Hello everyone, I have been in the crypto market for over ten years. Today, I won't waste words; I’ll share an honest truth based on the pitfalls I’ve experienced—before making money, you must first ask yourself.

**Once lost so much that I wanted to quit**

In 2015, I poured in 100,000 yuan. At that time, it wasn’t even considered investing; it was pure gambling. When the coin price rose, I chased; when it fell, I immediately cut my position. Technical analysis, stop-loss levels—none of it mattered.

The result was predictable. My account balance dropped to just a few thousand yuan at its lowest. It wasn’t anger; it was a complete numbness—staring at the K-line every day, with only one thought in my mind: "What the hell am I doing?"

**Reflection changed everything**

The more thoroughly I lost, the clearer things became. I realized that if I continued trading based on "feelings," all the money would be wasted.

Since then, I set a set of rules for myself—every time I open a position, I must thoroughly consider these five questions. It sounds simple, but it truly turned the entire situation around.

**Question 1: Does this trade have a solid basis?**

In the past, I bought just because it was popular and followed the trend. Now, I must see clear technical signals: Has the key support held? Has the chart pattern formed? If not, I wait.

Market opportunities are endless, but patience to wait is scarce. Most people can’t wait two weeks, so they chase high and get caught.

**Question 2: If I’m wrong, how much can I afford to lose?**

Before entering, I must determine my stop-loss point. My strict rule is: any trade should not lose more than 2% of the total principal.

If this level of loss keeps you awake at night, don’t invest that money. Self-awareness is more important than anything.

**Question 3: If I’m right and make a profit, when should I exit?**

Don’t always dream of "holding until the highest point." Setting a target is more rational than stubbornly holding. When it’s time to leave, do so; leave the remaining profit to others. That’s how you protect your gains.

Greed is the fastest way to kill your account.

**Question 4: Can I truly afford to see this money disappear?**

This is the most painful and critical question. If you can’t answer it, it means your investment amount is too high. The essence of risk management is to only use the money you can truly afford to lose.

**Question 5: What am I really gambling on, or investing in?**

The difference is simple: gambling relies on luck and emotion; investing is based on research and logic. If you can’t clearly explain why you bought a coin, then you’re gambling. The profit curves of gamblers and investors are vastly different.

Since then, my trading has changed. Although not every trade is profitable, the overall drawdown is much more controlled. After ten years of bull and bear cycles, my account has never experienced a fatal crash.

Finally, I want to say: the crypto market isn’t that mysterious; it’s a test of human nature. If you can’t conquer greed and fear, even perfect technical analysis is useless. Asking yourself these five questions isn’t to become an expert, but to survive longer.