In the market, everyone is equal. The ones who die the most miserably in the crypto world are always those who try to cut corners and overtake on the bend.

Five years ago, I jumped in with three months' salary and lost half of it in two weeks. I can still remember that feeling. It’s not about luck; frankly, it’s a common rookie mistake — naively believing that trading crypto depends on luck and courage.

Later, I saw a trader who made crazy profits during a bull market suddenly clear all his positions. He then didn’t touch any positions for an entire month. At that time, he said, "When you can't see the direction clearly, doing nothing is the biggest win." That was when I realized that those who survive long in this market are not because they trade beautifully, but because they know when to stick to the rules.

Below are eight principles I’ve developed with real money. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced trader who has paid your tuition, these can help you avoid some pitfalls.

**1. Don’t just watch the daily chart; always follow the 30-minute chart for short-term trades**

Many people just stare at the daily chart every day, thinking there’s no opportunity, so they go to sleep. The next morning, they wake up to find they missed a big rally. Why? Because different timeframes tell different stories.

For example, a daily candle might look very ugly, with a long upper shadow, indicating weak upward momentum. But if you look at the 30-minute chart, the signals might be completely opposite. I’ve seen many coins where the daily chart looks terrible yesterday, yet the 30-minute chart was already well-formed, and the next day, a big bullish candle appears.

The key to short-term trading is this: the small 30-minute cycle must resonate with the larger trend on the daily chart. When the 30-minute chart shows a breakout and the daily trend is also upward, this "double confirmation" is the real signal.