candles are painted according to the trend of the selected assets, and key metrics are displayed in real-time, including the momentum scores for each asset.

10. Alerts and Notifications:
Real-time alerts notify traders when the system changes asset allocations or moves to cash, ensuring they stay informed about portfolio adjustments.
Visual labels on the chart provide instant feedback on which asset is currently leading the portfolio allocation.

How the Rotation Works

The portfolio evaluates 10 different assets and calculates a momentum score for each based on their price action. This score is processed through a ratio matrix, which compares the relative performance of each asset.
Based on the rankings, the portfolio allocates capital to the top performers, ensuring it rotates between the strongest assets while minimizing exposure to underperforming assets.
If no asset shows strong performance, the system defaults to cash to preserve capital.

Final Thoughts

BackQuant’s Cross-Sectional Altcoin Portfolio provides a dynamic and systematic approach to altcoin portfolio management. By employing real-time performance metrics, adaptive scoring, and regime filters, this strategy aims to optimize returns while minimizing exposure to market downturns. The inclusion of out-of-sample forward tests ensures that the system remains robust in live market conditions, making it an ideal tool for crypto traders seeking to enhance their portfolio's performance with a data-driven, momentum-based approach.