The Art of Surviving in Crypto: A Testimony from Someone Who Still Remains

In the cryptocurrency market, the survivor until the end is rarely the smartest or the most accurate predictor of the market. Usually, it’s those who know how to use discipline to lock down their emotions, use rules to protect themselves from greed and fear. Crypto is not short of opportunities. What’s most lacking are people who are sober enough not to get “kicked out of the game.” Survival Is More Important Than Making Money A few months ago, an old friend came to me. His account once reached five digits, but after a series of consecutive losses, it was down to just over 3,000 USDT. The scary part isn’t the number, but how he traded at that time: rushing into trades, unconsciously holding onto losses, with a mindset no different from someone struggling in a whirlpool. He didn’t ask me which coin to buy. The only question was: “How do I avoid being eliminated from the market?” Three months later, his account was back to nearly 30,000 USDT. No 100x coins, no spectacular big wins. Everything happened slowly, even boring. But that “boring” aspect was a sign of a matured trader. Rules – The Antidote to Impulsiveness The first thing he did wasn’t to find a new strategy, but to split his funds. A small portion for short-term trading, limiting the number of entries, stopping when wrong. A portion only for trend trading; when the market is unclear,… keep the money still. The last part is a buffer capital, no trading, just to ensure account safety. When funds are clearly separated, emotions immediately cool down. You will trade very differently knowing that even in the worst-case scenario, you’re not “dead.” The next step is to simplify everything. No more stacking indicators, no hunting for complex signals. Just look at the trend and the price position. Enter a trade with a plan to exit. Take profits gradually, leaving the rest for the market to decide. Most importantly: he no longer tries to catch every wave. Only trade what he understands. No holding onto losses, no averaging down, no trying to prove he’s right. When the pace slows down, the capital grows steadily again. Crypto Is Not Gambling, But a Place to Cultivate Resilience I’ve never tried to predict whether the market will rise or fall tomorrow. That’s not my game. My principles are very simple: No clear structure: no entryMaximum leverage 2xNo coin should exceed 30% of total capital I used to believe that the more you trade, the more you earn. Reality taught me a costly lesson: high trading frequency is the silent killer of accounts. Every click involves trading fees, slippage, and the risk of mistakes. Long-term winners are not the fastest, but those who wait for the right moment with high probability. When Tired, You Are the Market’s “Cash Machine” Staying up all night looking at charts, eyes half-closed but still trying to analyze – that’s an extremely dangerous state. Decisions made then are even worse than flipping a coin. Now, before each trading session, I always ask myself: Am I sober enough? If coffee can’t fix the fatigue, I turn off the computer and go to sleep. A clear head is worth more than any strategy. Crypto runs 24/7, but you don’t have to. Set your trading time frame and step away from the screen when time’s up. The market will still be there, but life and health cannot be easily recovered. Risk Management – The Foundation of Survival Entering a trade may be an art, but exiting is the science of survival. Before each trade, I always ask three questions: How much capital to invest?Where to cut losses?Is the risk/reward ratio worth it? If I can’t answer these clearly, I don’t trade. Better to miss ten small opportunities than to bet once and lose everything. Especially leverage – the money grinder. Bitcoin’s 5% fluctuation is normal, but with high leverage, even that can wipe out an account. I’ve seen too many people using 10x, 20x, and “going to zero” after just one shake. In a Bull Market, Don’t Think You Are a God When the market is rising, everyone thinks they’re good. Every trade wins, predictions are spot-on. But many “winners” in a bull market are actually just being lifted by the market. Complacency is a dangerous sign. It leads to all-in, ignoring risks, and collapsing during a correction. After each winning trade, I always ask: Is this profit due to skill or just market support? Those who remain humble in a bull market are the ones who can survive the bear. Not Trading Is Also a Strategy Not every opportunity is for you. DeFi, NFT, Meme coins take turns rising, easily causing FOMO. But entering a field you don’t understand is no different from voluntarily paying tuition. My clear rule: If you can’t explain in one sentence why you’re entering a trade, it’s best to stay out. The market is always moving. Patience and waiting for your right stage is much smarter than chasing every trend. Conclusion My friend didn’t “transform” through advanced techniques, but through one simple thing: he learned how to survive. In this volatile market, surviving isn’t the starting point – it’s the goal of every step. Using rules to tame emotions, using discipline to face uncertainty, that’s the true art of survival in crypto. Remember: only those who can stay at the table have the right to talk about victory.