Having navigated this circle for years, the one thing I want to be honest about is: two years ago, I almost lost all my savings. My account dropped from its peak to less than half, and I was insomnia-ridden during that period.

The turning point came slowly, but it did arrive. Gradually, I discovered some patterns in market operation. While I can't say I always make profits, at least I make fewer mistakes now.

The most painful observation is the common flaw among retail investors: during a market decline, they hesitate to sell, always hoping to turn it around; when prices rise slightly, they immediately sell, fearing the profits will fly away. In essence, this is contrarian trading. The correct approach is the opposite: during good times, hold confidently; when hitting key support levels, be brave enough to cut losses. Just by doing this—letting profits run longer and cutting losses promptly—you can avoid many disasters.

Looking at "volume," it’s like the market’s pulse. When volume shrinks but prices continue to rise, there’s usually room to go higher; after breaking support levels and volume diminishes, it’s often a sign of consolidation, giving you a second chance to enter. Position management is also crucial—never be greedy and pile into too many assets; spreading your money out can lead to a chaotic mindset. Holding two or three positions is enough; those who can’t control their hands risk the most.

Short-term fluctuations also follow certain patterns. Sharp declines are often accompanied by rebounds, which you need to learn to recognize; strong pushes near closing time often turn into traps the next day. To summarize these patterns: volume-driven upward moves indicate stability; stagnation on high volume warns of a top; after a surge in volume and price, a correction or consolidation usually follows.

The market is more rhythmic than you think. Direction always comes first; predictions are secondary—just follow the trend. For short-term trades, refer to short-term moving averages; for medium to long-term, watch the mid-term moving averages. If prices break below, don’t force it. Active and popular coins, even after a dip, aren’t necessarily finished—if the heat remains, they often bounce back. The truly worthwhile opportunities are those with high odds and high success rates.

A particularly critical detail: after making a profit, you must force yourself to go completely flat and rest. The market’s best trap is the inflated mindset you get when you just made money. When losing, don’t fight hard—panic makes things worse. Wait until the atmosphere improves before re-entering; it’s never too late.

Ultimately, trading crypto isn’t about speed or cleverness; it’s about discipline and patience. Patience to follow the rules, patience to wait for opportunities, patience to resist acting impulsively. There will always be opportunities—whether in a bull or bear market—to find ways to profit. The real bottleneck is whether you can control your desires and fears.

After years of exploration, I finally understand: the true opponent in crypto trading isn’t the market trend, but your own human nature.