When talking about the history of trading, there is no more legendary figure than Takashi Kotegawa. A Japanese day trader who grew his funds from $13,600 to $153 million. What is the secret to his success? It wasn’t just luck—it was discipline and strategy, and above all, the ability to spot the right opportunities.

If there were a way to make $17 million in a single trade, what would you do? In fact, Takashi Kotegawa has already done exactly that. In 2005, the “J-Com incident” occurred in Japan’s stock market. A trader at Mizuho Securities made a fatal mistake by placing an order for 610,000 shares at 1 yen. The order was supposed to be for 610,000 yen per share. This simple error created an abnormal liquidity gap in the market—an opportunity to buy stocks at prices that were almost free. While many traders panicked, Takashi Kotegawa acted differently. He instantly understood the situation and bought together 7,100 shares at a low price. As the market corrected the mistake, prices surged. That same day, he secured a profit of $17 million.

This is the crystallization of knowledge and experience, as well as composure under pressure.

When you look at the crypto market, opportunities like these actually happen more often. Flash crashes, liquidity holes, and extreme volatility. Many traders get liquidated in panic, but those who keep their discipline can turn these moments into profits instead. What can you learn from Takashi Kotegawa?

First, mistakes are opportunities. If you’re prepared, even whale dumps and improper price-setting can all become sources of profit. In 2021, on a major exchange, Bitcoin briefly crashed to $8,200. On other markets, it was trading at $65,000. Some traders didn’t miss this 90% discount and snapped up large amounts of BTC.

Second, control your emotions. Fear and greed destroy traders. Takashi Kotegawa’s success came from not being swayed by panic. The crypto market is even more emotional: a massive crash can happen overnight, followed immediately by a surge. Calmness and strategic thinking are the only way to achieve big wins.

Third, take a long-term perspective. Takashi Kotegawa didn’t gamble. He studied patterns, understood risk, and made calculated decisions. The same holds true in crypto. Don’t just chase pumps—study the market deeply, spot trends early, and wait patiently. That’s what leads to true success.

In fact, moments like J-Com happen again and again in crypto. In NFTs, someone accidentally listed a Bored Ape NFT worth $300,000 for $3,000. The buyer got it immediately. During the Terra crash in 2022 (テラクラッシュ), there are even traders who bought LUNA for a few cents and made millions of dollars from a short-term rebound.

In the end, Takashi Kotegawa’s legend isn’t about luck—it’s about preparation and discipline. The next moment like J-Com can happen in the crypto market at any time. When it does, will you be ready? Have you ever found a “mistake trade” in crypto? If so, how did you respond? Let me know in the comments.