Five Years of Crypto Market Practice: Three Unbreakable Money-Making Principles

Use discipline to combat chaos, use rules to overcome emotions Every time I see someone staring intently at the candlestick chart on their phone, hesitating between buy and sell buttons, I remember my own self from three years ago. At that time, I naively believed that trading was simply about guessing whether the trend would go up or down. The truth is, everyone can guess: the more difficult it is to earn money, the faster the market “swallows” it. After three years of hands-on experience, with over 300 trades big and small, I realize a very harsh but extremely important truth: in this market, surviving longer is more important than making quick money. Today, I consolidate all that experience into three ironclad principles. If you are patient enough to read and reflect, you will definitely avoid many unnecessary “school fees.” Principle One: Stop Guessing Price, Follow Probabilities The biggest mistake most beginners make is treating trading like a guessing game: “Will the price go up or down?” They put all their emotions into this question, and the result is often losses. The truly consistent traders I have met are not obsessed with predictions. They do very simply: Trade only when there is a clear trend Stay out and observe when the trend is unclear I was once asked: “How to find opportunities in a sideways market?” My answer is: “Why chase every opportunity? Preserving capital and waiting for the right moment is the smart move.” In reality, most beginners lose in their first year not because they analyze poorly, but because they trade too much. Especially, leverage is not a money printing machine, but an amplifier of mistakes. When a novice uses high leverage to “take a risk,” just a small market reversal can wipe out their account instantly. Before each trade, I always ask myself three questions: What is the current trend? (Up, down, or sideways) Is there any news or event that could cause strong market volatility? If wrong, where should I cut loss? I prefer to enter a trade late after a clear breakout and retest rather than early and get stuck. Entering a little late is always better than entering early and making a mistake. Principle Two: Trust the System, Not Feelings Beginners trade based on emotions; long-term traders trade based on systems. I also went through a phase of chasing every “hot tip,” trusting hearsay sources, and the price paid was a shrinking account. It wasn’t until I built a clear trading system that everything started to change. This system is like a “survival manual” in the jungle: it doesn’t guarantee quick wealth, but helps you avoid dead ends. My system revolves around a few seemingly simple but mandatory rules: Focus only on major coins with high liquidity Divide capital into multiple parts; use only a small portion per trade Always keep at least 50% cash for better opportunities Never average down when heavily in loss Set fixed stop-loss levels; exit when hit, no holding on Trade no more than a few times a day These rules are not “super advanced,” but the difficulty lies in discipline. The market will constantly tempt you to break the rules, and your task is not to get swept away. Principle Three: Risk Management Always Comes Before Profit In the crypto market, the number one goal is not to win big, but to avoid being kicked out of the game. From my observations, I realize that those who survive more than three years in this market share one common trait: they do not let losses get out of control. They may miss some big waves, but almost never get their accounts wiped out. A sustainable trader always embodies three factors: Consistent long-term profits Strict risk control Healthy trading psychology Trading is not a romantic relationship. Don’t “love” a candlestick or a coin. When conditions are no longer favorable, exiting the trade is professional, not a failure. I often tell students: “You don’t need to catch every wave. Just catch the ones you understand and can control.” Missing an opportunity is not scary; losing because of stubbornness is truly dangerous. Conclusion: Trading Is a Battle With Yourself After many years in this market, the most profound realization I have is: the biggest enemy of traders is not the market, but themselves. Greed, fear, overconfidence, and luck-driven psychology are amplified many times when real money is involved. The best traders always do very simple things: Clear rules Repeat consistently Discipline to the point of boredom Trading is about knowing when to give up: Give up guessing tops and bottoms, follow the trend. Give up small fluctuations, seize the big trend. Give up personal emotions, trust the system. In crypto, the system determines your bottom, while strategy determines your top. Building a system that suits yourself is the only path to sustainable profits. I hope this article helps you go further and be more resilient in the market. Remember: survive long enough, and you will have the chance to smile last.