Many people enter the crypto world full of expectations, but be mentally prepared—this is not a shortcut.

The crypto market is a 24/7 high-pressure arena. Prices fluctuate at any moment, and no one will give you a chance to pause and think. A single misjudgment could eliminate your account entirely. You will hear all kinds of stories about contracts, leverage, and hundredfold returns, but the reality for newcomers engaging with derivatives is often shockingly similar: zeroed out.

There are no daily price movement limits, which is the biggest difference between the crypto world and traditional markets. Even with just 5x leverage, a normal market fluctuation is enough to wipe out your entire principal. So the first rule is: don’t rush to make money, learn to survive first.

When you first enter, only trade spot assets, focusing on top cryptocurrencies like BTC and ETH. Those altcoins that sound like they can double in value are usually already at the price points where the whales are offloading. Don’t expect coins to pay dividends or generate cash flow like stocks—fundamentally, the price of a coin is entirely supported by subsequent buyers, which defines its essential nature.

Opportunities do exist, but risk always comes first. Most people are eliminated by the market before they even have a chance to profit. If you just want to experience it, use money you can afford to lose. The current market conditions are not suitable for heavy positions—weak market sentiment means blindly entering will only make you the next bagholder.

Remember this: the crypto market is a zero-sum game. Every profit you make comes from someone else’s loss. To stand firm here, don’t expect to get rich quickly; the key is not to lose everything. Those who truly survive have already won half the battle.