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#Gate广场四月发帖挑战
Yesterday I saw a quote that perfectly fits the current market—markets are never short of opportunities; what’s lacking is capital. The recent market movements have perfectly validated this statement. From SIREN to STO, and then to their sharp declines and rebounds, altcoins have provided ample opportunities for right-side traders. If operated smoothly, compound gains can skyrocket. However, I believe most people didn’t laugh last—probably because they didn’t protect their principal and lock in profits.
1. Opportunities Never Disappear, but Profits Don’t Automatically Stay
Since Bitcoin’s inception, it has always played out in cycles of “surge—correction—surge again.” In March 2026, Bitcoin faced intense selling pressure at a high of $72,500, with a daily retracement of 2.68%. The total liquidation amount across the network in 24 hours reached $125 million, with $96.5 million of that being forced liquidations of long positions. This is not an isolated case:
On March 3, 2026, Bitcoin broke above $70k but retreated to $67,320 due to escalating Middle East tensions;
On February 10, 2026, the price returned to the $70k mark but was viewed as a “bull trap,” with derivatives funding rates remaining negative;
On April 2, 2026, Trump’s comments boosted risk appetite, pushing Bitcoin close to $70k again, but without a definitive breakout.
These are not “failures,” but normal market behavior: each surge tests greed; each correction clears discipline. The market is never short of upward opportunities; what’s missing are investors who actively realize gains and lock in profits at high points.
2. Lock in Profits: Not Conservatism, but a Survival Rule for Professional Traders
“Locking in profits” is not about fear but a clear understanding of the market’s nature. In an environment where Bitcoin’s daily volatility exceeds 5% and daily swings of 20%+, unrealized gains are just illusions on paper. True profits must be converted into accessible, stable assets.
Three key strategies used by authoritative traders:
Partial Take Profits: Sell 20% after a 50% increase, sell 30% after a 100% increase, and set a trailing stop for the remaining 50%.
Profit Stabilization in Stablecoins: Convert part of the profits into USDC, USDT, and deposit into DeFi platforms like Aave.
Set Profit Targets: For example, starting with $1,000, aiming for $500 profit, and exiting once achieved.
The market always offers the next opportunity, but your principal and psychological capital can’t withstand three rounds of “profit retracement.”
3. The Truly Scarce Resource: Not Bitcoin, but “Capital That Can Continue to Bet”
By 2026, Bitcoin’s ownership structure has been thoroughly reshaped—95% of Bitcoin is locked in long-term holdings. The capital that is truly free to flow and used for “the next opportunity” belongs to only a few. The market is not short of opportunities; what’s lacking are investors who can preserve profits and maintain ongoing operational capital.
4. Psychological Traps: Why Do You Always Fail When “Almost Succeeding”?
Psychological research reveals three major cognitive biases that hinder “locking in profits”:
Loss Aversion: The pain of losses is twice as intense as the pleasure of equivalent gains.
→ You’d rather watch profits evaporate than “sell too early.”
Certainty Effect: People prefer certain outcomes over probabilistic gains.
→ You’re afraid “selling now means missing out on further gains,” ignoring that “not selling now could lead to zero.”
Framing Effect: You view “unrealized gains” as “already owned,” mistakenly equating account balances with wealth.
→ You treat exchange accounts like bank accounts but forget they can be wiped out at any moment.
True winners are not those who predict the highest point but those who sell half at $70,000, buy back at $60k, and sell half again at $80k.
5. Action Plan: How to Become Someone Who “Owns Capital”?
Immediately execute “take 30% profits” after each gain: no matter how much it rises, once profitable, transfer 30% into stablecoins.
Build a “profit account”: create an independent fund pool with stablecoins, never use it for further trading.
Set a “principal bottom line”: your trading principal = the amount you’re willing to lose; your profit account = the wealth you must protect.
Reject “revenge trading”: don’t rush to recover losses after a setback—rest first and wait for the next trend signal.
