Doubling your profits doesn’t count as winning; the money only counts when it’s in your hands.

A couple of days ago at 3 a.m., an old friend in a trading group suddenly blew up the chat—he had just converted 800,000 USDT into fiat through OTC and deposited it into his bank account. Before he could even celebrate, two hours later his account directly showed “non-counter transaction suspended.” The balance was still in the account, but he couldn’t move a single cent. Even balance inquiries were locked.

A lot of people make money in a bull market, but even more stumble at the withdrawal stage.
Knowing how to trade is just the entry level; knowing how to land your funds safely is the real skill.

He said he stared at his mobile banking screen, stunned for nearly an hour. The account balance was clearly there, but he felt completely hollow inside. He’d spent countless sleepless nights earning that money, survived the market swings, only to get stuck at the “last mile.” That sense of defeat hurts even more than losing money.

Most people in the space just focus on K-line fluctuations, thinking that if they can withstand the volatility, they’re in the clear. What they don’t realize is there’s something worse than liquidation—getting your profits, but not being able to withdraw them. The root cause is “fund contamination”: some people buy USDT with illicit funds, and after multiple transfers, those tokens end up in your wallet. On the surface, it looks like a normal transaction, but if the original source explodes, every account along the chain can be frozen by association.

But don’t get too nervous—frozen doesn’t equal criminal. As long as you can provide OTC trade records, chat screenshots, and transfer receipts as evidence, 90% of accounts can be unfrozen. However, this process involves running to the bank, coordinating with the police, and can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. It’s time-consuming, stressful, and far less trouble to take precautions in advance.

Here are three practical tips:

1. Get a “dedicated card”: Use it exclusively for crypto-related transactions—never mix it with your payroll or daily spending cards; otherwise, if it gets frozen, you won’t even be able to pay your rent.

2. Screen your trading partners: Prioritize established merchants with high credit ratings and over a year of account history. Don’t risk everything for a slightly better rate from a newly registered account—the tiny savings aren’t worth the risk.

3. Pay attention to details: Split large sums into smaller batches, process transactions during daytime hours (bank risk controls are more transparent during the day), let the funds sit for 72 hours after arrival, and write “equipment payment” in the transfer notes.