Five Years in Crypto: Losing More Than Winning – Six Survival Rules I Turned Into Millions

Crypto is not a race to see who makes money faster, but a game to see who survives longer. One recent evening, I received a message from a long-time follower. The short message was heavy with meaning: “Hey, I’ve been in the crypto market for three years, why do I always make less than I lose?” I read it and remained silent for quite a while. That feeling, I am all too familiar with. It’s not because you are incompetent, but because this market is truly ruthless. The falls you experience, I have gone through them all – and the cost is real money, a lot of money. The first time I truly “survived” in crypto was not when the market was at its best, but after being beaten down so much that I lost all confidence. There was a period when I held 20,000 USDT, and I sold immediately after a 5% profit, only to watch the price continue to rise another 30–40%. That feeling was like being betrayed by myself. Later, I understood: in crypto, winning or losing isn’t about how aggressively you attack, but about how well you defend. Here are six survival principles I’ve distilled from costly lessons, hoping to help you avoid unnecessary detours. Principle 1: Abandon “Insider Tips,” Focus on Real Value I used to be addicted to “hot tips.” One group said coins were about to skyrocket, another claimed a project had big backing, and I would jump in immediately. The result was always familiar: before catching the wave, the price reversed, the more I held, the more I lost, and after cutting losses, it would rebound. The harsh truth is: most “insider tips” small investors hear are bait to lure others out. I completely changed my approach. Instead of chasing rumors, I only focus on key coins, projects that have gone through severe downturns, with ecosystems and real cash flow. I don’t try to pick the bottom, nor do I catch the bottom. I just wait for the market to stabilize. This strategy may seem slow and “stupid,” but it gives me the most valuable thing: stability and peace of mind. Principle 2: Small Fluctuations Do Not React, Major Risks Require Withdrawal Overtrading is a fatal disease for many in crypto, and I used to be a severe case. Seeing small price movements, I wanted to enter orders, but ended up missing big trends. Crypto is a momentum market. Our job isn’t to react to every small wave, but to ride the big wave and avoid being drowned. I set a simple rule for myself: Small fluctuations: do nothingSystemic risk signals: reduce positions immediately Thanks to this rule, I have preserved capital multiple times during bad market phases. Opportunities in crypto are always there, but capital doesn’t always come back. Principle 3: Position Management Is the Lifeline Many people only ask “which coin to buy,” but never ask “how much to buy.” In reality, the biggest mistake often comes from mismanaging trading volume. I used to predict trends correctly, pick the right coins, but because I entered too large, a single mistake could cause heavy losses. Later, I realized that managing positions is not just a technique, but a matter of survival discipline. My current principles are: Never go all-inMaximum total position around 50% of assetsRisk per trade only a small part of the account Especially with leverage trading, I am extremely cautious. There’s a saying in crypto: newcomers die from FOMO, veterans die from bottom-fishing, experts die from leverage. If you lack experience and mental resilience, it’s best to stay away. Principle 4: Let Profits Run, Cut Losses Quickly In the past, I often sold strong coins to buy weak ones, hoping to “average down.” The result was almost always wrong. The right strategy is to let good investments continue to grow and quickly cut poor ones. In the past, I was afraid of losses, so I held onto declining coins, and sold early on rising coins to lock in gains. The result was little profit and heavy losses. Now I do the opposite: be patient with strong coins, cut weak ones fast. My long-term goal is very clear: accumulate core assets. Altcoins are just tools for profit, not places to place long-term trust. Principle 5: Sell During Market Euphoria, Lock in Profits In the previous cycle, I lost a lot of profits because I kept stablecoins on the exchange and kept trading without pause. That’s a form of trading addiction. Now I have a clear rule: when the market is booming, always lock in some profits. Convert to cash, or move to cold storage to avoid impulsive re-investment. Many people make money in bull markets but give it all back when the market turns. The simple reason: they never truly lock in profits. Principle 6: Emotional Management Is the Key Condition Finally, and most importantly: emotions are the number one enemy of investors. In highly volatile markets like crypto, emotional control is not a secondary skill, but a prerequisite for survival. Many skilled technical analysts rarely make sustainable profits. The difference lies in psychology and discipline. Whenever I suffer heavy losses, I am ready to leave the market for a while, stop trading, just observe and reflect. When I return, my trades are fewer but more effective. The further you stay away from greed and fear, the more chances you have to survive. Conclusion Eight years in crypto, I have not survived thanks to sophisticated indicators or insider information, but thanks to these very simple principles. If you are trading with anxiety, constantly entering orders without understanding why, perhaps the problem isn’t the market, but your approach. In crypto, the winner is not the smartest, but the one who stays until the end. You don’t need to be right every time, just be alert enough to continue after each mistake. Learning and discipline are your greatest assets in this market.