How many people enter the crypto world full of hope, only to be slapped hard by reality?

I am a living example of this in Guangzhou over the years. As a post-90s small investor, I have experienced moments of despair—liquidation, being wiped out, and having my principal swept away. In the first four years, an account with 50,000 US dollars was swallowed by a black hole and went straight to zero. During that time, I couldn’t even pay rent, and my life was falling apart.

The most ironic thing is that one day, after getting completely drunk and unconscious, I avoided a cliff-like drop like 3·12. That day, the market was a battlefield—some people went to zero overnight, while others saw their wealth explode, and I could only struggle in the mud.

The crypto world is never short of legends. Stories of turning a few thousand into millions are everywhere, but I don’t have that kind of luck. I can only keep reviewing and refining my mindset until it becomes as tough as steel. After ten years, my account finally reached eight figures.

Others say I “caught the wave,” but behind it all is a fundamental logic—**rules are always more valuable than passion**.

These "hardcore rules" have saved me countless times:

**1. Rapid rises are mostly false signals**
The more aggressive the rise, the more cautious you should be—it's often a test by the big players. The real top is hidden in that long, fierce bearish candle, not during the shining moments.

**2. Rapid drops don’t mean the bottom**
A slow rebound after a flash crash is usually a bait. The big players are painting a big picture, luring more people in to step on the trap.

**3. High volume at high levels is not the most dangerous**
What’s truly deadly is shrinking volume at high levels. When trading volume diminishes during sideways movement, that’s the eerie calm before the storm.

**4. A single bullish candle at the bottom is not enough**
A true trend reversal requires continuous volume. Too many people fall into the trap of “thinking it’s taking off after just one bullish candle.”

The crypto world is never short of hardworking people. What’s truly scarce are those who have the right direction, accurate rhythm, and steady hands. The market is always there, but if your mindset falters or your rhythm is off, even standing at the wind’s crest can send you off a cliff.

Those who survive are not the fastest runners, but the most steady walkers. Turning things around never relies on a reckless gamble; it’s about iron discipline that carries you through to the end.