Having been in this market for so many years, my biggest comfort is not how much I’ve made, but that I was able to crawl back alive after almost being wiped out by the market.

That last bull run two years ago was truly miserable. My account was halved and halved again from its peak, leaving only a tiny fraction. I will never forget the days of insomnia lasting half a month—I would wake up and instinctively reach for my phone to check the charts, afraid of missing any rebound opportunities.

It wasn’t until I nearly hit rock bottom that I realized: the problem wasn’t about working hard or not, but about constantly fighting the market in a way that defies human nature.

Most retail investors share the same common mistake. When prices fall, they stubbornly hold on, thinking "it will come back if I wait a bit longer"; when prices rise slightly, they panic and rush to sell, fearing their profits will evaporate. But the market isn’t so forgiving. The real rule is the opposite—when the trend is favorable, hold on confidently and let profits run; when breaking support, admit defeat and cut losses. This one contrarian move can save your life in the crypto world—not get rich quickly, but avoid being swept away by the market.

There’s also a critically overlooked detail: volume. That’s the market’s breathing. Understanding it can help you avoid half the pitfalls. Coins with decreasing volume and slow upward movement often still have potential; if the price breaks a key level and then consolidates on low volume, that’s often your second chance to correct your position. Conversely, beware of rising volume without price increase—huge spikes that look exciting often lead to sideways movement and further cuts.

I’ve also made many mistakes with position management. In the early days, I thought holding more assets could diversify risk, but I later realized: the more assets you hold, the more chaotic your mindset becomes, and the more likely you are to make reckless moves. Two or three high-quality assets are enough. The problem isn’t the market—it’s always yourself.

There’s also a skill to short-term trading. After a sharp decline, there’s often a rebound, but the next day after a strong rally near the close is likely to see a pullback. More importantly, after making a big profit, you must go to zero and rest—markets love to harvest your gains right when you think you’ve "figured it out," using overconfidence to take you out.

Don’t fight the market when you’re losing. Wait until your emotions settle and your rhythm clears before acting. The market is never short of opportunities. Once, I drifted helplessly through the waves of the crypto world; now, this ship is steady in my hands.