Honestly, those who can delve into this topic have probably experienced the madness of the crypto market. I certainly have. Over ten years ago, I jumped into the crypto world with 100,000 yuan; during the 2021 bull run, my account grew to two million. But I was too greedy, holding on without cutting losses, and in just three months, it shrank to 400,000. That feeling was like riding a roller coaster to the highest point and suddenly feeling weightless—exhilarating but truly frightening.

It wasn't until two years ago that I used the "trend rolling" strategy to bring my account back up to 1.8 million. Today, I want to talk about not some secret to get rich quickly, but the practical experience I've gained through real money over the years. Beginners can avoid many pitfalls, and those who have been playing for a few years might find some resonance.

**Tip 1: Don't Overleverage Before Trend Confirmation**

My biggest loss came from rushing into a bull market just because I was optimistic. During the Ethereum surge from $1800 to $2500 last year, I didn't blindly chase the high. Why? Because the trend hadn't been truly confirmed yet. I waited for it to stabilize above the key level of 2200, then observed the trading volume for three days before daring to try a double leverage trade on a small position. After earning 10%, I only used the unrealized profit to add to the position—so even if there was a correction later, I only lost the profit, not the principal.

Many beginners tend to get carried away here. There's an old saying in crypto: "The bull market is born in pessimism, grows amid doubt, and ends in madness." Chasing the rally and selling on dips is instinctive, but the real profit often goes to those who dare to think counter-cyclically. In 2018, when Bitcoin dropped to around $3,200, some people dared to buy the dip, and later watched it surge to $100,000; meanwhile, most FOMO’d in at the top and ended up holding the bag at the peak.

**Tip 2: Stop-Loss Is Not Weakness, It’s Survival**

I used to hate stop-losses, thinking they were a sign of giving up. It wasn't until I saw my account drop from two million to forty thousand in three months that I completely changed my view. Stop-losses are like safety lines in trading. Setting a stop-loss is like installing an airbag—using small losses to keep yourself alive longer. That trade-off is incredibly cost-effective.

My current rule is simple: risk no more than 3% of the account on a single trade. Once the preset stop-loss level is hit, you must exit—no bargaining. Even if you lose ten times in a row, your account will only shrink by less than 30%. You can then recover with subsequent gains. But if you stubbornly hold without stopping, a major correction can wipe out your entire position, and that’s never worth it.

**Tip 3: Holding Cash Is Also a Position**

From late 2023 to early 2024, the whole market was speculating whether Bitcoin would break its all-time high. I, on the other hand, mostly stayed in cash, doing one thing—waiting for clear signals. Was I anxious during that period? Honestly, yes. But when Bitcoin finally surged past $70,000, I entered easily from the low, nearly doubling my money.

Looking back, those who were afraid of missing out and kept full positions were repeatedly shaken out during the volatility. Holding cash isn’t a waste; it’s preparing for the next high-confidence opportunity. Sometimes, not trading is more profitable than trading.