Many people ask me, in the markets of cryptocurrencies, stocks, and futures, if they want to earn stable, genuine, long-term profits, where do they usually get stuck? My answer is usually two words: human nature.

On the surface, these markets require professional knowledge. In reality? The threshold is not that high. Technical indicators, candlestick patterns, risk management—these are essentially a combination of common sense and routines. Even those without much talent can systematically master these by spending about a year. So, the real challenge isn’t a technical problem.

What is the true enemy? It’s yourself. There’s a chasm between knowing and doing. Most people lose money not because they don’t understand, but because they can’t execute. Emotions, greed, fear—these can turn your trading plan into chaos at critical moments.

It is precisely for this reason that quantitative trading exists. Replacing human decision-making with computers, leveraging programs that have no emotions or greed, and executing rules mechanically—that’s the most fundamental and purest value of quant trading.

But this also raises a new issue—the quality of the quantitative tools themselves. If you just stack a few statistical indicators, tweak some parameters, and write a formula, you’re fooling yourself. Truly usable quant tools require scientific design and professional validation.

Moreover, tools are just tools. You might have a top-tier CNC machine, but if you don’t know how to operate it, it’s useless. Similarly, many people own quantitative trading tools, but few truly understand how to use them well. This requires a deep understanding of the market and practical experience. The threshold for quant trading is actually on the application side.