Survival Tips in Crypto: 4 Rules to Keep Your Network Going for Over 8 Years

Seeing a green candle makes your heart race? Seeing a red candle keeps you awake? If you are like that, the problem is probably not in your strategy – but in your lack of survival skills. I still remember very clearly my first coin purchase. A message in the group, a few words about a “hot trade,” and I went all-in without understanding what the project does or what the token is used for. The result was predictable: just one red candle, and my account nearly halved. That feeling was like free fall in a dream – my heart clenched, and my mind went blank. After many years of experience, I realized a harsh truth: in crypto, those who make money long-term are not the fastest traders, but those who know when to stop. 👉 Below are four “survival” rules that helped me go from days of account burnouts to stable trading with sustainable profits.

1. Never Go All-In – As Long As You Have Money, You Have a Chance The crypto market is never short of surprises. And surprises always appear when you are most confident. There was a time I believed I had “caught the right timing,” and I would put all my capital into one trade at the sight of an opportunity. But in reality, the all-in strategy can lead to a maximum (max drawdown) of over 50%. One wrong move can wipe out your ability to fight. Later, I shifted to a flexible capital allocation strategy: A small portion into a trade when clear signals appearRemaining funds divided into smaller parts to buy gradually during market corrections This approach won’t make you rich quickly, but it will prevent you from dying due to a single mistake. Remember: Crypto is not short of opportunities, only short of traders with enough capital to play tomorrow.
2. Not Setting a Stop Loss Is Self-Exclusion from the Game The hardest part of a stop loss is not the technical aspect, but admitting you are wrong. Many people know they should cut losses but hesitate with the familiar thought: “Wait until it recovers, then sell.” The problem is: when an asset drops 50%, it needs to rise 100% just to break even. In highly volatile markets like crypto, that not only takes time but also causes you to miss countless other opportunities. My clear rule: Every trade must have a stop-loss point before enteringA maximum loss of 1–3% of the total account per tradeWhen the price moves in the right direction, use partial take-profit strategies to lock in gains Small losses are part of learning. Not accepting small losses leads to bigger ones.
3. Big Coins Are Anchors – Don’t Let Altcoins Lead You Astray Every day, there’s a new trend: DeFi, AI, GameFi, Meme coins… But after all, almost all altcoins depend on the breath of BTC and ETH. I ask myself a question before each trade: “If I had to explain why I buy this coin in one sentence, could I do it?” If the answer is no, I don’t enter the trade. This doesn’t mean altcoins have no opportunities. But they are only suitable for those: Who have time for deep researchUnderstand the flow cycle of fundsAccept high risks For most investors, maintaining core positions in top coins remains the safest and most effective way to survive long-term.
4. Getting Enough Sleep Is More Important Than Catching the Top or Bottom I used to believe staying up late, constantly monitoring charts, would make me better than the market. In reality, it’s the opposite. Lack of sleep makes you: More prone to FOMO when prices riseMore panicked during market shakeoutsMake emotional decisions instead of following plans Now I have a strict rule: If my mental state is unstable, and my mind is tired, I don’t trade. The market doesn’t disappear when you sleep. But a wrong decision made in a disturbed state can cost you a lot of time to fix. Survival Is a Battle Against Human Nature After many years in the market, I realize one thing: Trading is not a contest of who is smarter, but who is more disciplined. The market constantly stimulates greed and fear. Those who survive long are those: Who can control their emotionsWho can stay out when they don’t understand the gameWho remain humble after each win Crypto doesn’t have eternal winners, but some people are not eliminated from the game. They don’t need a 100x move, but they avoid deadly mistakes and let profits accumulate over time. 👉 Staying at the table, you still have a chance to win. Learning, discipline, and patience – these are your greatest assets in this market.