There are countless reasons for losing money in the crypto world, but the most heartbreaking thing isn't the lack of opportunity—it's that the opportunity is right in front of you, and you miss it because of the wrong rhythm—either jumping in too early and getting washed out, or making some profit and being reluctant to exit, only to be forced back to the starting point from the mountain's midsection.

My account has grown from 10,000 USDT to 30,000 USDT this year, and the core secret is just five words: Wait, Confirm, Be Ruthless, Exit. This isn't some profound theory; it's practical trading experience.

**Market trends are created by waiting, not chasing**

Many people think their skills are lacking, but the real problem is greed. The market spends about 70% of its time in consolidation, and truly significant trend moves occur only three or four times a year. For example, after Bitcoin's halving, there was a wave of movement; it spent a whole month shaking out traders, with the candles bouncing back and forth. But once it broke through a key resistance level, the entire half-year's gains were achieved in just a week. Those who sat patiently and waited for the right moment benefited, while those who chased in later didn't even get a sip of the soup.

How can you wait for such moments? There are a few thresholds to watch carefully.

First, look at the larger timeframe to determine the trend. Don't be scared by 15-minute fluctuations; focus on the daily trendlines and the 200-day moving average. As long as these two aren't broken, the overall direction remains intact.

Second, only act when multiple signals resonate together. For example, if RSI shows a bullish divergence while volume increases and breaks above the middle band of the Bollinger Bands, and two or three indicators point in the same direction, then your odds of success are high.

Third, it's better to miss a move than to make a wrong decision. If there's no clear entry signal, it's better to turn off your device and sleep than to blindly trade.

**The confidence to hold a heavy position comes from odds, not feelings**

This is the most crucial point. When a coin rises, many panic, fear missing out, and want to buy immediately—that's FOMO, and you must guard against it. The right time to hold a heavy position is when the market offers a sufficiently favorable risk-reward ratio, and this ratio must favor you.

For example, if Bitcoin drops sharply to a key support level (a previous low or a densely accumulated on-chain area), and the Fear & Greed Index drops below 20, then you can build a position gradually, with clear stop-loss levels. If the rebound potential compared to your potential loss yields a return of 1:3 or even 1:5, then it's time to go all in. Conversely, if the price is near a historical high, market sentiment is hot, and FOMO news is everywhere, then entering again? That's not trading—it's gambling.

**Execution is more scarce than cognition**

Many people understand these principles, but execution fails them. They are indecisive when they should be ruthless, and reluctant to exit when they should. Frankly, this tests your psychological resilience.

What does "ruthless" mean? When your analysis confirms a buy point, you must decide quickly—don't wait. Some wait for the signal to appear, then wait another day to see if it confirms, only for the market to surge and never come back. When it's time to place an order, do it; once done, set your stop-loss. This gives you confidence, allowing you to hold calmly through minor fluctuations.

"Exiting" tests human nature even more. After making some profit, many hesitate: Will it go higher? Should I wait longer? In the end, profits turn into losses. At this point, you need to be ruthless—set a reasonable take-profit level, and when it hits, exit. Don't be greedy. For example, if you judge a cycle's top, gradually sell off in batches—50%, 70%, 90%, leaving only 10% to see if it can squeeze out the last bit. Even if you were wrong and the price continues to rise, you've already secured most of the profit.

**Rhythm is the real skill in trading**

Anyone can learn technical indicators; candlestick patterns are everywhere. But to truly make money, you need to train your sense of market rhythm—when the market is gathering strength, when to go all out, and when to step back. This requires experience, continuous review, and learning from losses.

In my journey from 10,000 to 30,000, I made mistakes and stepped into traps. But every time I review a failure, I can pinpoint what went wrong—most of the time, it's one of these five words not being done well. I hope these insights can inspire you. Trading is 30% skill, 70% mindset and execution.