I entered the circle in 2015. Back then, I was a junior in college, with a monthly living allowance of 800 yuan. I managed to scrape together 3000 yuan and sat in an internet café buying 1.5 bitcoins with a screen full of English—at that time, one was 2200 yuan. My roommate patted my shoulder and said, “How many game skins can this money buy?” I ignored him, but my palms were sweaty.
Ten years have passed, and my account has once soared to 1.2 million. Some people have come over to ask if I have any insider information. I just smiled and said, “There’s nothing mysterious about it, I just didn’t lose everything.” Today, I want to talk about not the “secrets to getting rich,” but how I survived in the cryptocurrency world for ten years using three simple methods.
1. Only touch 'well-known' coins: those you are not familiar with are mostly traps.
In 2017, someone pulled me to invest in a 'Interstellar XX chain', claiming it could multiply tenfold. I checked the white paper, and the team's avatars looked like stock photos, with the technical descriptions all copied. I didn't dare to touch it, and half a month later, that coin went to zero, and the person who pulled me deleted me from their friend list.
From then on, I set a strict rule: only play with the top ten mainstream coins by market cap. The reason is simple: these projects have at least been monitored by thousands of people, and the team can't run away in the dark. There are too many projects in the crypto world, but those that can withstand bull and bear markets are always the 'old faces' with solid technology and active communities. For example, Bitcoin resists declines because it has the strongest consensus; Ethereum can stir things up because its ecosystem grows wildly like weeds.
Don't be greedy for 'hundred-fold altcoins'; you are not a gambling god, but an ordinary person—ordinary people should first seek stability, then seek profit.
2. The stop-loss line is a 'seatbelt', not a decoration.
Every time I buy crypto, I set a 5% stop-loss line. When Ethereum dropped from 800 to 760 in 2018, I sold immediately when it hit the line. Later, it dropped to over 100, but my roommate stubbornly held on, always saying 'wait a bit for a rebound', and ended up stuck for two years before breaking even.
Many people see stop-loss as 'cutting losses', but I think it's a life-saving seatbelt. The volatility in the crypto world is crazier than a roller coaster; a big red candle can blow through your position. Setting a stop-loss is not cowardice; it's acknowledging that there are always risks in the market that you don't know. Even if the price rebounds later, don’t regret it—those who survive have the right to wait for the next bus.
3. Leverage is a 'death knell', not a shortcut.
My childhood friend used 10x leverage to buy Bitcoin in 2020 and shared a screenshot when it rose by 5%. As a result, after a small pullback, he went bankrupt—losing both his principal and profits. Now we rarely mention crypto, afraid it will upset him.
The essence of leverage is 'borrowing money to bet on direction', but in the crypto world, even Satoshi cannot predict whether the next second will rise or fall. For ordinary people, playing with leverage is like walking a tightrope with their eyes closed. I have seen too many people lose everything overnight, not because they are foolish, but because they are greedy. My principle is simple: only use spare money, never borrow. In 2022, when the market dropped 60%, I still ate and slept as usual—because that money didn't affect my life.
The essence of survival in the crypto world: earn 'cognitive money', not 'lucky money'.
My biggest realization over the past decade is: The crypto world is not a casino; it's a place for realizing cognition. You need to understand why Bitcoin resists declines (scarcity + consensus) and what Ethereum can do (smart contracts + ecosystem) so that you won't panic when it declines or go crazy when it rises.
But cognition is not developed in a day. I spend an hour every day reading project updates, but I never become obsessed with watching the market. There is too much noise in the market; the truly important signals are often just a few: technological upgrades, regulatory trends, and large holders' positions.
In the remaining time, do your job and spend time with friends—crypto is just a part of life, not everything.
Heartfelt words for newcomers
Invest spare money, act within your means: Don't throw in your mortgage or retirement savings. Surviving in the crypto world is more important than making quick money.
Long-term learning, independent judgment: Don't easily trust the 'recommended by experts', read more white papers, and watch fewer group messages. Your money is only your responsibility.
Patience is more important than intelligence: everyone is a stock god in a bull market, but only in a bear market can you see who is swimming naked. Protect your principal and wait for the wind.
The last bit of emotion.
The girl who was struggling in the internet cafe ten years ago is now referred to by others as an 'analyst'. But I know I'm not anything special; I've just avoided the pitfalls that should be avoided and held onto the coins that should be held. The most romantic thing in the crypto world is not getting rich overnight, but that ten years later, you are still at the table—watching the once-celebrating people quietly leave, you can calmly sip tea and wait for the next round to start.
Make fewer mistakes, protect your principal, and leave the rest to time—this is my philosophy in the crypto world. Follow A Ke to learn more first-hand information and precise points about crypto knowledge, becoming your navigation in the crypto world; learning is your greatest wealth!#加密市场反弹 #美联储降息 $ETH
