Everyone who has been in the crypto market for years understands one principle—survivors are never those who rely on sudden flashes of insight, but rather those who follow simple rules. I have interacted with all kinds of investors—technical analysis masters, industry insiders with good information, and aggressive gamblers. In the end, the accounts that hold real money are often those who seem the "dumbest"—they don't chase perfection, only survival.

Years of practical experience have taught me that the biggest killer in the crypto space isn't the market itself, but losing control of your mindset. During rapid surges, envy kicks in, and you chase the high; during sharp drops, panic sets in, and you rush to cut losses. In fact, market fluctuations follow familiar patterns: chasing after gains when prices rise, stubbornly holding during declines, and moving aimlessly during sideways trading. But these are all signals of ongoing account shrinkage. I've seen many people whose accounts once multiplied tenfold, only to lose everything in a single mental breakdown, even ending up in a loss.

**The First Lesson in Mindset Management: Calmness is the Most Valuable Asset**

When the market crashes, you can see a trader’s true level. Quality coins tend to be more resilient—this is often a sign that the big players are still supporting the market, indicating confidence in the future. Conversely, altcoins that follow the trend and get in late are often cut in half because no one is maintaining them. What do most retail investors do at this point? Seeing such a big drop, they immediately sell to cut losses, often hitting the bottom. Those with patience, however, remain calm in such moments, and ultimately become the biggest winners.

My approach may sound very simple: check my trading discipline list every night before bed. It may seem silly, but long-term adherence makes calmness an instinct rather than a rational struggle. For example, "cut losses if a single trade loses more than 5%"—no matter how tempting the rebound looks, this rule must be followed. Also, "after two consecutive losses, close all positions for two hours to cool down." These seemingly rigid rules are actually lifesavers during extreme market conditions.

**Capital Management: Playing with Less**

Many beginners think that since their capital isn't much, they might as well go all-in and try their luck. But the less capital you have, the more you need to understand the importance of "leaving room." I’ve summarized a few principles:

First, never fully deploy your entire capital. Keep about 30% in cash, which can be used to add positions at critical moments or to handle unexpected black swan events. It may seem like sacrificing potential gains, but in reality, that 30% cash is often the key to turning the tide.

Second, catching one or two major market moves per year is enough. Instead of frequent trading that incurs high fees and slippage, focus on identifying key phases like the main upward wave of a bull market—when volume expands, then pulls back without breaking support. Mastering a core market trend is more valuable than frequent entries and exits throughout the year.

Third, stop-losses must be decisive. If the market direction is wrong, cut losses unconditionally at 5%. No more fantasies about recovering losses. This is the bottom line for protecting your principal. Many people turn small losses into big ones because they can't bear to cut at 5%, ultimately suffering ten times the damage.

**On Choosing Coins: Better to Be Selective Than Hasty**

Don’t try to buy every coin. Recently, privacy coins and related ecosystems have generally risen, but not all projects are worth participating in. The logic for choosing coins is simple: look at fundamentals, community consensus, and market liquidity. Some small coins have shallow trading depth, making them easy for big players to dump, and retail investors are often left holding the bag. My habit is to select those listed on major exchanges with relatively stable daily trading volume. It’s better to earn less than to fall into illiquidity traps.

**Final Words**

The crypto market tests not how smart or "online" you are, but whether you can keep playing by simple rules. Look at those who grow small accounts into large ones—they don’t use complicated methods—strict capital management, disciplined risk control, and maintaining a calm mindset. It may sound dull, but it’s these boring details that ultimately become the lifeline of your account.