Having navigated the crypto world for these years, I’ve turned all the pitfalls and losses into a set of trading philosophies. These 16 pieces of experience are all lessons learned through blood and tears. Use them well, and your ability to make money in this market will be significantly improved.

Cycle rotation is the underlying logic of the crypto market. During a bull market, altcoins often experience the most crazy gains; in a bear market, you should honestly accumulate $BTC. Getting the rhythm wrong will lead to the biggest hardships in the end. The volume at the bottom is a signal worth watching closely—it’s often the night before a start—don’t wait until the price soars to regret it.

In an uptrend, every pullback to a key moving average is a potential entry point. The key is patience—don’t be driven by FOMO to chase highs. Greed is the biggest enemy in trading. Don’t think frequent trading will make more money; catching three or four major trends a year is enough. The rest of the time, learn to wait. Never hold a full position; leave some room for flexibility. The market’s greatest lesson is teaching those who think they’re smart.

Regarding stop-losses, this is an area many people tend to overlook. Averaging down on a coin that’s losing money will only sink you deeper. Stop-loss in time sounds simple, but executing it requires huge psychological strength. News can be referenced, but don’t go all-in. Bad news hits immediately—this has been proven countless times in the crypto world. For unfamiliar coins, no matter how tempting, avoid them—focus on opportunities within your circle of competence. That’s the most reliable way to make money.

Emotional management is more important than technical analysis. When the market is panicking, stay calm; when it’s crazy, stay clear-headed. Altcoins may rise a lot and then fall, but falling doesn’t necessarily mean they will rise again. Blindly bottom-fishing often comes with the highest costs. Here’s a contrarian indicator: when most people are optimistic about a coin, that’s often when the risk is greatest.

Learning to hold a vacant position is a skill. When you don’t understand something, just wait—waiting itself is the best strategy. Hot topics come and go quickly; by the time you jump on the bandwagon, it’s often already the end. Consistency in your trading system is more valuable than chasing huge profits. Build your own system and follow it strictly. Stable returns will gradually grow into substantial wealth.

This market is not short of opportunities; what’s missing is the ability to stay until the moment they arrive. Investing is a marathon, and mindset determines how far you can go. Invest only with idle funds—if your mindset is good, your win rate will naturally increase. First, avoid losing money; then figure out how to make money. The core of these 16 pieces of experience boils down to one sentence: live long enough to have a chance to win.