The most skilled in the crypto world at cutting people is never about complex technical analysis, but rather that greedy hand hiding in your heart.

Five years ago, I tried to strike it rich in this circle with 100,000 yuan. At that time, I knew nothing about private keys, and my head was buzzing from looking at candlestick charts. I relied on a reckless attitude and some luck to tinker around. Liquidation was as common as eating and drinking; at my worst, I had less than 20,000 yuan left in my account.

Now, my assets are stable at a eight-figure level. It’s not because I’m particularly clever—honestly, my IQ is just average. What truly changed me was that moment—I finally learned to make peace with my greed and panic.

The most memorable night was during a massive collapse of a top public chain project. I was squatting with a seasoned trader in front of the screen, eating instant noodles. He stared at the intraday chart, took a sip of beer, and said, "There’s never a shortage of opportunities in this game, only a shortage of people who can hold their hands and not act." I chewed on that sentence for three full years before I gradually understood its true weight.

Now, I want to share five "counter-human" rules that have helped me survive and actually make money in the crypto circle. These aren’t classic theories; they are blood, sweat, and tears accounts piled up with real money—easy to understand even for beginners.

**First Rule: Market sentiment is the most honest contrarian indicator**

There’s a hard rule in crypto—when the entire network is screaming "get rich quick," danger is already at the top.

During the bull market in 2021, various small coins doubled in a day, WeChat groups were full of screenshots showing profits, and even the guy fixing e-bikes downstairs turned around to ask me what coin to buy. At that moment, I started quietly reducing my positions and exiting in batches. Less than a month later, the market took a big dive.

There are also opposite examples. When the market is so cold that no one speaks, the trading app’s rating drops below two stars, and group chats are as quiet as a ghost town, I tend to slowly build positions. It sounds crazy, but the results are always good.

**Second Rule: Stop-loss is the most expensive tuition in investing**

My biggest mistake early on was not being willing to stop-loss. Watching a coin bleed red, I didn’t think, "Is there a problem with this project?" but instead, I gambled by adding more, hoping to turn it around. The result? The coins that should have fallen to nothing ended up worthless.

Now, my rule is very strict: once a position drops beyond a set percentage, no matter how reluctant I am, I cut it immediately. This may seem to lead to frequent losses, but it actually protects my principal. Think about it—if the principal is still there, opportunities will always exist. If the principal is gone, everything is just a bubble.

**Third Rule: Leverage is a huge pie, but also a huge trap**

I’ve seen too many people wiped out overnight by leverage. They all believe they won’t be the unlucky one, but a market fluctuation can slap them in the face.

Now, my attitude towards leverage trading is one word: get lost. All my profits come from spot trading and reasonable low-multiplier operations. No money is earned through aggressive leverage. It might be slower, but it lasts longer.

**Fourth Rule: Information asymmetry also has a shelf life**

One magic in crypto is the speed of information dissemination. The "inside info" you hear in a small group has already been known by thousands. Chasing hot trends and fads is often just chasing after others’ tails.

Now, I prefer to spend time understanding fundamentals and long-term logic rather than daily scrolling for some mysterious info. Hot trends can make quick money, but they also destroy people the fastest.

**Fifth Rule: Review is more important than trading itself**

Most people finish trading and think it’s over. I, on the other hand, spend three times as much time reviewing every decision. Why did I buy at this point? Why did I sell at that point? Was it luck or logic? Where did I go wrong?

This habit has gradually evolved me from "trading by feeling" to "trading by rules." Rules may be dull, but they will help you survive longer.

The cruelest thing in crypto isn’t the market, but human nature. Learning to manage emotions is far more valuable than learning to read charts.