Why Assuming Every Coin is a Scam is Your Best Edge
The moment you start complaining about a coin being a scam, you have stopped thinking like a trader and started thinking like a victim.
A trader's job isn't to judge the morality of a project; it is to extract profit from price inefficiencies. A disciplined trader with a tested edge can make money on a rug-pull just as easily as a blue-chip asset—provided they get in and out according to their plan.
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The ultimate risk management strategy is cynicism. If you approach every ticker assuming it is a scam designed to go to zero, you treat your stop-loss like religion. You don't "hold and hope." You take your profits, protect your capital, and live to trade another day.
The Trader vs. The Investor
To succeed in this market, you must understand the fundamental disconnect between investing and trading.
🎭 The Investor
Needs "belief" and trust
Relies on team, roadmap, utility
Devastated when projects fail
Thesis built on trust
📊 The Trader
Deals in probability
Trades tickers, not projects
Trades psychology & volatility
Thesis built on data
If you buy a coin at the bottom, ride a momentum wave for a 40% gain, and exit before the crash, does it matter if the whitepaper was plagiarized? To your PnL, that "scam" was indistinguishable from a legitimate asset. The money spends the same.
The "Scam" is a Feature, Not a Bug
In high-volatility markets (especially crypto), scams and weak projects are rampant. Instead of fearing them, use them to sharpen your discipline.
❌ When you believe it's "legitimate":
You loosen your stop-loss because "it will come back"
You ignore sell signals because you're waiting for "fair value"
You average down into a losing position
✅ When you assume it's a "scam":
Stops become non-negotiable: You cut losses immediately because you assume there is no "coming back"
Profits are booked aggressively: You don't wait for the moon; you take the cash while it's there
Bags are never held: You treat the asset like a hot potato
Cynicism as a Risk Management Tool
The problem isn't the scam coin; the problem is your emotional attachment to the outcome.
If you assume everything is a scam right from the onset, you operate with a heightened state of defense. This is not paranoia; it is capital preservation. Your number one goal is not to get rich on one trade, but to ensure you have chips left to play the next hand.
📐 A Solid Setup
Entry:Based on technical confirmation, not hype
Hold:Based on momentum, not hope
Exit:Based on structure, not greed
🎯 Summary
Stop looking for "good projects" and start looking for good setups.
Every time you catch yourself angry at a developer or a project for "tricking you," realize that you violated your own rules. You stayed too long at the party. You started believing the marketing instead of watching the price action.
Adopt the mindset of the Cynical Trader. Assume the worst, protect your downside aggressively, and let the market's inefficiencies pay your bills.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only. Nothing contained herein constitutes financial advice, investment recommendations, or any form of solicitation to buy or sell securities or other financial instruments. Always do your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.