Tonight, a fan asked me, "Just 500 bucks, can I go all-in on a certain altcoin and turn things around?" I didn't answer, just stared at the screen and shook my head.

This isn't investing; it's gambling. And it's the kind of gambling where you’re red-eyed, betting your last chips.

Having been in the crypto world for years, I’ve gone through several full cycles of bull and bear markets, and I’ve seen too many stories of "all-in" bets. Last year, a new trader used all his savings to chase a meme coin, getting liquidated three times within 24 hours. Just last week, I heard about someone who set their stop-loss wrong and watched 5,000 yuan shrink to 300.

What do they have in common? They all rely on a single gamble to change their lives.

**Playing with small money and big money is completely different**

$500 is not chips at a gambling table; it’s a seed to survive the bear market. You have to be more ruthless than the wealthy.

My first rule is to divide your positions. And it must be more meticulous:

Use $150 as "scouting funds." Before buying, monitor the market for at least three days, confirm that the support level is solid before acting. Don’t pounce like a hungry wolf seeing meat.

Use $250 as the "main force." Only enter in batches when the correction exceeds 15% and there are volume rebound signals. Chase buying on a rally? Never.

The remaining $100 is locked in a cold wallet. This is "reboot capital." It’s okay if the previous money is all lost; at least you have a backup. I’ve seen too many people with no escape route because greed has used up all their bullets.

**8% profit-taking isn’t about lack of vision; it’s about survival**

Some newbies mock, "Only 8% profit is too weak," but when the market reverses, it drops from the high point, and it’s too late to cry.

My rule is straightforward: when you make an 8% profit, sell half immediately and transfer the money to a cold wallet. This is called "taking profits and securing gains." True profit is the money you’ve already moved to a safe place.