Many people treat trading cryptocurrencies as gambling, but I see it as a job, and that’s how I’ve truly lived up to today.

When I first entered the scene, I experienced all the nightmares common to beginners—staying up late watching charts, chasing gains and cutting losses, margin calls, insomnia—none of these were spared. It wasn’t until later that I realized trading crypto is never about passion or luck, but about execution and discipline.

Once I started treating it as a serious job—logging in on time, making plans, taking profits and closing positions—the entire trading logic changed. The pitfalls I’ve encountered over the years have been distilled into 6 key lessons.

**Timing is crucial**

During the day, news is everywhere, and the market can be chaotic. Now I mainly trade after 9 PM, because by then most market news has been digested, candlesticks are clearer, and the direction is more certain.

**Take profits immediately**

Not being greedy is easier said than done. When I make 1000U, I’ll withdraw 300U first, and keep trading with the rest. You’ll find that too many people "earn three times and want five times," only to give it all back in the last wave of pullback. Experienced traders always secure profits early.

**Let the data speak, don’t rely on feelings**

Trading based on intuition is the fastest way to get wiped out. I use TradingView to monitor three indicators: whether MACD has a golden or death cross, whether RSI is overbought or oversold, and whether Bollinger Bands are narrowing or breaking out. I only enter when at least two of these signals align. This approach relies on probability, not sixth sense.

**Follow profits with stop-loss adjustments**

When I can monitor the market, I raise my stop-loss as the price rises. For example, if I buy at 1000, and it goes up to 1100, I move my stop-loss to 1050. When I can’t watch the market, I set a hard stop-loss at 3% to prevent a sudden market move from wiping out my entire position.

**Withdraw profits systematically**

The numbers in your account aren’t real money until you transfer them to your bank card. Every time I make a profit, I withdraw 30%-50%, so I don’t keep everything hoping to multiply tenfold.

**Candlestick analysis requires skill**

For short-term trading, look at the 1-hour chart; two consecutive bullish candles can signal a buy. For range-bound trading, check the 4-hour chart and enter near support levels. Never chase impulsively on the minute chart—that’s just noise.

Consistent profit-making is never about talent; it’s about discipline. Treat crypto trading like a job—trade with a plan every day, review your trades regularly, and close on time. When you can trade as if going to work, financial freedom is not far away.