Having navigated the crypto world for 7 years, my account has experienced liquidations, zeroing out, and I’ve stepped into many pits—so many that I could circle the Earth several times.

Seeing through the market’s ups and downs, I’ve also gradually realized some real truths. Whether it’s profit or loss, every transaction is a lesson paid for with real money.

When it comes to how to survive in the crypto space, there are really only two words—cognition. Making money depends on grasping the rhythm; surviving depends on deep understanding. Don’t blindly chase rallies or panic sell; don’t go all-in on a whim. I’ve made those mistakes myself, and I really don’t want you to repeat them.

Below are 16 ironclad trading rules I’ve summarized through repeatedly stepping into pits and climbing out of failures. How deeply you understand them depends on how much you revere this market:

**1. In a bull market, choose flexible assets; in a bear market, stick to BTC**
During hot markets, small coins are more volatile; but when a bear hits, you have to rely on mainstream coins to survive.

**2. Volume at the bottom is a true signal; don’t chase rebounds on low volume**
Trading volume reflects the market’s real state. Don’t be fooled by false rebounds.

**3. Rising back to test the moving average is a window to build positions**
When the trend is upward, every pullback is an opportunity to buy in; early positioning often yields the greatest returns.

**4. Less fuss, mastering 2-3 major waves in a year beats daily trading**
Instead of frequent turnover, focus on those few truly profitable trends.

**5. Position size must be controlled; always leave room for capital**
Full position is the start of death. The market always has black swan events; risk reserves are crucial.

**6. Cut losses on scam coins once trapped; adding to losing positions is suicide**
Experienced traders know when to admit defeat. Timely stop-losses keep you alive for the next trend.

**7. News only stirs emotions; don’t use it as a reason to build positions**
Seemingly important news often turns out to be traps for those taking over.

**8. Don’t touch unfamiliar sectors; depth is more valuable than breadth**
Focus on areas you understand; spreading out blindly is less reliable.

**9. Market sentiment is the most confusing; rational thinking is the rarest skill**
Those who can stay calm amid madness are the real winners.

**10. Altcoins will definitely fall after rising too much; falling doesn’t necessarily mean they will rise again**
Cycles are brutal. Recognizing strong versus weak assets is a thousand times smarter than gambling against the trend.

**11. When the market consensus is overly bullish, it’s time to be alert**
Consensus is often the most dangerous.

**12. True experts dare to hold cash and wait for real opportunities**
Not being led by the market’s nose—that’s true skill.

**13. Hot sectors rotate too quickly; following the trend often results in being trapped at high levels**
Finding the rhythm is more important than blindly following the herd.

**14. You must establish your own trading system; a logical closed loop is key**
Trading without a system is gambling.

**15. Trading crypto is a marathon, not a sprint; mindset management is everything**
Those who can survive multiple cycles automatically eliminate 90% of retail investors.

**16. The essence of this market is nine failures to one success; only using idle funds keeps your mindset stable**
People trading with living expenses will ultimately lose everything.

Ultimately, trading crypto isn’t about who makes money fastest, but who can survive the longest. Deep cognition determines how much volatility affects you; a stable trading system allows continuous profits amid ups and downs.

These aren’t some profound principles; they are survival rules learned through repeated failures. I hope they can help future traders.