When the Market Weakens, What Are Experienced Investors Doing Quietly?

Beneath the intense market fluctuations, a psychological game is unfolding with extremely sophisticated planning. As soon as prices start to weaken, chat groups are immediately flooded with panic. Technical charts are scrutinized candle by candle, line by line, as if the market will collapse entirely tomorrow. This feeling is not unfamiliar to anyone who has stepped into crypto. But this year, there is a very different point: the opponents at the table have matured, and their tactics are more sophisticated. Large money no longer pulls and dumps as simply as before. Instead, there are fake breakouts, continuously tug-of-war price zones, all designed to erode retail investors’ confidence. Those without a stable trading system will quickly lose patience… and lose their capital.

1. When Market Sentiment Is Lying to You Recently, Bitcoin has corrected over 20% from its peak, retreating around $88,000. On the surface, the market is filled with fear. But there is a very noteworthy detail: At the same time, gold has increased nearly 9%, and traditional stocks are still rising. This indicates that current fear mainly stems from the intrinsic issues within the crypto market, not a systemic crisis across all risky assets. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index, although slightly recovering from 13 to 19, remains deep in the “extreme fear” zone. History shows that these emotional zones often create long-term opportunities. Compared to the crash in October 2025 – when over $190 billion was liquidated in a single day – this correction has a key difference: institutional money is not fleeing but observing from the sidelines.
2. The Psychological Trap and the Battle of Capital Flows The market always repeats the same script: triggering greed at the top – sowing fear at the bottom. But currently, the “big players” have refined their tactics very skillfully. They push prices through resistance zones, making you believe the trend has turned around. Then suddenly, they push down, creating the illusion that the market is about to collapse. This cycle repeats until most investors lose their bearings. On social media, just one person shouting “crash already” instantly triggers a domino effect. Fear spreads faster than sell orders. High-leverage traders are the most vulnerable group. With 20x leverage, a 5% adverse move can wipe out an account. That’s why, during volatile phases, the market often “cleanses” very strongly.
3. What Are Smart Money Flows Doing? While most retail investors panic and sell off, large institutions behave completely differently. On-chain data shows they are not rushing to buy the dip, but also not withdrawing from the market. They shift from active trading to a strategic waiting stance. Professional investors are currently doing three things: Reducing trading frequencyBuilding a dollar-cost averaging planHolding large cash reserves to wait for extreme opportunities During turbulent times, they proactively lower leverage, widen stop-loss margins to avoid being wiped out by price swings. Personally, I currently follow two main strategies: DCA into core assets regularly, regardless of price movementsHolding at least 40% cash to be ready for extreme panic This approach gives me the courage to buy when others are fearful and capital to take profits when the market is euphoric.
4. Build Your Own Trading Rhythm Sustainable profits do not come from guessing the exact top or bottom but from a system that reacts to all scenarios. Before each trade, I always clearly define: Buy priceTarget priceStop-loss price And execute like a machine, emotionlessly. Capital management is the foundation of a strong mindset. I always limit each trade to no more than 10% of my total assets. This way, even if I’m wrong, I won’t suffer heavy losses. In the current context, I focus on long-term factors rather than short-term rumors: The speed of blockchain adoption in real lifeThe participation level of large institutionsThe increasingly clear legal framework These factors are what truly determine price trends over the long cycle. When the Crowd Is Silent, Opportunities Begin to Form Before the market truly reverses, it usually goes through a very uncomfortable phase: sideways movement, repeated bottom tests, erosion of confidence. Until most investors choose to leave or stand aside, the new trend quietly begins to form. Pay attention to seasoned crypto players: they no longer stare at charts every day. They simply follow their plan: buy gradually at support, sell gradually at resistance, and focus on life. The biggest opportunities always appear when no one wants to talk about the market anymore. And perhaps, we are very close to that moment.