Eight Years of Crypto Enlightenment: From Small Capital to Large Wealth – Four Trading Steps to Survive and Achieve Freedom

Eight years ago, I entered the crypto market with a small capital and a head full of illusions. Today, looking back on the journey I’ve taken, what I have is not only assets multiplied many times but, more importantly, a mindset strong enough to survive long-term in this harsh market. This is not a story about overnight wealth. It’s the journey of an ordinary trader who has burned accounts, lost sleep over price fluctuations, and finally learned to survive before thinking about making money. After 8 years of grinding, I have condensed all my experiences into four core trading steps: Cut – Wait – Repeat – Calm. If you stay in this market long enough, you will understand why these four steps are more important than any “hot tip.” Step One: Cut – Cutting Losses Is the Trader’s Amulet My first account burn happened when I believed I “understood the market.” Just one sharp dip, and everything was back to zero. That moment taught me the most valuable lesson: if you don’t know how to cut losses, don’t dream of making money. Cutting losses is not admitting failure but a strategic decision. Since then, I set a strict discipline for myself: Every trade has a clear stop-loss pointMaximum loss allowed is only 3–5% Price hits the cut point, exit the trade, no debate with the market Crypto is not like traditional stocks. Some coins, after dropping, just… disappear. Holding onto hope in a merciless market only delays the death of your account. Cutting correctly and quickly helps you preserve the most valuable things: capital and the right to re-enter the market. As long as you have capital, you have a chance. When capital is gone, all analysis becomes meaningless. Step Two: Wait – Patience Is the Greatest Competitive Advantage After learning how to cut losses, I realized another truth: the market doesn’t pay daily wages. Therefore, the next important skill is… patience. Most of the market’s time is noise. Only a small part is real opportunity. Traders often lose not because of poor analysis but because of overtrading. My principle is very simple: Trade only when the price hits the planned zoneNo entry point, don’t enterNo FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) to break discipline I only follow a few sectors, and within each sector, I choose 1–2 coins: a leader and a potential one. I don’t chase hot news because the latecomer is always the one buying at the peak. Waiting at the highest level is passive trading: act when the market gives a signal, sit still when there’s no signal. Like a sniper, I don’t shoot for fun, only when I’m sure to win. Step Three: Repeat – Profit Comes from Simplicity Repeated Once you have a clear trading system, the rest is just to repeat it disciplinedly. I don’t chase strange tips, nor do I constantly change strategies. My system revolves around a few fixed principles: Trade in the daily trendEnter positions gradually, never all-inRisk per trade is always tightly controlledHave clear take-profit points and position reduction rules Thanks to this repetition, I am no longer affected by a single winning or losing trade. Each trade is just a link in a long-term probability chain. The biggest mistake traders make is inconsistency: today they follow technicals, tomorrow they follow news, and the next trend they follow online advice. The result is almost certainly loss. Markets change, but principles do not. Those who make sustainable money are those who use one method and go through many cycles. Step Four: Calm – The Pinnacle of Trading Is Emotional Stability When you cut correctly, wait long enough, and repeat often enough, emotions will naturally subside. This is the stage I call calmness. At this point, whether your account is green or red is just a number. Price increases or decreases no longer make your heart race. You no longer try to predict the market but only react according to your plan. Most traders fail not because of lack of knowledge but because of: Greed during market euphoriaFear during market correctionsImpulsive trading driven by emotions My solution is to build an “emotional firewall”: All orders are pre-set with stop-loss and take-profitBefore entering a trade, ask yourself: trade because of the signal or because of FOMO?If your psychology is unstable, don’t trade. Calmness is not indifference but acceptance of uncertainty. I don’t try to control the market; I only control my risk. Trading Philosophy After 8 Years Crypto is not a casino but a place to turn perception into assets. Long-term winners are not those who guess the most correctly but those who: Survive through many cyclesMaintain discipline when others lose controlProfit from differences in thinking and behavior Opportunities in this market always exist. But most people leave the game before real opportunities appear. If you are still struggling in the early stages, don’t get discouraged. Slow down, build a system, develop discipline, and learn to wait. One day, you will sit in front of the screen calmly, letting the market “transfer money” to you. It’s okay to be slow—as long as you don’t give up. The market always rewards those who are patient enough to stay.