8 Years in Crypto: 8 Principles That Help Me Avoid Being "Swallowed" by the Market

In the cryptocurrency market, the last person standing is not the one who makes the most money, but the one who doesn’t die halfway through. After more than a decade experiencing all kinds of cycles—from crazy bull runs to freezing winters—I realize: crypto is not short of opportunities, only short of disciplined people who can survive. 👉 Here are 8 hard-earned principles that have helped me survive and still be here to write these lines.

1. Capital Management: Smaller Accounts Must Focus The most common mistake among beginners is “spread out money for peace of mind.” A few tens of millions VND but buying dozens of different coins, each a little, thinking this diversifies risk. In reality, it’s the opposite. When coins go up, there’s not enough volume to see profits; when coins go down, there’s not enough courage to cut losses; in the end, only transaction fees are certain to be lost. Small capital must trade selectively, focusing on 1–2 main market narratives. When the market is weak, reduce positions to a comfortable sleep level. In crypto, losing control is even more dangerous than losses.
2. Trends: Only Make Money During the Wave Buying the bottom sounds impressive, but mostly it’s… catching falling knives. Rebounds in a downtrend are often very attractive but also very brutal. True opportunities lie in confirmed uptrends, especially during pullbacks with clear buying support. For example: Price drops sharplyThen consolidates with stable volumeIndications of significant institutional participation Don’t try to prove you’re smarter than the market. Guessing the top or bottom is the riskiest job in crypto.
3. Liquidity: Rising Price Without Volume Is Just Illusion A coin that increases 30–50% with very low liquidity is not an opportunity, but a trap. The market is only worth trading when: Price is accompanied by increasing volumeReal money flow, not just self-trading Signals like: ETF inflowsOn-chain activity surgesLarge investors start accumulating …are what you should invest in. Meanwhile, “pumping” moves are best watched from the sidelines.
4. Stop-Loss: Be Quick Like Turning Off a Water Valve No one wins 100% in crypto. The difference lies in how much and how long you lose. My rule: Risk only 1–2% of total account per tradeHit the stop level → exit immediately, no negotiations Stop-loss is not a failure; it’s the cost to stay in the game. Those unwilling to pay this “insurance fee” will eventually go bankrupt.
5. Timing: Enter Slowly, Exit Quickly Entering a trade can be cautious, but exiting must be decisive. When the market shows unusual signs: Price drops sharply with high volumeBad macro newsFunding is excessively skewed → prioritize capital preservation, profits can wait, but risks cannot.
6. Increasing Positions: Only Add When You Are Right Before adding more funds, ask yourself: “If I currently hold cash, would I buy at this price?” If the answer is no, then adding to your position is just covering up old mistakes. Increasing your position is to amplify profits, not to average down in desperation.
7. Cycles: Don’t Waste Time on Short-Term Noise Looking at 5-minute charts all day only causes: OvertradingLosing market senseMissing big trends Big money always lies in: Halving cyclesEcosystem upgradesInstitutional capital Use your time to understand the context, not count every candle.
8. Catching the Bottom: Better Slow Than Wrong “It’s cheap now, it can’t go lower” is the most dangerous phrase in crypto. Assets without support from cash flow can drop 50%, then another 50%. A safer strategy: Wait for trend reversalWait for a bullish structure to formWait for money to return You don’t need to buy at the bottom, just buy in the right trend. Conclusion: Discipline Is More Important Than Intelligence The market always has surprises: Policy changesExchange failuresWhale sudden dumps No one can avoid them all. But a good discipline system will help you not be eliminated from the game. In the short term, luck determines how much you make. In the long term, risk management determines how long you survive. Today, crypto is a playground for institutions and big money. The era of “gambling to change life” is over. If you want to go the distance, either: Become a disciplined traderOr follow those who truly understand this hunt 👉 Learning is always the most profitable investment in crypto.