Short-term contracts in the crypto market are essentially a game of very short-term betting—victory or defeat is often decided within seconds. I've seen too many people trapped by the idea of "buying the dip and selling the top," only to be wiped out by shakeouts and emotional swings. Traders who want to survive need to understand one principle: short-term profits don't rely on precise predictions, but on quick responses. Here are some practical tips.

**The First Filter for Coin Selection: Volatility is King**

The lifeblood of short-term trading is volatility. Coins without volatility are like dead water. My simple rule for choosing coins:

Focus on leading coins for opportunities. BTC and ETH are the market barometers, but the most explosive short-term gains often come from hot small-cap coins. I monitor data for tokens with a trading volume surge of over 500% within 24 hours, then cross-reference social media discussion heat. I prioritize those with a market cap in the top 50 and sufficient liquidity.

Coins that have been consolidating for more than three days are immediately discarded. This indicates that major funds have quietly pulled out. When a new coin launches, the initial few minutes can be emotionally intense, but beware of the "peak at open" pattern—this is often a trap set by the big players.

On-chain data is the most honest mirror. Monitor the movements of smart money. Once you notice large-scale buying (single transactions over $100,000), and the number of addresses holding the coin increases by over 50% within a week, it's time to follow. In 2024, I caught a Meme coin early on through on-chain signals. Early buyers had an average cost around $0.0001, I entered at $0.00015, and ultimately enjoyed a 300% increase. On-chain data never lies.

**The Instant Kill Timing for Entry**

Retail traders are most likely to get wiped out by "random firing." Traders must act like snipers—wait until the moment is right before pulling the trigger. Strictly follow the double