Before the New Year, I had just stepped out of college, carrying a head full of naivety and confusion about the future, clutching 10k U of savings from my internship — my entire savings, and the only confidence I had at the time. My friends were all following the routine of finding jobs or taking exams for official positions, but I was pulled into a completely new, tempting world — the crypto circle.

My friend at the time patted his chest and told me that the crypto world was a "wealth creation myth," where you didn't have to work nine to five, didn't have to look at your boss's face; as long as you chose the right coins and the right timing, 10k U wouldn't take long to multiply tenfold or hundredfold, easily achieving financial freedom.
Back then, I was inexperienced, and my desire for money overshadowed all reason. Hearing this, I was completely captivated and without hesitation invested all 10k U, even though I didn't understand basic concepts like candlestick charts or MACD, just blindly buying along with my friend.
Looking back now, I realize how naive I was then, and how miserable I became later. In the first few days after entering the market, I did catch a small trend; my account balance increased a little, and I got carried away, thinking making money in crypto was really too easy. I started fantasizing about buying a car and a house soon, completely freeing myself from the fate of a worker.
But reality gave me a harsh slap. Less than a month later, the coins I bought suddenly plummeted, dropping from a high point to half, then halving again. My 10k U, including principal and profit, was wiped out completely — not a single cent left.
The first time I lost all my principal, I didn't wake up; instead, I got even more obsessed. I kept thinking it was just bad luck, and as long as I invested a bit more, I could recover the losses. So I started borrowing online loans, swiping credit cards, even lying to my family for money — one after another, I poured every penny I could gather into crypto, losing more and more, falling into a vicious cycle.
In just a year, I went from a graduate with 10k U savings to a "debt-ridden" person owing hundreds of thousands. Calls from online loan collectors never stopped day and night. When my family found out the truth, they were angry and anxious. My friends, seeing me borrow money so often, gradually distanced themselves from me.
During that period, I lived like a fugitive — afraid to go out, afraid to answer calls. I hid in my rented room, staring at the losing numbers on my account, countless times wanting to give up, even doubting whether my life was doomed to be like this.
I remember the hardest times, I had no money even for food, only instant noodles to get by. Looking out the window at the bustling traffic, my heart was full of regret and confusion. I hated my greed, hated my impulsiveness, and even more hated myself for not listening to advice and blindly stepping into this trap-filled circle.
But I was also unwilling to accept defeat. I refused to believe that after ten years of hard study, I would end up like this, and I refused to let the crypto world defeat me completely.
After painful reflection, I decided to change completely. I turned off all trading apps, found a regular job to earn money and pay off debts, and used my spare time to learn about the crypto market little by little — studying candlestick charts, analyzing trends, summarizing patterns, no longer blindly following the crowd, no longer holding onto false hopes.
I recorded every loss, every pitfall I had stepped into, in a notebook, pondered repeatedly, and warned myself never to make the same mistakes again.
This process took several years. During these years, I gradually shed my initial impatience and greed, becoming calm and steady, and I slowly understood the rules of the crypto market — there’s no myth of overnight wealth, only steady accumulation and strict self-discipline.
I began to try small trades, strictly controlling my positions, setting take-profit and stop-loss points, not greedily chasing high prices, not holding onto losing trades, not overleveraging. Even if I only earned a little each time, I would never take reckless risks.
Day by day, I paid off all my debts, and my account balance gradually started to grow. I no longer pursued short-term quick profits but focused on long-term planning, following the market rhythm, patiently waiting for my opportunity.
Sometimes, when the market was bad, I would decisively exit and wait patiently; sometimes, when clear signals appeared, I would enter decisively, hold steady, and leave at the right time — never greedy.
Unknowingly, ten years passed. In these ten years, the crypto market experienced countless booms and busts. Some people became overnight millionaires, others lost everything in the turbulence. And I, an ordinary person, relying on persistence and self-discipline, gradually went from being heavily in debt to where I am today.
Now, with the money earned from crypto, I bought my own house in my hometown, a car for commuting, married the girl I love, and have a happy family. The crypto world that once plunged me into debt and despair has now become the ladder to fulfill my life.
I no longer obsess over money like I did at the beginning, nor do I let market fluctuations sway my emotions. Instead, I’ve learned to coexist peacefully with the market, to respect it, and to control my desires.
Looking back over these ten years, I feel a thousand emotions. The crypto world is like a mirror, reflecting human greed and fear, and teaching me growth and patience. It made me realize that there are no shortcuts in life — whether in crypto or in life itself, there’s no success without effort. Only through steady work and strict discipline can you reach the end.
Ten years of drinking ice water, yet my passion remains hot. In these ten years, the crypto market has tested me a thousand times, and I treat it like my first love. It has made me lose, but also gain; made me suffer, but also made me happy.
Now, a new decade has begun. I will still stay in the crypto world, but I will be more cautious and rational. With the experience and insights I’ve accumulated over these ten years, I will move forward steadily — not letting the past down, not letting myself down.
Finally, I want to remind all ordinary people struggling in crypto or thinking about entering: crypto involves risks, be cautious when entering the market. Don’t dream of overnight riches, don’t let greed cloud your judgment. Keep your original intention, control yourself, and only then can you go further and more steadily in this market full of temptations and risks.