There is a novice investor who started in the crypto world with only 2000U of initial capital. At that time, he was still very unfamiliar with the trading interface, and every order required him to study the tutorial step by step. He was most afraid that a slight tremor would wipe out his entire investment. I taught him a basic methodology of "survive first, then talk about making money." As a result? His account grew to 6000U in 30 days, surpassed 20,000U in 90 days, all without a single liquidation.

There’s no mysticism behind this; frankly, it all comes down to discipline. Too many small-capital players treat exchanges like a wishing well, risking hundreds of U in a full position, only to be wiped out and reset immediately. In fact, the smaller the principal, the more you need to understand one principle: the key to breaking the deadlock isn’t how accurate your predictions are, but whether you can engrain these three survival rules into your mind.

**First Rule: Capital Allocation, Never Put All Eggs in One Basket**

Divide your principal into three equal parts. The first third (1/3) is for intraday swings, focusing on capturing 3%-5% short-term fluctuations of mainstream coins, entering and exiting quickly without entanglement; the second third (1/3) is for medium-term opportunities spanning 3 to 5 days, only acting when technical signals are very clear; the last third is directly locked into a cold wallet, serving as a life-saving fund. Those who go all-in and fight hard during rallies often suffer terribly during dips. Keeping a backup is the first prerequisite for small funds to survive and exit.

**Second Rule: Dance with the Trend, Don’t Burn Ammo in Sideways Markets**

70% of the market time is actually spent in idle oscillation. Trading frequently during these times is just working for the platform. Real profit opportunities only appear when the trend is clear. If there are no obvious signals, stay out of the market—this isn’t conservatism, it’s survival. When profits reach 12%, take half off the table; putting the money in your pocket is the real deal. The key battle for my student’s doubling of capital happened here: during two weeks of sideways movement, he refused to trade, and finally, he caught a trend swing that yielded 18%.

**Third Rule: Ironclad Lockdown, Execution Is More Valuable Than Prediction**

Set three unbreakable rules for yourself. No single trade should risk more than 2% of your total principal; once triggered, exit immediately—no luck-chasing. When profits reach 4%, cut half of your position right away, letting the remaining profits run freely. After a loss, absolutely no adding to the position; never let emotions dictate your actions again. You don’t need to predict every market move correctly, but you must execute your rules every time—making money is fundamentally about using discipline to lock down that hand always seeking risk.

The truth is simple: in small-cap rules, the core isn’t about dreaming of overnight riches, but about surviving. The market is always there, but your capital only has one chance. Use discipline to buy time—that’s the real way for small players to break through.