I spent nearly four years turning an initial 3,000U into 280,000U. It sounds like a get-rich-quick story, but honestly, I’ve stepped on more pitfalls than I’ve had successes.

Many people ask me what my secret is. I’ll be straightforward: it’s not luck, nor some advanced skill, but discipline.

The volatility in the crypto market is indeed ridiculously fast. Neighbor Lao Wang might double his holdings in a month, but he could also get liquidated right after. I also suffered big losses early on; without rules and reckless trading, I was liquidated several times, losing everything. It was then that I realized: what truly determines how far a person can go is never luck, but whether they can stick to discipline.

The following 5 rules are lessons I learned the hard way, paid for with real money. Missing even one could lead to zero.

**Rule 1: Cut Losses Decisively**

I’ll never forget the decision to "wait for a rebound." One sentence, and I was immediately liquidated. Now, once I hit the stop-loss level, I exit immediately. Don’t hope for a turnaround; preserving your principal is more valuable than any rebound.

**Rule 2: Stop after 5 consecutive losses**

In chaotic market days, you often get the direction wrong repeatedly. Five consecutive losses? Close your trading app and take a break for a day. I’ve learned that emotional trading can send you to hell, while calm waiting is often the best strategy.

**Rule 3: Withdraw every time you earn 3000U**

This is the most practical rule. The numbers on the account are not real money. My approach is, whenever floating profits reach 3000U, I take half off the table. The benefit is that you always have real cash in hand and won’t lose everything in a big retracement later.

**Rule 4: Only trade trends, avoid choppiness**

High leverage amplifies in a trending market but turns into a meat grinder in consolidation or sideways movement. When you can’t see the direction clearly, better to stay flat and wait for opportunities rather than gamble on vague rebounds.

**Rule 5: Keep single-position size within 10% of capital**

Quickly getting rich with high leverage is basically an illusion. Long-term survival depends on position control. When your position is lighter, your mindset stays stable, and your hands won’t shake.

These 5 rules are the blood and tears I paid for through repeated failures. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced trader, if you want to last longer in this market, the first thing is to set your "life-saving rules," then you can talk about making money.

There’s a saying I always remember: the first rule of crypto is not how much you can earn, but whether you can survive. Those who can both survive in the market and profit from it are often those who dare to act but never violate their own rules.