The tricks that cause retail accounts to blow up are actually all the same. It's not that the market is too fierce, but rather that you haven't thought through how much you can lose.

Some time ago, a trader started with 4,000 USD and managed to reach 57,000 USD in three months. It looks like a miracle, but when broken down, it's just two words: calculation.

First, calculate how much you can lose, then plan how much you can make. Reversing this order is basically just giving away money.

**How to Trade Short-Term Contracts**

Keep your positions light, and cut losses quickly. For a 10,000 USD ETH position, sell when it drops 3%, and take profits when it rises 6-8%. It sounds slow, but over two weeks, your account can steadily grow by 5,000 USD. See, with this approach, no one will lose sleep. Small profits accumulate into real gains.

**Mid-Term Spot Trading Rhythm**

During big swings, endure small fluctuations stubbornly. Place stop-losses at critical support levels—like previous lows or the 4-hour moving average 60—and exit immediately if broken.

Use layered take-profit strategies. When gains reach 35%, sell half, and trail the stop-loss upward for the remaining position. When an 8% pullback occurs, close all positions. No one sells at the absolute top, but locking in profits in the high zone already means you’ve won.

**Position Size Is Your Life**

Trading with a few thousand dollars and a 20% stop-loss won’t affect your sleep. Going all-in with tens of thousands, even a 1-2% fluctuation can make your heart race. Not setting a stop-loss and holding a heavy position? That’s like driving on the highway without brakes—an accident is just a matter of time.

Stop-loss isn’t a cost; it’s your protective charm. Take-profit isn’t greed; it’s the reward the market gives you.

Treat every trade as if it might be your last: think about how to cut losses first, then consider how to make money. The market will always come, but once your principal is gone, no matter how good the trend, it’s irrelevant to you. Whether this market can bring your account back depends entirely on your execution.