Over the years of trading, I've seen too many people fall into the same trap. Instead of chasing hot topics and making frequent moves, it's better to master a few hardcore rules. The following experiences from the real market may be more practical than reading 100 analysis articles.

**Rule 1: Don't Fully Invest with Low Capital**
If your initial funds are less than 100,000, the worst thing you can do is chase every rise and fall daily. Most of the time, the market is just a waste of time; truly doubling your investment opportunities are rare—about once or twice a year (such as halving cycles or when spot ETF approvals happen). A smart approach is to stay mostly in cash and hold an empty position, waiting for market panic or technical confirmation of a breakout before going all-in. During the BTC breakthrough past $30,000 in 2023, many people survived half a year's living expenses by following this idea.

**Rule 2: What Are You Really Practicing with Demo Trading?**
Don’t think demo trading is meaningless. Top traders use it to hone their mindset—not just to practice technical indicators, but to train emotional management. Spend three months executing discipline on the demo: cut losses at 5%, take profits in stages when gains exceed 20%. When you can do this without trembling or panic, then go live with real money. Otherwise, it’s common to see demo accounts multiply tenfold while real accounts blow up in a week—the real enemy is never the market, but human nature.

**Rule 3: Exit When Good News Is Announced**
The crypto scene is quite routine: quietly pushing the market before news is officially released, then dumping when the news hits. During the approval of spot ETFs in 2024, many people kept chasing the rise, only to be buried at the top. The rule is simple— the more explosive the good news, the higher the risk. Practical tip: if you haven't exited on the day of good news, you must cut 50% of your position the next day on a gap up—never cling to it.

**Rule 4: Stay in Cash Before Holidays for Safety**
Historical data shows that big sudden drops are more likely during long holidays. Whether it’s geopolitical emergencies or macroeconomic data releases, low liquidity during holidays amplifies risks. Instead of betting on stable markets, it’s better to withdraw early. This habit can help you avoid 90% of holiday black swans.

Essentially, successful traders never rely on market predictions but on risk management and emotional control. Small funds require patience—finding real opportunities and executing strict discipline is more effective than any complex technical indicator.