Over the years in the crypto world, I have witnessed too many dramatic scenes—some people doubling their holdings overnight only to fall back to the original point, and others choosing to give up in despair. Many often ask me why they keep getting cut. Honestly, most people don’t lose because of the market itself, but because of uncontrolled human nature: greed, luck, and panic spreading. Any one of these demons can wipe you out completely.

The ten trading principles I’ve learned from paying tuition are more like a methodology for survival than just rules. I don’t promise overnight riches, but these disciplines might help you preserve your capital and endure until that critical moment.

**1. In moments of extreme panic, there are seeds of opportunity**

When the market drops nine days in a row from a high, the discussion forums fall silent, and retail investors start cutting losses and fleeing. At this point, many see no hope, but in reality, the main players are quietly accumulating at this emotional low. The game rule for the big players is to use collective emotional resonance to harvest. When most people are panicking and selling, it’s precisely the opportunity for contrarians to jump in. But here’s the prerequisite—don’t go all-in at once. Lay out your positions in batches and consider adding more only after confirming signals on the right side.

**2. After two consecutive bullish candles, it’s time to take profits**

Any coin that rises sharply for two days in a row often signals that selling pressure is about to come. There are no miracles of straight-line surges in crypto; short-term spikes are usually tricks by the main players to lure more buyers. Experience tells me that reducing your holdings by 30% before the second bullish candle closes is a safer approach. When your profits are padded, your mindset becomes much more stable, making impulsive decisions less likely.

**3. If a single-day rally exceeds 7%, beware of chasing the high the next day**

If a coin suddenly jumps more than 7% with one big bullish candle, it indicates that the main players have already started moving. But this is rarely the final goal of the trend; it often means that the next day will see inertia-driven high. This is crucial—riding the high is a signal to exit, not to chase higher. When retail investors rush in en masse, it’s often the moment the scythe falls.

**4. Pullbacks are the real buying opportunities**

Chasing after a sudden surge without patience? That’s a rookie move. The truly worthwhile coins to position in are those that pull back to key support levels (like the 30-day moving average) and stabilize before considering entry. Don’t be scared off by short-term gains; patience is the fundamental skill for making big money.

**5. Candlestick patterns must be supported by volume—volume reveals the truth**

No matter how beautiful a pattern looks, without volume support, it’s just an illusion. A volume-driven rally indicates genuine buying strength; a rise on declining volume is often just a facade by the main players. Learning to read the relationship between volume and price can help you avoid many pitfalls.

**6. Breakouts at technical levels must be confirmed by volume**

When the price breaks through an important resistance level, volume must confirm the move; otherwise, it’s likely a false breakout. Fake breakouts are the most deceptive because they seem promising but quickly reverse.

**7. Set stop-losses outside your psychological thresholds**

Don’t place stop-losses at critical technical levels, as it’s too easy to get shaken out. Instead, set them beyond your acceptable loss range and key support levels, giving your trade some breathing room.

**8. During panic drops caused by bad news, there are often contrarian opportunities**

Panic selling triggered by bad news, especially emotional large-scale sell-offs, can create opportunities for prepared traders. But the premise is that the bad news isn’t fatal and can be recovered from.

**9. High-volatility small coins are not playgrounds for beginners**

Coins with daily volatility over 20% may seem to make quick money, but the risks are equally high. Those lacking sufficient experience often chase illusions here and end up losing real money.

**10. Money management always comes first**

No matter how optimistic you are about a coin, never allocate more than 10% of your total funds to a single position. Diversify and control risks—this isn’t conservatism, but wisdom for longevity. Many people have been completely wiped out in a single full-position operation.

These ten principles are not some profound theories but insights from long-term market practice. Each one could save your life at a critical moment. The crypto market changes rapidly, but human nature always cycles. Internalize these lessons, and maybe the next person to survive the bull market will be you.