Yesterday I saw a saying that fits the market perfectly right now—markets are never short of opportunities; what they lack is principal. These past few days of market action have perfectly verified this saying. From SIREN to STO, and then to the sharp crashes and rebounds of both, altcoins can be said to have given right-side traders plenty of opportunities. If you execute smoothly, compounding can take off immediately. But I believe most people didn’t end up smiling until the very end, probably because they didn’t protect their principal and didn’t lock in gains.
1. Opportunities are never absent, but profits are never automatically retained
Since the Bitcoin market first emerged, it has always staged the recurring drama of “rally—pullback—rally again.” In March 2026, Bitcoin faced intense sell pressure at a high of 72,500 US dollars, with a single-day retracement of 2.68%. The total liquidation amount across the entire network over 24 hours reached 125 million US dollars, including 96.5 million US dollars in forced liquidations of long positions. This is not an isolated case:
On March 3, 2026, after Bitcoin broke through 70,000 US dollars, it fell back to 67,320 US dollars due to escalation of the situation in the Middle East;
On February 10, 2026, the price returned to the 70,000 US dollars level, but the market treated it as a “bull trap,” and derivatives funding rates remained continuously negative;
On April 2, 2026, risk appetite rebounded due to Trump’s remarks, and Bitcoin pressed again toward 70,000 US dollars, but it failed to form an effective breakout.
These are not “failures,” but the market’s norm: every rally is a test of greed; every pullback is a liquidation of discipline. The market is never short of opportunities to move up; what’s missing are investors who can proactively realize gains at the highs and lock in profits.
2. Lock in gains: not conservatism, but the survival rule for professional traders
“Locking in gains” is not fear, but a clear-eyed understanding of the market’s essence. In an environment where Bitcoin’s average daily volatility exceeds 5% and daily rises and falls are 20%+, unrealized profits are merely an illusion on paper. Real profits must be converted into disposable stable assets.
Three key “lock in gains” strategies used by authoritative traders:
Take profits in batches: sell 20% after a 50% rise, sell 30% after a 100% rise, and set a trailing take-profit for the remaining 50%
Convert profits to stablecoins: exchange part of the profits into USDC and USDT and deposit them into DeFi platforms such as Aave
Set profit targets: starting principal 1000 US dollars, target profit 500 US dollars—once achieved, exit
The market will always have the next opportunity, but your principal and psychological capital can’t withstand three rounds of “profit give-back.”
3. The real scarce resource: not Bitcoin, but “principal that can keep betting”
In 2026, the holding structure of Bitcoin has been completely reshaped. 95% of Bitcoin has been locked up long term. The truly freely flowing principal that can be used for the “next opportunity” belongs to only a few. The market is not short of opportunities; what’s missing is:—investors who can hold on to profits and have sustainable war-capital.
4. Psychological traps: why do you always fail when you’re “about to succeed”?
Psychological research shows that what blocks “locking in gains” are three major cognitive biases:
Loss aversion: the pain people feel from losses is 2 times the happiness they feel from gains of the same amount.
→ You’d rather watch profits get given back than “sell too late.”
Certainty effect: people prefer outcomes that are certain rather than returns that are probabilistic.
→ You fear “selling now and it goes up more later,” but ignore “if you don’t sell now, it might end up at zero.”
Framing effect: you treat “unrealized gains” as “already owned,” mistakenly believing that the account numbers equal wealth.
→ You treat your exchange account like a bank account, but forget it can be zeroed out at any moment.
The true winners are not the ones who predict the top, but those who sell half at 70,000 US dollars, buy back at 60,000 US dollars, and then sell half again at 80,000 US dollars.
5. Action plan: how to become someone who “has principal”?
Every time you make a profit, immediately execute the “30% lock-in”: no matter how high it rises—once you’re in profit, transfer 30% out into stablecoins.
Build a “profit account”: use stablecoins to construct an independent pool of funds, and never use it to trade again.
Set a “principal floor”: your trading principal = the amount you are willing to lose; your profit account = the wealth you must protect.
Refuse “revenge trading”: after incurring losses, don’t rush to get it back; rest first, and wait for the next trend signal.