Many people have told me the same line: "Bottom-fishing changes your fate." I used to believe it too. That year, I relied on this idea and forcefully drained my principal from having it to almost nothing, experiencing firsthand what despair truly means overnight.

It took me a long time to climb out of that pit. In the end, what saved me wasn't some influencer's trading signals or a big V's stock recommendations, but a few bottom lines taught by real losses.

**First: Only bet where you understand**

My biggest flaw is "fear of missing out." Seeing others make money makes me envious, afraid of missing any market move, which results in chasing into coins I can't even understand clearly. There are indeed many market opportunities, but my account capital is only one. Now I’ve developed a habit: only trade at key levels I’ve marked in advance; at other times, no matter how crazy the market gets, I sit still. Protecting my own capacity boundary is much more valuable than chasing every wave.

**Second: Calculate your loss limit before trading**

Most people think about "how much I can make" when opening a position. I now reverse that—my first question is "how much can I lose at most." Every trade must have a clear stop-loss level. This isn’t pessimism; it’s a prerequisite for survival. Use proper position management to armor yourself so you can steadily pass through bear markets and see the dawn of the next trend.

**Third: Take profits in stages**

Mainstream coins like ETH and SOL do make your heart race when they rise. My approach is to let my core positions trend, but whenever I hit key resistance levels or round numbers, I take some profits. The benefit of this is that I won’t miss big moves, and I always keep chips on hand to respond to pullbacks. Never place all your hopes on a single direction.

**Fourth: Freeze your hands without a clear signal**

Emotion is the most expensive cost in trading. I’ve made a checklist for myself, writing down the conditions under which I can enter—if they’re not met, I do nothing. No matter how much market noise there is, it can’t influence me because my rules are as clear as engraved on paper.

It’s these seemingly ordinary rules that have gradually transformed me from a gambler swayed by price swings and gut feelings into a calm person who executes plans methodically.

I only deal with real accounts, don’t boast about sky-high returns, and don’t paint unrealistic blueprints. What I share are the practical insights for surviving and lasting long in this market.