How I Survived in Crypto Using the "Stupid Method" and Got Rich Slowly

Brothers in the market probably aren’t unfamiliar with the daily scenes of scrolling through social media and seeing images of accounts in flames, accompanied by complaints like “crypto really isn’t for the faint-hearted.” Looking at those images, I am reminded of myself a few years ago. I entered the crypto market in 2019. Not an early adopter, but early enough to taste both the excitement and despair. There was a time when I lost all the money I had saved up over half a year of working in just one night. That feeling wasn’t sadness, but emptiness. But it was also from those tuition payments that I learned a path that sounds “stupid,” but helped me survive and gradually grow my account. Today, I’m not talking about getting rich quickly, nor painting dreams of 10x or 20x returns. I just want to share the fundamental principles that helped me survive longer than most.

1. Completely Abandon the Bottom-Fishing Dream – Only Trade the Middle of the Trend My biggest mistake when I first entered the market was always wanting to buy at the bottom and sell at the top. It sounds great, but in reality, bottoms are only clear after… they’ve passed. I’ve often “caught the bottom” right in the middle of a decline, only to cut losses exactly when the price hits the real bottom. Later, I completely changed my mindset: no more guessing, just reacting. I focus only on major coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum. When the market drops sharply for a long time, then starts to go sideways and no new bottoms are forming, I begin to pay attention. At that point, I don’t put all my money in, but only allocate small portions to “test the waters.” For example, if the price drops deep into a strong support zone, I only invest 10–20% of my capital. When the price actually breaks through important levels on higher timeframes, I continue to increase my position. I accept missing the beginning and the end of a wave, in exchange for safety. In crypto, surviving is more important than showing off profits.
2. Profits Must Be Withdrawn – Prioritize Recovering Capital First This market has a very ruthless trait: profits on the screen can vanish in just a few minutes. So I set a strict discipline for myself: when profits are enough, the first thing is to withdraw the principal. If a trade reaches around 20% profit or more, I will sell part of it to recover the initial investment. The remaining, no matter how volatile the market becomes, I no longer feel psychological pressure. From that point on, I trade with “profit money.” Even if prices drop sharply, I don’t panic. If prices continue to rise, I keep scaling out to take profits gradually. Many people lose not because they see the trend wrong, but because they are greedy and fail to realize profits.
3. Don’t Trade Based on News – Only Watch Cycles I used to be a news junkie: new projects, big investment funds, celebrity endorsements… I read everything, and almost every piece of news made me buy at the top. After many times holding onto positions because of good news, I realized one thing: most short-term hot news is just a tool for distribution. Now, I only care about two major cycles: Bitcoin cycle: about every four years, revolving around supply halving events. I usually prepare my positions early, rather than waiting for the market to get too hot. Market sentiment cycle: when everyone is shouting “bull market,” I start to gradually reduce risk. When the market is quiet and no one talks about crypto, I quietly accumulate. Opportunities in crypto never disappear. But the prerequisite is that you still have capital to wait for the next cycle.
4. Capital Management Is More Important Than Entry Timing Beginners often like to “go all-in.” Experienced traders always leave an escape route. My account is always clearly divided: 60% for long-term investment in key coins, buying steadily each month.30% for trend trading, only participating when the market is clear.10% reserved for extreme drops – sometimes used once a year. I never use all my money for just one scenario. Because in crypto, opportunities are many, but losing your capital makes it very hard to come back. Conclusion: The Most Valuable Asset in Crypto Is Psychology I once saw a friend, after heavy losses, fall into a frantic trading state hoping to recover. The more he traded, the more his account shrank. Then he had to stop, only buying Bitcoin regularly each month. After half a year, not only did he recover what he lost, but he also started making steady profits. This market is not short of smart people, nor of experts. The rarest thing is those who are willing to go slow, disciplined, and manage their emotions. When you no longer get led by candlestick patterns or jump into trades out of FOMO, you will realize: the most sustainable opportunities in crypto often come from methods that seem “stupid,” but are extremely effective. Learn to survive first, and profits will find their way to you.