Living is the true winner. This statement in the crypto market is more valuable than any technical indicator.

During the market massacre in 2018, I watched a colleague in the office lose all his wedding down payment in a contract. In the end, he was gone, and so was his money. At the same time, I cautiously entered the market with 5,000 yuan in stablecoins.

Five years have passed. I haven't blown up a single position. The amount in my account has grown to seven figures.

This is not luck, nor is it some advanced technical secret. To put it simply, it’s about surviving. Those who can survive have already won against most people.

**The harsh truth: Most people lose money not because they can’t predict the market accurately**

I’ve interacted with too many traders who fall into a deadly misconception — they think winning or losing depends on their ability to precisely predict the market. But my five years of real experience tell me this is fundamentally wrong.

Ninety percent of losses in crypto trading actually come from two things: greed and fear. Just these two.

I remember what happened during the 2018 downturn. Someone made a 20% profit, immediately inflated their ego, and thought they had become a trading master, so they added leverage to chase the rally. What happened next? A big bearish candle wiped them out completely. Nothing was left in their account.

Others lost just 5%, but their mindset shattered. They became extremely anxious, desperate to make a comeback, and ended up going all-in at the bottom, watching their account turn into a number: 0.

The reason I’ve survived until today is nothing mysterious. It’s just eight words: control your desires, manage your emotions. The three strategies I’m about to share are all derived from real money exchanged in the market. Not theory, but practical combat.

**First Strategy: Capital safety first, profit second**

Since my first trade, I’ve set three unbreakable rules:

Any trade must have a stop-loss set before entry. No stop-loss, no trade. This isn’t about being cautious; it’s about buying insurance for yourself when trading with the market. Stop-loss is the bottom line.

As soon as the profit in my account reaches 10% of the initial capital, I immediately withdraw half of the profit. Transfer it to an offline wallet and never touch it again. The benefit of this is that you will never lose the money you’ve earned.

Never hold a single position exceeding 5% of your total funds. This number is a painful lesson from many blow-ups I’ve seen among peers. Exceeding this ratio, if the market moves against you, losses will directly swallow your principal.

**Second Strategy: Take profits and cut losses, both are equally important**

Many people focus on stop-loss but neglect take-profit. This is another common trap.

My approach is: when the market moves in my expected direction, I sell part of my position at each upward interval. This ensures steady profit-taking and allows participation in subsequent rallies. Most importantly, it greatly reduces psychological pressure.

Don’t chase that last 10% gain. Often, just when the market seems ready to go higher, it suddenly reverses. At that moment, you’ll regret it. Better to exit half a step earlier, which feels more secure.

**Third Strategy: Hold your principal, always keep the chance to turn things around**

This is my deepest insight from five years of experience. In the crypto market, the most valuable thing isn’t your skills or predictions, but the ability to survive until the next bull run.

As long as your principal is intact and your account still has funds, you always have a chance to come back. But once you blow up your entire position, no amount of regret can help. That’s why I’d rather miss some opportunities than risk losing everything and not being able to participate in the next wave.

From 2018 to 2021, during this bull-bear cycle, I survived this way. No reckless moves, no big gambles — just steady accumulation step by step. Growing from 5,000 yuan to seven figures sounds exaggerated, but over five years, I often traded small amounts, patiently waiting.

Risk management isn’t some profound secret; it’s about doing simple things repeatedly and suppressing greed. Persist in this way, and sooner or later, there will be rewards.