Crypto circles are never short of smart people, but those who truly survive are the ones who seem a bit "silly."

In 2018, I entered this market with 300,000 yuan. Up to now, my account peak once surpassed 30 million. I bought houses in several cities, and life has become relatively stable.

This is not to boast, but to say that in this place where "a day in the crypto world is like a year in the human world," I have seen many more intelligent traders blow up and exit, while I, the "conservative," have been able to survive.

My approach is actually nothing mysterious, and many look down on it—saying I am too slow, too timid, and my returns are not impressive enough. But it is this "simple method" that allowed me to survive the nearly 25% single-day drop in 2020, and also dodge the largest liquidation wave in history in October 2025 (over $19 billion in a single day).

**The Tuition Fees Paid**

When I first entered the market in 2018, I was the typical chase-and-sell type. Seeing a certain altcoin skyrocket from $2 to $18, I got impulsive and went all-in, only to buy at the peak. Watching it fall to $9, my account was cut in half—such a feeling is really tough.

The worse was yet to come. In 2019, after listening to so-called "big V" signals, I started trading leveraged contracts. One night, I got liquidated for hundreds of thousands. That’s when I realized that most "analysts" in crypto are just paper tigers—they aim to profit from their clients’ losses.

The most memorable event was 2020’s 312 crash. Bitcoin plummeted from $7,900 straight down to $3,600. I predicted the decline, but at around $4,800, I couldn’t resist bottom-fishing, only to lose nearly half my principal. That experience truly taught me the importance of "stop-loss."

**How I Changed My Approach**

After these pitfalls, I started to change my strategy. The core logic is simple: don’t chase every dip to the bottom, and don’t expect to get rich overnight with leverage.

My current trading approach is this: First, never fully allocate all funds. No matter how good the opportunity looks, only invest 30-40% of the total capital, so even if I make a wrong call, I can still hold on. Second, never use leverage. Leverage is like a double-edged sword—it can amplify gains in good markets, but risks are also multiplied. One wrong judgment can wipe out years of accumulation. Third, set proper stop-loss levels. Always predefine the loss limit for each trade—don’t hold onto the hope of a rebound; cut losses when needed.

This method may seem very ordinary, but it’s this "simple" persistence that has allowed me to survive every market upheaval. In the 2021 bull market, I didn’t catch the top, but I earned enough steadily. In the 2022 bear market, I wasn’t trapped because I started without heavy holdings.

**What Is the Truth**

The crypto world can indeed make people get rich quickly, but statistically, 99% of people end up losing money. Why? Because most gamble on being smart—trying to achieve short-term explosive gains through precise timing, high leverage, and frequent trading. The result? These "smart" traders’ accounts are wiped out in a sudden black swan event.

Meanwhile, the "conservative" investors, although their annual returns may not be dazzling, never face fatal blows to their accounts. That’s the power of compound interest—steady, consistent returns that, over the long term, outshine those high-risk, adrenaline-seeking trades.

Looking back now, I am grateful for those failures. They taught me a truth: surviving in crypto is more important than appearing glamorous. Protecting your principal is the only way to see the next wave of market opportunities.