Three years ago, I entered the market full of passion, imagining the days of lying back and earning financial freedom. But the market gave me a harsh wake-up call, teaching me through repeated losses that became a compulsory course in crypto investing.

During the toughest times, I watched my account drop from six figures to three, and that feeling truly made me consider giving up. But it was those bloody lessons that forced me to develop a methodology for surviving in this market.

**Lesson One: Outwit Greed for Survival**

The data is clear: most crypto investors end up losing and exiting. The reason is simple—being driven by emotions. The strict rule I set for myself is straightforward: the maximum position size for a single coin is 20% of total funds. Once the stop-loss hits 8% below the purchase price, I cut losses immediately—no bargaining.

It's like driving a car; you must always leave room for an emergency brake. Greed in the crypto market is like a slow-acting poison.

**Lesson Two: Don't Fight the Market**

Many people believe they can precisely buy the dip and perfectly sell at the top, but these "smart" traders often die the fastest. I also suffered huge losses from counter-trend shorting before I fully understood a principle: "Follow the big trend, oppose the small trend."

When the weekly MACD shows a golden cross and the moving averages are aligned in a bullish pattern, even if the daily chart pulls back, stay steady; conversely, if the weekly chart forms a death cross, a rebound on the daily is a signal to exit. If the big trend is wrong, no matter how clever the small trades are, they’re useless.

**Lesson Three: Discipline in Taking Profits**

Many people regret after selling too early, which is also a source of losses. When you should be greedy, you can't, and when you shouldn't, you can't stop. You need to set target levels in advance—when reached, exit; don’t wait.

Survive first, then you might have the chance to see real profits.