Have you ever wondered why some people still lose money when the market is rising, and others lose money when the market is falling?

This is really not about the market itself.

Just look at the people around you. When the market surges, they’re afraid of missing out, so they dive in headfirst and get caught; during a pullback, they’re terrified and quickly cut their positions to run away, only to miss the rebound. Chasing highs and cutting lows, going back and forth, their accounts are gradually depleted. What kind of trading strategy is this? It’s clearly being driven by emotions.

There’s also a particularly big pit — information overload.

Every day, all kinds of news flood in: positive signals, insider information, analysis, and interpretations. Ordinary people can’t tell which signals are real and which are just market noise. When someone shouts “The opportunity is here,” followers swarm in. And what happens in the end? They’re pushed around by emotions, losing everything in a mess.

Speaking of leverage, it’s even more of a double-edged sword.

Some people treat leverage as a lifeline to turn things around, but in reality, leverage is a magnifying glass. If you bet on the right direction, it amplifies your profits; if you bet wrong, it amplifies your losses, and can even magnify your fear, greed, and impulsiveness. It leaves no room for you to breathe.

Those who truly survive in the market usually have their own framework.

This framework doesn’t need to be overly complicated, but it must be clear:

Under what conditions can you enter? Under what circumstances must you exit? How much loss can a single trade withstand? Without these bottom lines, it’s all based on gut feeling — trading becomes more like gambling than investing.

Let’s look at a specific example — Ethereum.

When the price hits a key support or resistance level, it’s not about throwing everything in at once, but about doing this: carefully analyze the candlestick structure and price rhythm, and build positions gradually. Set your stop-loss points in advance and think through how to respond if your judgment is wrong. When it’s time to make money, you should have already set profit targets and a plan for partial exits. The entire process should be systematic and complete.

The key to making money in trading isn’t whether you can read charts well, but whether you can truly execute your plan.

When emotions flare up, are your pre-set rules still in place? When the market moves, can you still stick to your principles? The market is changing, hot spots rotate, themes update, but a true trader’s execution ability should remain unchanged.

To make money in this market, first you must survive in this market.

Many beginners ask, “Can I still make money now?” But the real question to ask is: “Can I persist and stay in this market?”

If you’re still hesitating and don’t know how to start, instead of shooting in the dark, it’s better to observe how others are positioning and managing their rhythm. Working blindly alone will never lead to new breakthroughs; having direction, rhythm, and discipline — that’s the key to long-term success.