After wandering in this market for a long time, you'll notice a rather counterintuitive phenomenon: those who truly survive are often not the ones who make the fastest profits, but those who quietly extend their timeline with "clumsy methods."
I've been in the crypto space for 8 years. Post-90s, from Hunan, now settled in Zhejiang. No insider information, no shortcuts—luck isn't really applicable to me either. The only thing I've done right is staying at the table and not being cleared out by the market.
Over these 8 years, many people have come and gone. During bull markets, it’s incredibly lively; when it turns bearish, many accounts go silent. Only later did I realize: whether you can stay is not really about predicting the market correctly, but hinges on two things—whether you can understand what the funds are doing, and whether you can control your emotions.
Below are six survival rules I have repeatedly validated over nearly 3,000 trading days.
**Rule 1: A quick rise followed by a slow pullback is usually not the top**
A sudden surge then gradual correction is mostly a shakeout for distribution, not the end of the trend. Don’t be scared.
**Rule 2: A sharp decline followed by a gentle rebound is often not an opportunity**
A sluggish rebound after a flash crash is more about market sentiment repairing itself, not a true trend reversal. The mindset of "it’s fallen so much, it should rebound" can easily trap you.
**Rule 3: High-volume at high prices is not scary; low volume is what to watch out for**
If there are still trades at high levels, it indicates the battle between bulls and bears continues. Be especially cautious when volume suddenly drops at high prices and enthusiasm vanishes.
**Rule 4: A single large bullish candle with high volume does not necessarily mean a bottom**
A real bottom is forged over time, not hammered out by one or two candles. Only sustained increasing volume indicates genuine institutional entry.
**Rule 5: Price is the result; volume reveals the truth**
Candlestick charts tell you "what happened," but volume tells you "why it happened." Both must be considered together to understand the true intentions of funds.
**Rule 6: Being able to hold a position in cash is a skill in itself**
Resisting the urge to chase highs is discipline; not panicking and selling is confidence. When you let go of obsession with the market and avoid FOMO, trading can truly create value for you.
Over the years, I’ve become increasingly convinced of one fact: the crypto market never rewards the smartest people, only those who survive long enough.
I’ve walked this path, fallen into traps, too. Some detours could have been avoided, but that depends on your choices. The market is always here, opportunities are always present. The key is whether you can keep your composure and persist at this table.
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PanicSeller
· 11h ago
Eight years, watching the entry and exit of retail investors. To be honest, just living like this is winning.
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Holding a vacant position is really a skill; I didn't believe it before.
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The rapid surge followed by a slow decline hit me hard. How many times have I been shaken out by a washout?
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Volume is the real truth. I need to engrain this in my mind.
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Not being kidnapped by FOMO is harder than any technical analysis.
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Living a long life is the key, I agree. But who can really endure a full cycle?
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The most terrifying moment is when volume shrinks at a high level; that's often when the price starts to fall.
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Controlling emotions is something I always fail at. I know it, but I just can't do it.
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RunWhenCut
· 16h ago
8 years without being cleared, this is truly a skill
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The ability to stay out of the market is excellent; most people simply can't do it
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I have deep experience with this in terms of trading volume; how many times have I been fooled by candlestick charts
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A quick surge followed by a slow decline is not a top; I need to remember this
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Controlling emotions is a hundred times harder than understanding the market trends, really
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Living long = making money, that hits hard
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The clumsy methods eventually become the smart people's strategies
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MevHunter
· 16h ago
Having not been cleared out for 8 years, this is true skill
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Where did the group of people chasing highs every day go? They were already taught a lesson by the market
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Even holding a vacant position can make money. Once you understand this, everything changes
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Volume is more honest than candlestick charts
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The simple method may sound dull, but it is truly the only way to survive
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Controlling your hands is much harder than predicting the market
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Those who rush in with a big bullish candle are now all cutting their losses
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Zhejiang friends, your summary hits the point exactly
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If you can't get past the emotional barrier, no matter how smart you are, it's useless
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MevHunter
· 16h ago
8 years, impressive. I’ve only been in the game for 3 years and am still exploring.
