5 years ago, on a summer night at a roadside bar, the smoke was thick, and skewers were piled up. A former friend of mine – named Nam Khanh – held his phone tightly until his knuckles turned white, his eyes glued to the price chart, and said confidently:

I have gathered $10,000 in capital. If I can't find a school district house this time, I'll just stay outside the trading floor and work as a security guard.

His eyes at that moment were blazing, as if each candle on the screen had turned into a red book. I was chewing on a piece of grilled food in silence, not daring to pour cold water – because who in this market has never been stunned by price waves?

In the end, everyone can guess. In less than half a year, twice at the peak – catching the bottom both missed the rhythm, the dream money to buy a house turned into smoke amid the fluctuations. When we met again, Khánh was emaciated like a dried leek, even beer no longer had flavor.

But if I think I am better, I am greatly mistaken. Eight years rolling in crypto, the number of 'shortcuts' I have tried is enough to form a football team. The number of times the account went to zero is even more than the number of times I celebrated Tet. At the worst phase, the bank account only had 1 million left, the rent was about to be due, and the portfolio was in free fall. Every night I looked at the K-line until my eyes turned red, wanting to cry but afraid... tears falling on the phone made the only thing left called 'hope' short-circuit.

There Are No Permanent Losing Investors, Only Those Who Refuse to Summarize

This market is strange in that: there is no one who is always a 'small fish', only those who turn trading into gambling and never look back at their mistakes.

Three years ago, in a class reunion, Khánh appeared again. Simple clothes, speaking slowly. When he opened his phone, the number in the account had... six zeros behind it. I slammed the table hard:

"Are you hacking the system?"

He just smiled, then handed me a notebook written with a pen – 'Network Maintenance Notebook'. For the past three years, he no longer rushed into the market like a moth to a flame, but took each pain, each real lost money, and turned it into principles.

Today, I share again what I learned from that notebook, plus eight years of paying my own tuition. Not just reports, not just indicators – but the things that help you survive.

Principle 1: Rapid Increases – Slow Decreases Often Are 'Pie in the Sky'

A vertical upward trend like a rocket, but when it adjusts, it falls slowly, persistently like an old lady going to the market – it is very likely that the money is silently gathering goods.

On the contrary, when the market really peaks, it often doesn't give a warning: a long red candle will hit you straight in the face, not giving you a chance to run.

👉 Do not confuse 'healthy adjustment' with 'beginning distribution'.

Principle 2: Do Not Touch the Rebound After a Strong Drop

The rebound after a deep drop is just like the apology of a bad person: it sounds sincere, but the purpose is to make you come back and... carry the load.

Many people rushed in with the thought of 'catching the bottom to eat back', and the result was being harvested for the second time, the account went from 'slightly injured' to 'terminally ill'.

👉 After a strong drop, the best thing is often to stand outside and observe.

Principle 3: Highs With Volume Are Not Scary, No Volume Is What’s Scary

The trading volume is the heartbeat of the market.

  • High prices but still have volume → the money has not been fully withdrawn.

  • High prices but dwindling volume → that is the last party, latecomers come only to... clear the table.

👉 Seeing an increase without volume, prioritize capital preservation over dreaming of profits.

Principle 4: A True Bottom Must Have Continuous Volume

One – two days of increasing volume is just a probe, it could be hot money entering for quick gains.

Only when:

  • Volume has increased continuously for 3–4 days,

  • The price adjusted but did not break through the important area,

then there is a possibility that real big money is coming in. At that time, it's not too late to enter.

👉 Patience is always cheaper than catching the bottom early.

Finally: In Crypto, What Never Changes Is Humanity

Staying in the market long enough, you will understand:

  • The price may change, cycles may differ,

  • But greed, fear, and the illusion of getting rich quick will never grow old.

Some people brought the dream of 'changing life overnight', considering peak catching as brave. Some were afraid of missing out, thinking they were catching the bottom, only to buy exactly... halfway up the mountain.

It's not that they don't work hard, but because they misunderstand the essence. The core of this market is not how much you make, but whether you can survive.

I have seen extremely smart traders, just because of one order without risk management, lost everything.

You can also see very ordinary people, not having advanced techniques, but thanks to discipline and risk control, gradually transforming a small account into a large one.

👉 In the end, we do not make money from the market, but make money from controlling our own greed.

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