For those of you with less than $1,000 in principal, don’t rush in just yet—let me share some heartfelt advice:

The crypto market isn’t a casino; survival depends on discipline.

I once knew a beginner who started with $800. In two months, he grew it to $18,000, and now his account is nearing $30,000—all without a single liquidation. Think it’s pure luck? Absolutely not. He followed these three “money-making survival rules,” which are also the core principles that have allowed me to grow from $5,000 and still sleep soundly at night:

**Rule 1: Split your funds into three parts—going all-in is suicide**
• Use $300 for short-term trades: Focus solely on BTC and ETH, aim for small swings to earn 3-5%, then stop—don’t get greedy.
• Another $300 for mid-term trades: Wait for major events (like ETF approval or a Fed policy shift), hold your position for 3-5 days after entering, prioritize stability over speed.
• Keep the last $200 as insurance: No matter how crazy the market gets, never touch this money! This is your safety net to bounce back if things go south.
Too many people go all-in with a few hundred bucks—if it rises, they get cocky; if it drops, they panic. Remember: Staying alive gives you a chance to recover. Preserving capital is more important than anything else.

**Rule 2: Go for big wins, don’t chase crumbs**
90% of the time, the market is just grinding sideways. Frequent trading just means paying fees to the platform!
If there’s no clear trend, stay put—watching a show is better than making random moves. Only enter when the trend is obvious (like BTC holding a key support or ETH breaking a previous high). When your profit reaches 15% of your principal, withdraw half immediately—money in your pocket is real profit; account numbers are just numbers!
Those who really make money know: “Stay dormant most of the time; when the opportunity comes, take a bite and get out.”

**Rule 3: Follow your rules—don’t let emotions control you**
• Set your stop loss at 1.5%. If triggered, cut the loss—never hope for a rebound.
• When profit exceeds 3%, cut half your position and let the rest run.
• Never average down on losses. The more you add, the deeper you’re stuck and the more you panic!
You don’t have to be right every time, but you must execute correctly every time. The essence of making money: Control your trading with rules—don’t let impulse ruin your account.

Honestly, having a small principal isn’t scary; what’s scary is always hoping for a “big win to recover everything.” Turning $800 into $30,000 isn’t about luck—it’s about not being greedy, not panicking, and sticking to discipline.

If you’re still losing sleep over small swings of a few dozen dollars, unsure how to allocate funds, wait for the right trend, or set stop losses—mastering these basics will save you at least two years of trial and error compared to blindly stumbling around.