The Iron Rules of Survival in the Crypto World: Simplicity Is the Ultimate Sophistication, Focus on Core Logic in Trading
I am Crypto Commander. Having navigated the crypto space for eight years, I have experienced the terrifying moment when LUNA went to zero, witnessed the frenzy after Bitcoin ETF approval, and seen too many newcomers lose everything by greedily chasing highs or panicking and cutting losses. In fact, the logic of making money in crypto is never about stacking complex indicators, but about adhering to the principle of “Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication”—selling BTC high and buying low, supporting ETH positions, quick entry and exit in altcoins, plus the iron rule of “only trading the leading coins and not opening new positions at the close,” which is enough to help you stand firm in the ever-changing market.
First, let’s talk about BTC, the “Anchor” of the crypto market. It’s never about making wealth through a single day’s surge, but about repeatedly creating opportunities to sell high and buy low amid volatility. The 24/7 nature of crypto trading makes Bitcoin’s fluctuations more predictable. During sideways markets, the Bollinger Bands indicator is the most practical navigation tool: when the middle band flattens and the upper and lower bands converge, the price repeatedly bouncing off the bands is highly probable. Buying at the lower band when long lower shadows or bullish patterns like Morning Stars appear, and selling at the upper band when long upper shadows or bearish signals like Dark Clouds Cover show up, with stop-loss set outside recent highs and lows, controlling single trade losses to 1%-2% of total capital, makes profits accumulate far more reliably than betting on a single directional move. Many think that high selling and low buying easily lead to “missing out,” but in reality, Bitcoin’s trend never happens overnight. The repeated “testing key levels – confirming pullbacks – breaking through again” pattern in 2025 is a gift to patient traders. Remember, the core of BTC trading is “not greedy, not fighting,” capturing 60% of the oscillation range already beats 90% of investors.
Next, ETH, the second-largest mainstream coin, never trades on blind follow-the-leader logic but on “support level positioning and riding the consensus wave.” On-chain data already reveals the answer: $2700 is the current consensus support zone for ETH, where 17.9 million ETH are accumulated, accounting for 22.6% of the total circulating supply, and it’s also a key area for whale accumulation—these “smart funds” holding over 100,000 ETH increase their holdings at $1500 and reduce at $3500. Now, they are again deploying near $2700, which proves the support is effective. ETH’s positioning technique is “not entering early, not chasing breakouts”: when the price retraces to key support levels (like $2700 or $3000) and shows signs of declining volume and RSI oversold turning, build positions gradually; if support is broken, cut losses immediately to avoid falling into a vacuum of no anchor points. The trend of “de-retailization” in ETH in 2025 is clear—whales continue to absorb selling pressure, making support more robust, but volatility may also increase. When positioning, strict risk control and waiting for clear stabilization signals are essential—better to miss a trade than to make a mistake.
The greatest test of human nature is in altcoins. My principle is just eight words: “Quick in, quick out; only do the leaders.” Countless lessons prove that 90% of altcoins will eventually go to zero, especially those without technological support or ecological vitality—air coins. When whales pump, the crash is often brutal. The 2026 altcoin market offers opportunities only to projects with solid logic: Solana, with its high-performance ecosystem, becomes a core capital allocation, Cardano gains favor with institutions for its stable technology, and Sui, with its innovative model, captures the mobile sector. These leaders can see 3-5 times the gains of ordinary altcoins in a bull market and are more resilient during corrections. The core of trading altcoins is “not fighting, not fantasizing”: set clear take-profit targets (usually 15%-30%) after buying, take profits immediately, and never chase highs greedily; if the price drops 5% below the entry point, cut losses decisively to avoid being trapped. Remember, profits from altcoins come from “quick gains and small wins,” trying to hold long-term for doubling often turns into floating profits or deep losses, even total loss.
The last two iron rules are lessons I learned with real money: “No new positions at the close, avoid overnight risk.” The deep night from 2:00 to 5:00 is a liquidity trough and a high-risk period for flash crashes and waterfalls. Often, seemingly stable daytime markets can plunge due to overseas news or algorithmic trading. Some followers ignored advice and opened large positions in altcoins at 11 PM, only to be forced liquidated in the early morning, losing 80% overnight. My habit is to stop opening new positions after 9 PM, and by 11 PM, reduce holdings to within 15% of total assets; if overnight holding is necessary, enable isolated margin mode + dynamic stop-loss, set an 85% margin warning, or hedge with out-of-the-money put options. The danger of overnight risk is “not being able to respond in time.” The primary rule for survival in crypto is to preserve capital—giving up uncertain opportunities at the close allows you to stay in the game for the next day.
In my eight-year trading career, I’ve seen many lose money due to complex operations, and I’ve also witnessed investors who stick to simple logic steadily profit. Crypto is never about who has more complicated indicators, but about who can stick to discipline and control human nature. BTC profits come from trend riding, ETH from support and consensus, altcoins from volatility, and “only trading the leaders and not opening positions at the close” from safety.
Trading is fundamentally a game of probabilities. There’s no 100% winning strategy, but following these simple iron rules can maximize your chances of profit. The market is never short of opportunities; what’s lacking is the discipline to stay true to your principles. Remember: making money in crypto is not hard; the challenge is staying clear-headed amid temptations and remaining rational in panic. Stick to the principle of simplicity and execute strict discipline, and you will be the final survivor and winner in this life-and-death game. #GateCEO2025年终公开信