The crypto circle is never short of "myths"—someone leverages to the max and turns around overnight, a big shot precisely escapes the top and becomes a legend. But you rarely hear about those who disappear silently after a margin call. Three years ago, I was one of them: repeatedly making wrong judgments, betting everything on one direction, stop-losses useless, until my account shrank from six figures to four. That’s when I realized, the crypto world is not a casino, but a place that punishes luck-driven psychology.

Today I’m not talking about the "double your money in three days" secret (that stuff is 99% traps), but about how to stay alive first, then make money.

**1. People who lose big share a common trait: they treat probability as fate**

I’ve seen too many people, after a lucky win, think they’ve cracked the code:

A certain altcoin rises 50%, they immediately leverage up and chase in, only for the project to run away, losing all principal;

In a bull market, they stubbornly hold, and when the market pulls back, they take 60% profit but then blame the market for "trickery";

Some even borrow money to go all-in, ending up in debt and mental breakdown.

The truth is: behind 90% of "get rich quick" stories in crypto, there’s a higher probability of liquidation. Those who truly survive share one thing—using rules to constrain emotions, using probability to beat gambling instincts.

**2. Trading bottom line: risk control always comes before technicals**

Here are my strict rules in my current trading framework:

Single-loss limit is 2% of total funds. In other words, if your account has 100,000, any single trade can lose at most 2,000. It sounds small, but with compound interest, it can keep you alive for a long time.

Full position is a no-go zone. No matter how confident, it’s not allowed. For example, with 100,000 capital, open at most a 20,000 position, with a stop-loss 3% below the cost price. Even if you lose 8 times in a row, your account only shrinks by 20%, far from liquidation.

Trade only main coins, treat small caps like lottery tickets. BTC and ETH have deep liquidity, so even if there’s a sudden spike, someone will buy. Coins with daily volume in the millions can swing 20% on a big order, making risk control impossible.

**3. Mindset management: treat the market as an opponent, not enemies**

The biggest misconception is imagining your trading counterpart as an opponent. In reality, there are no opponents in the market—only probabilities.

When you add to your position as BTC breaks support, you’re not fighting "the bears," but betting on a probability. Win, and you profit; lose, and you cut losses as planned. The key isn’t betting right or wrong, but following the same system every time.

My current feeling is: not making money in a month is normal; losing 10% in a month is acceptable; but losing more than 2% at once indicates a system problem. Adjusting your trading logic is 100 times more important than leverage.

Another detail: don’t watch floating positions. After opening a trade, set your stop-loss and take-profit, then do other things. Watching the screen all day only makes you add to losing positions when floating losses grow, or cut profits early when floating gains appear—these are counterproductive.

**4. From "want to get rich fast" to "want to survive"**

The biggest gain in these three years isn’t how much I made, but how my mindset changed.

When I first entered, I wanted quick doubles. Now I aim for a steady 20-30% annualized return. It sounds less sexy, but from a different perspective—30% annual compound over seven years turns tenfold, without risking all your assets.

Whether BTC is at 30k or 100k, my trading system remains the same: 2% risk per trade, focus on main coins, strict stop-loss. No matter how crazy the market gets, these rules stay unchanged.

In crypto, surviving is harder than making money. Those who disappear aren’t lacking opportunities—they lose control when opportunities come. So instead of chasing secret tricks, ask yourself: can you really cut losses as planned? Can you resist greed when floating profits? Can you go a whole year without looking at K-lines?

This is the survival rule.