Last year, my cousin was almost driven crazy by the crypto world.

At that time, she was sitting alone on the living room sofa, staring blankly at her phone screen for an hour. 360,000 yuan, just gone like that. That was the savings she had accumulated over nearly six years running her nail salon. She originally planned to make a quick profit, but after trusting a “mentor” from a paid group’s calls, she went all in on a few shitcoins, and in just half a month, her funds were slashed in half—again and again.

She was completely stunned. When we video chatted, her eyes were red and swollen, and she spoke with no confidence: “Maybe I’m just not cut out for this?” What could I say? I could only advise her to calm down and not rush to recover the losses.

But she’s stubborn.

After about a week of feeling down, she suddenly started studying like crazy—from basic concepts to technical analysis, from position management to risk control strategies. She was still researching various market data at two or three in the morning every day. I even wondered if she’d changed completely. Three months later, she suddenly called me, her voice full of laughter: “I made a comeback, went from 3,600 to just over 100,000.”

I was stunned. What kind of miracle operation is this?

Later, when she reviewed everything with me, I realized she had truly changed. The “survival rules” she learned from her losses were far more reliable than any so-called paid courses. She summarized a few ironclad rules that are especially practical:

**Position control is your lifeline.** She used to think “going all in” was exciting, but now she never risks more than 20% of her principal per trade, keeping the remaining 80% as a safety cushion. She says, “Keep your bullets ready, so you can wait for a real opportunity.”

The market won’t give you opportunities just because you’re in a hurry. That sounds simple, but very few people can actually do it. Now she’d rather miss out ten times than recklessly chase the latest hype. Patience is really something you pay for with your own money.

And your stop-loss line must be firm. If the price dips below your set level, get out immediately—don’t hold onto hope, don’t bet on a rebound. In her own words: “Hesitating for just a few seconds could mean losing thousands.”

Going from 360,000 to the brink of debt, then climbing from 3,600 to over 100,000—only those who have experienced it themselves can truly understand the emotional journey. The market doesn’t have sympathy for anyone, but it does reward those who truly learn to respect its rules.