There's a saying I've pondered for a long time: true freedom is precisely hidden within those seemingly strict rules.

I still remember the night of my first liquidation. The numbers on the screen plummeted to zero, and that feeling is hard to describe—cold fingers, an empty mind, only one recurring thought: "This thing is way more ruthless than a casino." Over seven years, I've witnessed Bitcoin's crazy rise, and also tasted the despair of three liquidations and half a year's savings evaporating in an instant. During the toughest times, even eating instant noodles required careful planning.

But these lessons gradually made me see a fact: those who survive to the end in this market are not the ones who calculate the fastest or react the most swiftly. Instead, they are those who can hold their ground and are not blinded by greed.

**Why do most people ultimately become "prey" in the market?**

The nature of the crypto market has completely changed. It is no longer a "winner-takes-all" game of technical skills and information, but has become a "loser’s game" that tests mentality and discipline. It may sound contradictory, but the logic is clear: the outcome is not determined by how much you earn, but by how much you lose. Making fewer mistakes could mean surviving another cycle.

This circle is not short of dreamers. Every day, people rush in with fantasies of "getting rich overnight," imagining easily achieving financial freedom. But the market is like a ruthless teacher, teaching us the meaning of "reverence" at a painful cost every time. I have seen countless people—including myself—become enchanted by the illusion of "active trading." They think every candlestick is an opportunity, eager to make a trade every minute. The result? Their wallets grow lighter, and regrets multiply.

Exhausted trading is a particularly deadly trap. When the brain is tired, it automatically switches to "power-saving mode," and thinking shortcuts begin. These shortcuts often lead to extremely wrong decisions. I once stayed up late staring at charts, fooling myself into thinking it was "holding firm," but in reality, I was handing over decision-making power to a fatigued brain. Those decisions are like smart contracts riddled with bugs—destined to crash.

**Is it worth following the rules?**

Absolutely worth it. Very worth it.

A reliable trading discipline may seem like restraining yourself, but in fact, it’s protecting your principal. Stop-loss is not weakness, but rationality. Position management is not conservative, but responsible. Regular review is not a waste of time, but speaking with data.

The greatest role of rules is not to help you make more money, but to help you survive longer. In this market, surviving long is winning.

My current strategy is simple: control risk, reduce trading frequency, and believe in the power of compound interest. Sometimes I only trade three or five times a month, but each trade is well thought out. The result? Steady gains and a peaceful mind. Numbers will still fluctuate, but I am no longer driven by them.

**Final words**

The market will never apologize to anyone. It doesn’t owe you profits, nor does it owe you a chance to turn things around. The only way to survive here is to stay humble enough. Admit your knowledge is limited, acknowledge that black swan events can happen at any time, and accept that no one can predict perfectly.

This is the insight I’ve gained over seven years. I hope it can help you who are still lost.