I was jolted awake in the middle of the night by a barrage of messages.

A friend who works in crypto sent me a voice message, his voice so hoarse it sounded like he’d swallowed razor blades: “200,000 USDT is down to 5,000. My mortgage and credit cards are maxed out. If this keeps up, I’ll have to set up a street stall to survive.”

I didn’t tell him to cut his losses immediately, nor did I preach about catching the bottom. I just told him to close his trading app, take a deep breath, and copy the following sentences into his phone’s notes.

53 days later, he sent me a screenshot—his account balance was back in six figures. Today, I’m sharing the survival method that helped him. If it saves even one person, it’s worth it.

**First, don’t rush in. Wait for signals to align before making a move.**

No matter how hot a coin is, check three conditions: the price has stabilized in a range for three days, the 5-day moving average is turning upward, and trading volume is up at least 50% over previous levels. If one is missing, only risk 5% to test the waters; if not all align, keep waiting. That’s better than FOMO-buying and handing over your money.

**Second, sideways movement is not a dead end—it’s your chance to add to your position.**

When everyone in the group is yelling “Sell! Get out!”, use only your profits to buy more—remember, use profits only, never touch your principal. Your principal is your lifeline; lose it and you’re truly done.

**Third, during crashes, watch for the bottom; during surges, lock in profits.**

When the market crashes, look at previous lows and the fear index—if they’re not broken, stay calm. When the market surges, sell 30% to cash out, then set a trailing stop for the rest—don’t let your gains slip away.

**Fourth, dare to buy on long red candles, dare to sell on strong green candles.**

If the red candle is long, doesn’t break previous lows, and volume spikes, buy a small amount. If the green candle rises over 5%, sell half and set a stop loss for the rest. Don’t lose your head in the craziest moments.

**Fifth, always leave yourself an exit.**

Never allocate more than 20% of your portfolio to a single coin. Total exposure should not exceed 70%; keep the remaining 30% in cash as your oxygen tank. Going all-in is like diving without oxygen—suffocation is only a matter of time.

**Sixth, review your mistakes before bed.**

Before you turn off the lights each night, ask yourself: Did I just follow the crowd today? Did I hesitate to cut my losses? Did I dip into my principal to add to my position? The market has no pity for regret, but reviewing your trades will help you make fewer mistakes.

Trading isn’t gambling—it’s about finding patterns. Engrave these rules in your mind, and your account will start giving you positive feedback.

It’s hard to walk this path alone. The way is clear—I’ve pointed it out. Whether you follow it is up to you.