In the world of crypto trading, I've been in the game for eight years and have seen too many people fall from heaven to hell because of a single wrong decision. Today, I want to open up and talk about those risk control details that are related to life and death but are often overlooked—especially the pitfalls that beginners are most likely to step into.

**Leverage isn't that scary; what's truly frightening is losing control of your position**

Many people get scared at the sight of 100x leverage, as if they've touched some monstrous beast. But I have to honestly tell you, leverage itself is not the culprit.

Think about it from another angle: if you have 10,000 USDT in your account and open a position with 100x leverage, but only invest 100 USDT. If the market moves 10% against you? Your loss is 100 USDT, which is only 1% of your total funds. In comparison, if you buy spot with 10,000 USDT without leverage and the price drops 10%, you lose 1,000 USDT. Which risk is greater? It's obvious.

Remember this formula: **Real risk = leverage multiple × position ratio**

Leverage is like a magnifying glass; it can amplify gains but also your judgment. When you keep your position size low enough, even high leverage can become a relatively safe tool. The problem isn't the leverage multiple itself but whether you control your position well and whether your mind is heated.

**Stop-loss isn't surrender; it's the art of survival**

Last year's big drop almost scared me half to death—almost 80% of liquidations happened after floating losses of more than 5%, with traders holding onto hope and refusing to stop-loss, only to be wiped out by a sudden market move.

In the futures market, a stop-loss order is your account's safety cushion. Not setting a stop-loss is like playing with fire. Many experienced traders say: **The moment you set a stop-loss, you truly take control of your trading**.

A practical approach is to set your stop-loss based on your risk tolerance. For example, if your risk per trade doesn't exceed 2% of your account, then you can calculate your position size based on entry price and stop-loss level. This way, each loss stays within your plan and won't damage your confidence after a single setback.

**Psychological resilience is more valuable than technical indicators**

I've seen many talented traders, after several consecutive losses, start to gamble by increasing their positions out of frustration. That's not trading; that's gambling with your account.

Either don't trade at all, or trade with discipline. Set your risk parameters and follow your plan. Don't let emotions hijack your fingers. Conversely, when you're making profits, also resist greed—don't think about turning a small win into a big comeback. Steady traders may not make quick gains, but they survive long enough to see the market change.

One last heartfelt message: **The highest level of futures trading isn't about how beautifully you win, but how long you can survive**. Those who can consistently extract profits from the market are often the most cautious and the most boring.