In the crypto market, the people who make money are not the smartest, but the most disciplined, who know how to avoid the most common mistakes. I have witnessed too many people lose their entire accounts because of FOMO, a single all-in, or a peak prediction. To survive and go far, you must first learn how not to shoot yourself in the foot.

👉 Below are 3 fundamental rules to help you avoid 90% of the pitfalls that most newcomers fall into.

3 Survival Rules to Help You Lose the Least

1. Never Buy at a Peak Emotional Point

  • When the market is 'extremely euphoric', it is exactly when the risks are highest.

  • When the market is 'extremely fearful', it is when opportunities appear the most.

In my trading journal, over 80% of winning trades are opened during market correction phases, not when everyone is shouting 'to the moon'. FOMO always makes you buy the peak. Calmly waiting for adjustments always gives you a safe price.

👉 Get in the habit: only buy when the market drops – you’ve already surpassed 50% of traders out there.

2. Absolutely Do Not 'Hope' for a Fixed Price

Many people hold a number in their heads:

  • “At this price, I buy!”

  • “When it hits that price, I sell!”

👉 That’s not analysis – that’s gambling.

The market does not operate according to your expectations. A wrongly placed order can lead you to:

  • Setting orders too low then... watching the price rise

  • Or setting orders too high then... getting stuck right at the peak

The right way: buy – sell based on price zones, allocate according to the downtrend, not trying to catch the exact bottom.

3. Never Go Full Margin – Always Keep 30% Reserve

20–40% drops in a few hours are not uncommon. Many people lose not because they choose bad coins, but because they have no money left to save when the opportunity arises.

I once all-in in 2018 and paid the price with a complete 'burn out – exit the market'.
Since then, I always keep 30% of spare funds, thanks to that, whenever the market drops sharply, I am always the one buying at the lowest prices – instead of panicking the most.

6 Tactical Techniques to Make Money Right Away in the Short Term

1. High and Moving Sideways → Wait for a Breakout; Low and Moving Sideways → Wait for a Breakdown and Then a Bounce

When the market goes sideways, that is when buyers – sellers are standing still against each other.
Guess? 100% is losing.

The way I do it:

  • High accumulation for 3 days or more → only enter when the price breaks the peak with volume

  • Low accumulation → wait for the breakdown to hold firm before entering

Do not predict – just follow the price action.

2. The Market Goes Sideways Too Long → Turn Off the App, Do Not Trade

Most newbies lose because... they don't let the market rest. When the price goes sideways for 2–3 days, low volatility, high fees → all transactions only wear down the account.

I have a steel principle: Going sideways for more than 72 hours → close all short-term positions.

This is the 'secret to longevity' of many seasoned traders.

3. Buy on Bearish Candles – Take Profit on Bullish Candles

Sounds simple, but it's the operating rule of the market:

  • Bearish candles, especially bearish with weak volume → selling pressure is running out, suitable for accumulation

  • Strong bullish candles, especially breaking resistance → buying pressure is euphoric, so take partial profits

No need to try to squeeze the 'absolute peak'. Money in your pocket is your money.

4. Observe the 'Drop' Rhythm to Understand the 'Bounce' Rhythm

The market has its rules:

  • Drop slowly → weak bounce

  • Drop fast, drop shock → bounce back quickly

If you see a dump of 15–20% in a few hours, don't be overly fearful – there will usually be a bounce back for traders to 'scalp'. If you participate, you must set a stop-loss, because a quick response can also… drop quickly.

5. Use the Pyramid Model to Optimize Capital Cost

Instead of going all in 100%, I divide it like this:

  • Drop 10% → enter 10% of capital

  • Drop another 10% → enter 20%

  • Drop deeper → continue increasing the amount in

Max 70% of capital, leaving 30% as a reserve.

This method helps average down very effectively and makes it easier to exit losses than 90% of others out there.

6. The Trend Does Not Change When Prices Haven't Broken Sideways

After a cycle of increase or decrease, the market always has a sideways phase to 'refresh'.
There’s no need to guess the peak or bottom.

Just do 2 things:

  • Break up → add more

  • Break down → exit completely

Do not make money in a range period, only make money in a period with a clear trend.

Conclusion - Money Earned from Discipline, Not Luck

Crypto does not have a formula for quick wealth. But it has a set of rules to ensure you don't get poorer – if you adhere to them.

If you are tired of:

  • continuously FOMO,

  • buying high selling low,

  • burning accounts,

  • or confused not knowing which direction to choose...

What you need is not a 'miracle guide', but discipline, strategy, and accurate information.