Six Survival Rules in Crypto: Summarizing a Decade of My Experience

I am Nam – with 8 years of experience in the crypto market, having “lost everything” before learning how to play the long game to survive and achieve sustainable profits. Today, I won’t speak flowery words, just share the core principles to help you avoid unnecessary pitfalls. Crypto is not a casino, nor is it an automatic money printing machine. To me, it’s like a “martial arts dojo” – where only those who maintain discipline, manage risks well, and follow the cycle can stand firm. After many bull–bear cycles, the biggest lesson is: not everyone who makes quick gains wins, but those who survive longer are the true winners.

1. Understanding the Bull–Bear Cycle: Don’t Do the Right Thing at the Wrong Time Bear market is the time to accumulate at good prices. Bull market is the time to take profits. Everyone knows this, but few can do it because emotions take over. When bad news surrounds and prices fall, hands tremble, and stop-losses are easily triggered. When prices surge, people around boast about profits, greed rises, and they forget to take profits. Practical principles When outsiders talk about buying coins: be cautious. When the market is quiet, with low liquidity: observe and accumulate. Cycles always repeat, only humans tend to forget.
2. Choosing More Important Assets Than Trading Techniques Not all tokens are “assets.” Classify them: (Blue-chip) pillars: Bitcoin, Ethereum – the foundation of the ecosystem, with lower volatility, helping you “survive.”(Value): projects with products, users, cash flow; capable of breaking out when the market is favorable.(New/Alt): only use small capital to try your luck, accept losing. Suggested allocation: most capital in pillars, some for potential, very small for lottery tickets.
3. Asset Allocation Is an Art of Maintaining Stable Psychology Newcomers often “go all-in” on one trade. Experienced traders diversify their “fields” to grow various crops. Reference framework 50–60%: pillars (defense).20–30%: potential (offense).Maximum 10%: lottery (scouting). Good allocation helps you avoid “freezing” when the market shakes, preventing panic selling at the bottom.
4. Stable Mindset Is the Biggest Competitive Advantage In crypto, technical analysis is only part of the picture; the rest is discipline and emotions. Three principles to stay calm Use only idle funds Avoid borrowing, leverage – because pressure will distort your decisions.Have external cash flow Stable jobs help you avoid being glued to screens 24/7.Have a fixed process When to check the market, stop-loss rules, days off to “turn off” when on a losing streak.
5. Managing Expectations: Don’t Dream of a Hundredfold in One Night Achieving 5–10 times your capital in a cycle is already a great achievement. “Hundred times” is usually a story of rare luck or someone who bought and then… forgot for many years. How to do it sustainably Set profit targets for each position.Take partial profits when targets are hit.Prioritize steady growth over lucky hits.
6. Knowing When to Sell and “Store the Grain” Many people win one trade and then throw everything into the next; just one correction can wipe out the gains. Discipline to take profits Periodically withdraw profits to your bank account.Stick to the principle “harvest in the season, store in winter.” This way, profits on the screen turn into real money in your pocket. Conclusion The greatest wisdom in crypto sometimes isn’t about attacking, but about surviving the storms. Survive, and you’ll have the chance to catch the next cycle. Remember: slow and steady beats rushing and crashing. Maintain discipline, manage risks, respect the cycle – that’s the long-term path. Wishing you a new year of clarity, steady hands, and patience to complete the journey.