Crypto opportunities are indeed plentiful, but ultimately, the profits you can take away are often in the hands of those who understand self-discipline. Over the years, I’ve realized that surviving in this market for the long term is far more important than making quick gains.

Last year, a friend quit his job and entered the space with 50,000 yuan. He asked me how to proceed. I honestly told him it’s very risky—I've seen too many people have their dreams of overnight riches shattered. But since he was determined, I shared my trading framework with him.

My advice was straightforward: don’t believe in fairy tales. Those who truly make money in the crypto market rely not on luck, but on a repeatable trading system. I told him to focus on assets with clear trends, only act at key points, and most importantly—set stop-losses firmly.

What was the result? He followed the rules diligently. After a month, his account grew from 50,000 to 140,000. He told me that before, every time the price moved, he wanted to chase; now he finally understands what it means that "experts only act at their own opportunities."

**Systematic Thinking: Turning Intuition into Numbers**

A stable profitable trading system must be built on a quantitative foundation. Vague feelings—like "it feels like it’s going up" or "everyone is selling, so I buy"—are impossible to execute in real trading and will ultimately turn into emotional decisions.

My system is based on a few core quantitative rules:

**First, clear buy signals.** When the price retraces to a key moving average (such as the 60-day MA) and shows signs of volume stabilization, consider scaling in. Not buying just because the price drops, but buying at confirmed levels.

**Second, stop-loss is the lifeline.** For any trade, if the price falls below the cost basis by 8%, you must exit decisively. No bargaining, no excuses. This rule alone can protect you from catastrophic losses.

**Third, position control.** Never allocate more than 20% of your total funds to a single coin. Even if your judgment is wrong, losses stay within a manageable range.

These three rules seem simple, but very few can stick to them long-term. Most people either jump in too early before the key levels or keep hoping for a rebound when they should be stopping.

**Looks Simple, But Actually the Most Difficult**

My friend and I later reviewed his trading. The main reason he could persist was that he wrote the rules on paper and stuck it next to his monitor. Every time he wanted to violate them, just seeing the paper calmed him down. It sounds mechanical, but in a market full of temptations and fears, mechanical execution is the best shield.

He’s still following this system. Although he doesn’t make 140,000 every month, he’s never experienced consecutive losses. He told me he finally understands why those who profit steadily over the long term always seem "boring"—because they’ve suppressed all emotions, leaving only cold numbers and discipline.

That’s how the crypto market is. Opportunities are always there; what’s truly scarce is the persistence and execution.