The crypto world lacks myths; what it lacks are the stories of survival.
Last autumn, when I received that almost voiceless call from Lao Yang, I immediately realized what had happened. 'Sis, 520,000 is gone...' His voice was like it had been sanded down, each word carrying a pain like bloodstains.
I clearly remember that night when he sent me a screenshot showing his account balance was down to three digits. He wrote, 'In this lifetime, I fear I am completely destined to be disconnected from the crypto world.' But I knew with Lao Yang's indomitable spirit, this would never be his ending.
Sure enough, this spring, he found me with the remaining 3100U, tightly gripping my wrist and saying, 'Either admit defeat and leave, or rely on this little money to stand up again!' At that moment, I saw the long-lost flame in his eyes.
1 Life and death lessons, blood insights
Lao Yang's first journey in the crypto world is a typical rookie tragedy. Like many others, he was attracted by stories of overnight wealth but did not realize that these stories often hide the most critical part—risk.
He chased highs and sold lows, operated with full positions, and was infatuated with the instant gratification brought by high leverage. Believing in so-called "gods" and their insider information, he invested in various new coins that seemed to have limitless potential. The result is predictable: 520,000 in funds vanished into thin air in just a few months.
"At that time, I wasn't investing at all; I was gambling," Lao Yang later reflected. "I couldn't even articulate the fundamentals of the projects I invested in; I just knew to rush in with the crowd."
The cruelty of the crypto world is that it shows no mercy. After countless sleepless nights, Lao Yang finally understood a simple yet profound truth: the market is always right; it is our expectations and methods that are wrong.
2 A turnaround with 3,000 U, firmly adhering to three iron rules
This time, Lao Yang did not immediately return to the market but spent two whole months reviewing each of his trades. Then he established three rules that must be strictly adhered to.
First iron rule: Always leave yourself a way out
"As long as the account does not blow up, there will always be opportunities." This is something Lao Yang often says.
He completely abandoned the habit of trading with full positions and strictly enforced the principle that a single investment should not exceed 25% of total funds. More importantly, he set a 10% stop-loss line—once losses reach this amount, regardless of how the market evolves, he will immediately stop-loss and exit.
In this highly volatile market of crypto, the key to survival is not how much you can earn at once, but how long you can last. Proper position management is the best "safety valve."
Second iron rule: Go with the trend, do not contend with the market
Lao Yang no longer tries to catch bottoms or tops but has learned to wait until trends become clear before operating.
"I used to always want to buy at the lowest point and sell at the highest point, but I was always slapped in the face by the market. Now I only follow the trend and do not make predictions," he told me.
Once, Bitcoin rose for three consecutive days, and Lao Yang did not rush to operate in the opposite direction as he had in the past, but rather followed the trend and made a profit of over 6,000 U in a single day. This shift in thinking of "not contending with the market" marked his maturity as a trader.
Third iron rule: Lock in profits first, do not be greedy
Each time he made considerable profits, Lao Yang would withdraw 70% of the profits, leaving only 30% in the market to continue operating.
"Slow is fine, but the fear is that greed will lead to losing the money you have." Last month, when his account first broke 100,000 U, he immediately withdrew 70,000 U and deposited it into a fixed savings account. This strict risk control awareness has allowed his funds to steadily increase rather than experience wild fluctuations.
3 Change not only oneself but also those around
Lao Yang's transformation not only saved his investment career but also influenced those around him.
Neighbor A Zhe used to be a typical player who "blows up every month." After learning from Lao Yang for six months, his assets grew steadily from 1,500 U to 7,200 U. Another netizen, under Lao Yang's advice, avoided a disaster of going all in at the bottom and escaped a 20% plunge.
Lao Yang never considers himself a "god." He often says, "I'm not a genius; I just learned not to be impulsive and to follow the rules because the market hurt me."
True crypto experts are not those who achieve the highest short-term returns, but those who can survive in this market for the long term and grow steadily. They respect the market, value risk, and adhere to discipline.
4 Rational thinking for survival in the crypto world
As an analyst who has been in the crypto world for many years, I have witnessed too many stories like Lao Yang's. The greatest irony of investing in crypto is: the more you think about getting rich quickly, the further you are from wealth; when you focus on risk control, profits come uninvited.
We must clearly recognize that in our country, virtual currency transactions are not protected by law, and anyone attempting to cross the red line should not harbor any illusions. Moreover, the crypto world is rife with various scams and false advertising, making it easy for ordinary people to become victims.
Lao Yang's success is not due to mastering some secret techniques, but because he finally understood the essence of investing: using rationality to control greed, using discipline to combat fear, and replacing impulse with patience.
The crypto world never lacks opportunities; what it lacks are investors who can maintain calm amidst fierce volatility and stay true to their hearts in the face of temptation. The true wisdom of crypto is not in mastering technical analysis but in controlling the weaknesses of human nature.
For those still struggling in the crypto world, perhaps Lao Yang's story can provide some insights: investing is a marathon; the real opponent is not the market, but the greed and fear within ourselves.
In this market of 7×24 hours of uninterrupted trading and extreme volatility, only those who persist in rational operations and patient layouts are likely to laugh last.
Lao Yang's comeback is not a crypto myth, but simply an ordinary person's self-transcendence. Follow A Ke to learn more first-hand information and insights into the crypto world, becoming your navigation in crypto, as learning is your greatest wealth!#美联储降息 #巨鲸动向 $ETH
