After years of mixing in the crypto world, the question I get asked the most is always: "How can I turn 10,000 into a million?"

In the past, I would politely smile and brush it off. Now, I don’t even bother with pleasantries—very few people make it by relying on talent, and those with extraordinary intuition are rare. What really makes the difference is whether you know how to survive until the next bull market.

Six years ago, I had just over 10,000 in hand and got completely wrecked in this market, over and over again. Back then, I naively thought trading was all about staring at candlestick charts and chasing every so-called "opportunity." Later, I gradually realized: real profits come from staying out, getting rich is about enduring, and turning things around depends on patiently waiting for those few key moments.

What truly transformed my account was understanding this: the market doesn’t knock on your door every day. The moments that can really change your destiny are always just a few decisive ones.

There’s one time I remember especially well. I went short-term and caught a major positive news event. The coin price soared that night, but I didn’t rush to sell, thinking it would go even higher the next day. The market did open higher, but my first reaction wasn’t to get greedy and add positions—instead, I closed out and exited immediately.

Why? Because I finally understood a truth: the moment good news is realized is often the local peak. You think the top is far away? In reality, it's hidden in those few seconds you hesitate.

What really traps you is never the market itself, but that little bit of wishful thinking in your mind.

After that, my trading style changed completely: I refuse to gamble on direction before long holidays, clear my positions and watch from the sidelines before major announcements, and take a break when the market trend is unclear. I only go all in when the trend is clear and explosive.

Some people laugh at me for being timid and missing opportunities, but only I know that this so-called "cautiousness" is exactly what allowed me to be fully prepared at the start of every major cycle.

Now, let’s talk about the most critical mindset issue.

The most surreal thing about this space is: when people make money, they get overconfident; when they lose, they panic. If you can’t keep both extremes under control, you’ll never escape the retail trader’s vicious cycle.

I’ve seen too many friends with small starting capital feel like trading geniuses after three days of gains, then act as if the world is ending after two days of losses. But look at the real pros—ups and downs are just numbers to them. Keep your mindset steady, and your account will follow.

You ask me if there’s a secret to turning 10,000 into a million? There is, but it’s definitely not some technical indicator formula or magical trading system. The real secret is: can you actively stay in cash, patiently wait, strictly follow your rules, and not let daily price swings lead you by the nose?

Markets never wait for anyone, but real opportunities always belong to those who know how to wait and control their pace. I’ve basically stepped on every landmine for those who come after me. If you want to get a foothold in this cycle and avoid detours, then settle down and learn slowly.