The stories of getting rich overnight in the crypto world are everywhere, but the number of people who have actually made it to today is very small.

I started with 3000U and grew it to 280,000U in half a year. The deepest lesson I’ve learned along the way boils down to two words: discipline. Lock down impulses with rules, replace gambling with patience — this is the entire secret to survival.

**Five Uncompromising Rules**

**1. Stop-loss is the bottom line; exit immediately once triggered**

When I first entered the market, I suffered from "wait for the rebound" losses. Now, if the loss reaches 3% of the principal, there’s no discussion — cut it immediately. The market won’t show mercy just because you’re lucky. Only those who can muster the courage to cut losses deserve to survive and walk down the mountain.

**2. Force a pause after 5 consecutive losses**

Chasing the market blindly during chaos is like giving away money. I set up a "circuit breaker" — after 5 consecutive stop-losses, the system automatically locks the trading and forces a rest. Because impulsive decisions, 90% of the time, end up being traps.

**3. Profits not withdrawn are not truly yours**

No matter how high the numbers in your account, they are just floating illusions. My approach is to withdraw half of every 3000U profit immediately to my bank card. Profits that aren’t withdrawn are essentially chips held by the exchange, which can be taken back by the market at any time.

**4. Don’t trade in choppy markets; wait for a trend to emerge**

Leverage amplifies in a trending market, but in a choppy market, it becomes a meat grinder. When there’s no clear direction, I prefer to stay flat and wait. Less trading means I can better catch those real large-scale swings.

**5. Limit each position to a maximum of 10% of total funds**

No matter how tempting the opportunity, don’t overextend. Using 30% for trial and error won’t hurt, and profits can then compound continuously. Those who go all-in often die from a single needle prick without reacting.

**Core logic: Slow down to go faster, do less to earn more**

The harsh reality in crypto is: frequent trading is nowhere near as effective as patience and silence. Over a year, only 3 to 5 opportunities are truly worth heavy investment; the rest is just noise.

Use small positions to test, rely on stop-loss to protect the principal, and lock in profits through withdrawals — these are the three key tactics for retail investors to survive long-term.

Markets never lack opportunities, but your principal only happens once. In the end, those who survive are not the smartest, but those who are disciplined enough to listen.

No matter how tempting the rise and fall of Bitcoin, Ethereum, or the entire crypto market are, there must be a bottom line. Trading without a bottom line will ultimately be liquidated by the market.