A couple of days ago at 3 a.m., a friend who's been following me for over half a year suddenly panicked and sent me over a dozen voice messages in a row.

He said he had just converted 800,000 USDT into cash and transferred it to his bank account. Before he could even celebrate, two hours later he received a text message from the bank: "Non-counter transaction function has been suspended." The money did arrive, but it was like a freeze spell had been cast—he could see the balance, but couldn't touch it.

He stared blankly at his phone screen for half an hour. All this money was earned from sleepless nights watching the charts, grinding point by point. He thought it was finally safe in his hands, but he got stuck at the last step of withdrawal. Many people only focus on market ups and downs, thinking that surviving the volatility is all it takes. In reality, the deadliest thing is earning the money but not being able to withdraw it.

The root cause is called "fund contamination"—some USDT may originate from gray sources, having gone through several hands on the blockchain before reaching you. It all looks normal on the surface, but if the upstream funding chain collapses, all related accounts could be frozen.

Don’t panic—freezing ≠ breaking the law. As long as you can provide OTC trading screenshots, chat records, and transfer receipts, most accounts can be unfrozen. But this process involves dealing with banks and the police, which takes at least a few weeks if you're lucky, or months if not. It's troublesome and stressful, so it's better to take precautions.

Here are some practical tips:

**1. Get a dedicated "crypto bank card"**
Open a separate bank account just for OTC transactions. Don’t mix it with your salary or daily spending accounts. If it gets frozen, at least your rent, utilities, and groceries won’t be affected.

**2. Choose reliable counterparties**
Prioritize established merchants with high credibility and long transaction histories. Don’t risk dealing with newly registered accounts just for a slightly better rate—the risk is huge.

**3. Pay attention to operational details**
Split large amounts into batches and try to transact during the day. After funds arrive, wait and observe for three days before moving them. When adding a note to transfers, write a normal reason like "payment for goods" or "consulting fee."

Making money in crypto takes skill, but getting your money safely into your pocket is the real talent. Don’t wait until your account is frozen to take action—handling these details in advance is more effective than anything else.

People ask me if I mentor newcomers. I’ve always believed that as long as the light stays on, those who walk steadily will naturally see the way.