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This empty position really hit me; I always get caught by FOMO.
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I need to watch the trading volume multiple times; I feel like I’ve gone blind looking at candlestick charts.
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A Hunanese settling in Zhejiang—this path is quite interesting.
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A quick surge followed by a slow decline isn’t a top; I’ve operated the opposite way before and definitely got caught.
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"Living long enough," that hits hard, brother.
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I accept the last sentence; indeed, it’s all about relying on yourself to make choices.
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GreenCandleCollector
· 16h ago
That's really impressive; I have a deep understanding of that trading volume aspect.
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NoodlesOrTokens
· 16h ago
8 years without liquidation, this guy is really something.
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That's right, going all in cash is actually the hardest step.
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I used to always get the volume wrong, now I understand.
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Those of us who want to buy the dip after a quick drop are all getting tricked like this.
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Living long is winning, it sounds simple but it's actually the hardest.
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I've noted the signal of shrinking volume at high levels, need to pay attention.
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Not every rebound is an opportunity, this one hits hard.
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FOMO is really the number one killer in the crypto world, not really.
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8 years, 3000 trading days, these numbers speak for themselves.
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The simple method actually works better, ironic but true.
View OriginalReply0
FallingLeaf
· 16h ago
Living for 8 years makes you a winner; there's nothing wrong with that statement.
View OriginalReply0
TradFiRefugee
· 16h ago
That's so true. Living longer is the key. What I fear most is being wiped out.
After wandering in this market for a long time, you'll notice a rather counterintuitive phenomenon: those who truly survive are often not the ones who make the fastest profits, but those who quietly extend their timeline with "clumsy methods."
I've been in the crypto space for 8 years. Post-90s, from Hunan, now settled in Zhejiang. No insider information, no shortcuts—luck isn't really applicable to me either. The only thing I've done right is staying at the table and not being cleared out by the market.
Over these 8 years, many people have come and gone. During bull markets, it’s incredibly lively; when it turns bearish, many accounts go silent. Only later did I realize: whether you can stay is not really about predicting the market correctly, but hinges on two things—whether you can understand what the funds are doing, and whether you can control your emotions.
Below are six survival rules I have repeatedly validated over nearly 3,000 trading days.
**Rule 1: A quick rise followed by a slow pullback is usually not the top**
A sudden surge then gradual correction is mostly a shakeout for distribution, not the end of the trend. Don’t be scared.
**Rule 2: A sharp decline followed by a gentle rebound is often not an opportunity**
A sluggish rebound after a flash crash is more about market sentiment repairing itself, not a true trend reversal. The mindset of "it’s fallen so much, it should rebound" can easily trap you.
**Rule 3: High-volume at high prices is not scary; low volume is what to watch out for**
If there are still trades at high levels, it indicates the battle between bulls and bears continues. Be especially cautious when volume suddenly drops at high prices and enthusiasm vanishes.
**Rule 4: A single large bullish candle with high volume does not necessarily mean a bottom**
A real bottom is forged over time, not hammered out by one or two candles. Only sustained increasing volume indicates genuine institutional entry.
**Rule 5: Price is the result; volume reveals the truth**
Candlestick charts tell you "what happened," but volume tells you "why it happened." Both must be considered together to understand the true intentions of funds.
**Rule 6: Being able to hold a position in cash is a skill in itself**
Resisting the urge to chase highs is discipline; not panicking and selling is confidence. When you let go of obsession with the market and avoid FOMO, trading can truly create value for you.
Over the years, I’ve become increasingly convinced of one fact: the crypto market never rewards the smartest people, only those who survive long enough.
I’ve walked this path, fallen into traps, too. Some detours could have been avoided, but that depends on your choices. The market is always here, opportunities are always present. The key is whether you can keep your composure and persist at this table.