The sound of the keyboard replaced the punch clock, and the candlestick chart replaced the work report. This is my daily life, and it is the free life I have built with my own hands over eight years.
At nine in the morning, I brew a cup of herbal tea and start reviewing last night's trading data. The cryptocurrency market's morning is very quiet, but a true hunter knows to prepare their weapons before the storm. The market never rewards hard work; it only rewards understanding. Eight years ago, when I first entered the cryptocurrency market, I, like most people, blindly followed the 'big shots' as they called out trades, and as a result, my assets shrank by nearly 80% in the crash of 2017.
I once doubted whether I was suitable for this market until I understood a principle: in the cryptocurrency market, it's not money from the market that you earn, but money from understanding. So, I began the difficult journey of upgrading my understanding.
1. Cognitive reconstruction: the transformation from 'chives' to 'hunter'
Many people who entered the market with me back then have disappeared. The majority of them have strikingly similar reasons for their losses: treating the market as a casino and trading as gambling.
I once witnessed a friend who entered the cryptocurrency world with 1 million yuan in startup capital from his father, who became overconfident after early profits and began chasing various 'hundred times coins,' ultimately ending up with only 200,000 yuan when the bear market arrived. Such stories are common in the crypto world; 90% of retail investors lose not because the market is bad, but because they lack a trading system and risk control.
My transformation came from a seasoned trader's words: 'The market has rules, but trends are unpredictable.' This statement awakened me. I no longer predict the market but learn how to respond to it.
Technical analysis has become my foundational language. Just like learning a foreign language, I immerse myself in a sea of charts, reviewing historical candlestick patterns for over 10 hours each day, recording every signal of trend reversal. Moving averages, RSI, MACD, these indicators are not infallible, but they are the basic vocabulary of market language.
2. My two core strategies
Over eight years, I have gradually polished two trading strategies that suit me; they are the keys to my survival in the market.
1. Trend following, go with the flow
The core logic of trend following is simple: do not go against the trend. Enter when a trend forms, and exit when a trend reverses.
I will pay attention to three signals at the same time: the moving average system (like when MA60 and MA120 form a golden cross or death cross), trading volume (whether there is significant volume during a breakout), and candlestick patterns. I only consider entering when all three conditions are met.
Setting stop losses is the lifeline of this strategy. I usually set the stop loss 1% below the MA60, and as the price rises, I continuously move the stop loss to lock in profits.
2. Range breakout, capture volatility
Most of the time, the cryptocurrency market is in a sideways oscillation state, during which trend-following strategies become ineffective. My second set of tactics is designed for this market condition.
When the price of a cryptocurrency remains within a fixed range for 3-5 days, with fluctuations not exceeding 10%, and a clear upper and lower boundary forms, I closely monitor for breakout signals. I only consider entering when the price breaks out above or below the range with significant volume.
Regardless of which set of tactics I use, I strictly adhere to the principles of risk control. No trade will ever lose more than 2% of the total account funds. This is also the reason I have survived multiple market crashes.
3. A female analyst's daily routine
Many people think the life of a trader is just staring at the market day and night, but that's not true. My life has a strict sense of rhythm.
Mornings are my time for review and research. I check last night's trading records, analyze key data, and browse important industry news. I do not believe in so-called 'inside information' but instead build my own information flow, evaluating from multiple perspectives including project background, team strength, and market demand.
Afternoons are my 'offline time.' I go to the park to run and relax my mind. Market insights often happen during moments of relaxation; I have captured the logic of key market reversals while running three times.
At 7 PM when the U.S. stock market opens, it is my golden time of the day. But I do not stay up late staring at the market; I wait for the best opportunity like a sniper. Two to three key trades each night are worth more than frequent ineffective operations.
4. The six golden rules for survival in the cryptocurrency world
After eight years of ups and downs, I have summarized six survival rules that I hope can help you live longer in this market:
Respect the market and abandon fantasies of getting rich quickly. The market is always right; what we can do is not predict the market but follow it.
Risk control is always the top priority. The cryptocurrency world is full of opportunities, but what is lacking is the 'patience to survive.'
Refuse frequent trading. Patiently wait for the right trading opportunities, striking accurately instead of trying to profit from both sides.
Learn to stay in cash. When the market conditions are unclear, staying in cash is the best strategy.
Progress gradually; do not go all in recklessly. Trading is a step-by-step process, not a casino.
Unity of knowledge and action. After formulating a trading plan, strictly execute it, overcoming human greed and fear.
5. Freedom is not the end, but a state
Now, I no longer call myself a 'cryptocurrency trader,' but rather a life designer. The cryptocurrency world is one of my sources of income, but not my entire life.
Every month, I withdraw a fixed percentage of funds from my account as living expenses, which has become a natural overflow after the system stabilizes. I do not pursue getting rich overnight but instead seek sustainable and stable profits.
Looking back over these eight years, I went from a confused graduate to a free person who has built my ideal life. The biggest transformation is not the change in asset numbers, but the upgrade of my mindset.
The cryptocurrency world is never short of wealth myths; what is lacking are ordinary people who can turn myths into everyday reality. If you also want to break free from the cycle, remember: freedom won't fall from the sky, but can be built inch by inch through understanding.
The true logic of trading is not only in the charts but also in the balance of life's rhythm. This is my eight-year journey of turning things around, a formula for a free life as an ordinary trader.
Follow Ake and learn more about first-hand information and cryptocurrency knowledge at precise points, becoming your navigator in the crypto world; learning is your greatest wealth!
