Do you only have $500 and want to make a move in the crypto world? Don’t rush to hit the trade button just yet. After so many years in the industry, I’ve seen too many stories of small-cap players losing everything—deposit funds and immediately go all-in on obscure coins, stay up all night watching charts, only to see a single limit-down wipe out their capital; even more outrageous are those who switch five different coins in three days, ending up with no profits and paying all their gains in fees.

Two years ago, my childhood friend came to me with $500, trembling and saying he wanted to "go all-in and gamble it all." I directly grabbed his mouse and told him, "First, figure out how not to lose everything, then think about how to make money—this circle is a jungle law; only those who survive get to eat."

Three months later, he sent me a screenshot: account balance of $18,000. He didn’t add a single dollar during the process, nor did he experience a major drawdown. It’s not luck; it’s because the "survival rules" I taught him really work. Today, I’ll share this method in full.

**Level One: Liquidity Troops (30% position)**

Dedicated $150 to trade only the two most active mainstream coins in the market. The goal is simple and straightforward—set a small target of 2.5%, exit immediately upon reaching it, and never be greedy. What’s the purpose of this layer? To accumulate trading frequency, familiarize yourself with order logic, and earn fee discounts. Don’t think this money will make you rich; it’s your "training ground."

**Level Two: Signal Troops (30% position)**

Another $150 ignores 5-minute K-lines and the noise on hourly charts. Only act on clear signals at the daily chart level—such as price breaking through key resistance and staying above it for two consecutive trading days, or trading volume surging over 50% above the weekly average. Once entered, hold no longer than 4 days; take profits when available, stay flexible and adaptable.

**Level Three: Bottom Line Protection (40% position)**

The remaining $200 is the last line of defense. Use this to position in quality coins with solid fundamentals that are still at the bottom—projects with real application scenarios, ongoing development updates, and a strong community base. This layer usually stays untouched unless systemic risk signals appear. Otherwise, the holding period can extend to 2-3 months or even longer.

Why divide it this way? Small capital fears a single all-in wipeout that clears your account. This three-tier structure allows you to have both quick-reacting agility and long-term stability, while also accumulating market feel and platform benefits through small trades.

**Execution details are crucial**

Each layer has its own "life and death line." For the liquidity layer, cut losses immediately if a single trade loses more than 3%; for the signal layer, exit if unrealized losses exceed 5%; for the bottom line protection layer, tolerate larger fluctuations, but once the key support level you set is broken, you must cut.

Remember one thing: capital safety always comes before profits. I’ve seen too many people lose all their hard-earned gains due to greed. Three months, from $500 to $18,000—sounds fast, but there were no risky moves in between. Stable small profits compounded over time are much more reliable than a big gamble.

At the start, don’t think about monthly returns. First, get your account active. When trading flows smoothly, risk control is in place, and your mindset is stable, profits will naturally follow. That’s the true survival way in this market.