Having been in this market for ten years, I've heard too many people complain, "I've been washed out again." Honestly, market manipulation isn't really a benefit for retail investors; it's the big players holding a megaphone and saying: "Ladies and gentlemen, time to get off the bus." Those so-called distributions? It's not the big players running away, but rather them shoving all their chips into those who think they can "hold to the bottom," then turning around to prepare for the next wave.

Have you noticed? When the price suddenly drops with a long wick and then quickly recovers, and the market is screaming, the big players are actually laughing quietly. They don't care about technical indicators; they just want to see when your mentality will break.

**A sharp decline is actually a "stress test"**

The big players push the price down to a key support level, not really to break it, but to see how many people will cut losses and run. For example, a small coin usually oscillates around $1, suddenly plunges to $0.7, with the turnover rate skyrocketing to 25%. Retail investors panic, cut losses, and three days later, the price rebounds in a V-shape to $0.9—this is a classic washout. The big players scoop up your chips at the low, spreading their costs. This move is masterful.

**Consolidation is using time to wear you down**

If a sharp drop is a quick knife, then sideways movement is a dull blade cutting meat. The price oscillates within a 5% range, lasting several weeks, with decreasing volume. You watch other coins surge wildly, and finally, you can't hold back anymore—selling at a high, only to see the coin start rising right after you sell. The logic of the big players is straightforward: use time to drive out those who can't sit still, leaving only the "faithful fans" who will ride with them to the top.

**Long wicks are emotion detectors**

Suddenly, in the early hours, a long wick hits and blows up the bullish orders, then quickly retracts. This isn't really a sell-off; it's the big players poking and testing. They want to see if there's real support below this price level and how deep retail investors' panic runs. Every such move is actually preparing for the next big trend.

Finally, the harsh truth of this market is: the big players aren't playing with technicals—they're playing with human nature. Every time you cut losses, chase highs, or change your positions, you're acting out a script they've written. To survive longer, you must learn to confront your fears and greed.