After years of navigating the crypto world, I’ve discovered a hard rule: the more tricks you try, the faster you’ll die.

Many people like to go all-in on a single position, chase hot trends, or switch coins frequently, only to keep stepping into traps. I later changed my approach and adopted a very "simple" method — focusing on a single coin and riding its trend. It may sound unglamorous, but it really works, especially for those who want to survive long-term in the crypto space.

**Why is "single coin, single trend" essential?**

Honestly, less is more. BTC and ETH almost embody the entire market’s temperament. You don’t need to chase AI concepts today and Meme coins tomorrow; you’ll end up falling behind. I focus solely on ETH, understanding its temperament — how it behaves during sideways trading, how it acts on breakthroughs, where its support levels are. These are more reliable than any indicator.

Another crucial point: only take one direction. When prices are rising, go long; when falling, go short. Never change your stance in between. Too many people can’t stick to this—they want to short when it’s up, long when it’s down, and end up getting slapped back and forth. My rule is: don’t bother unless there’s a clear trend reversal signal.

**How to operate specifically?**

In three steps.

First step: trial position. Divide your funds into three parts. Near support levels, use the first part for a light entry — say, 10% of your total capital. Don’t be greedy; just test the market’s reaction.

Second step: add to your position. When the price breaks through a key resistance level or pulls back to a moving average without breaking down, use the second part of your funds to follow up. The benefit is that even if the first trade results in a loss, the subsequent positions help average your cost.

Third step: stop-loss. This is the most overlooked but most critical step. Every trade must have a stop-loss; individual losses shouldn’t exceed 3% of your total capital. Many people get wiped out here because they can’t bear to cut losses, turning small losses into big ones.

Here’s a real example: ETH sideways at around 1700 for a week, then suddenly surges past 1750 with high volume. I set a long entry at 1750, using 10% of my total funds to test the waters. If the price pulls back to 1730 without breaking below, that’s a good sign. I’ll add to my position with the second part of my funds. Conversely, if it breaks below 1730 directly, I cut losses and exit, controlling the damage so I can stay in the game and make more profits later.

**Key mindset**

Trading a single coin for swings isn’t about getting rich overnight; it’s about surviving longer. You’ll find that once you stop messing around and focus on one coin, your market perception becomes sharper. Those subtle support and resistance levels, trend changes — you see them clearly.

Another benefit of focusing on one coin is less psychological pressure. You don’t need to compare daily gains across multiple coins or get overwhelmed by FOMO-inducing news. Just watch one coin — buy when it’s right, wait when it’s not. This reduces mistakes and keeps you from feeling exhausted.

The biggest enemy in crypto is actually your own greed and impatience. The single coin, single trend method is about discipline and patience — fighting those two demons. Stick with it, and you’ll find yourself surviving more steadily in this market.