Having been in the crypto space for eight years, my most unforgettable memory is the ultimate feast of altcoins in 2019.

That year, I set my sights on ADA, gradually building a position starting at $0.03. Honestly, no one expected that in just three months, it would surge all the way to $1.2. My account value increased nearly 40 times. That feeling, every morning the first thing I did was open the market app, look at the asset numbers on the screen, and think to myself that this money would be enough to pay off the down payment in the city.

But I made a fatal mistake—greed. I was reluctant to hit the sell button. And then? ADA experienced a cliff-like crash, instantly dropping back to $0.2. Unrealized gains vanished like water into the sea, with about 80% of the profit evaporating in the blink of an eye, and my dream of buying a house was completely shattered.

That bloody lesson taught me a very simple truth: in the crypto world, just buying is only passing; true winners know when to sell.

After years of practice, I developed a set of take-profit and stop-loss systems, especially suitable for ordinary investors who can't monitor the market all the time.

**For take-profit, I use a ladder approach:**

For example, if a coin rises from $1 to $2, I will first sell 30% of my position—this way, the principal is basically recovered, and the subsequent ups and downs are profit, keeping my mindset stable. When the price rises again to $3, I sell another 30%. The remaining 40% will be placed with a trailing take-profit order, so that if the price drops 15% from the high point, I will close the position entirely. This way, I won't miss the main upward wave, and I can lock in core profits.

**My strict rule for stop-loss:**

The maximum loss per trade is 5% of the total principal—no discussion. Each time I buy, I immediately set a conditional order: if it drops 10%, I sell automatically. This acts as an insurance lock for the trade. Don't worry about missing opportunities; there are plenty of chances in the crypto space. But once the principal is wiped out, you've lost the chance to turn things around completely.

Over the years, I've seen many stories of sudden wealth, but more people have lost everything. Those who can truly walk away with profits intact are often the ones who stick to discipline. The market is always there, but your principal is only one.