Someone always asks me: "How have you been in this industry for so long? Not getting carried away in a bull market, not panicking in a bear market?" My answer is straightforward—it's not because of some extraordinary talent, but because I follow a set of rules to constrain myself.
Many traders are actually not bad. Among the people I know, some read K-lines better than I do, get information faster than I do, and are well-informed. But in the end? They all fall into the same trap—always trying to turn things around with one big move.
I learned this lesson back in 2018. That year, BTC plunged from a high, and I got greedy. I borrowed money and used leverage to buy the dip, but I bought in the middle of the move. My account was liquidated, and I lost everything. Only afterward did I realize: "Haste" is the real poison. 90% of people in the crypto world lose money, not because of technical issues, but because of their speed—FOMO chasing after rapid surges, and panic selling at dips. To put it plainly, it's not the market that loses, but your adrenaline.
Later, I set three strict rules for myself. They might sound a bit "stupid," but they really saved my life:
**First, never risk more than 30% of my position.** Even if I am confident prices will rise, I only dare to allocate 20%-30% of my capital. If I lose, it doesn't hurt my overall health; if I gain, my mindset remains stable. During ETH's recent rebound, I bought in three times, adding a bit each time it dropped 5%. My average cost was lowered, and I took partial profits when it rose 10%. It may not seem like much profit, but my account curve steadily climbed upward.
**Second, set a stop-loss line on my phone wallpaper.** If the daily drawdown exceeds 5%, I force myself to turn off the computer and walk the dog; if any trade loses 8% of my principal, I must cut my losses immediately. Sounds a bit cowardly? But this "cowardice" has kept me alive until now.
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LiquidityWitch
· 01-05 11:13
ngl this discipline stuff hits different when you've actually watched your own liquidation sacrifice play out... the 3% rule feels almost cowardly until you realize it's just portfolio transmutation disguised as caution, bruv
Reply0
GasWrangler
· 01-04 19:44
honestly, the 3% position sizing is technically just optimal portfolio allocation disguised as discipline... if you actually run the monte carlo simulations on drawdown probability, the math checks out. but most people won't do the work.
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PensionDestroyer
· 01-03 18:43
That's right, but you know what, the ones who really survive are these "timid people."
Borrowing money and leveraging to buy the dip, I've seen too many people around me die from it.
A 30% position is indeed not sexy, but the feeling of repeatedly taking losses is even more painful.
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AirdropHunterKing
· 01-03 18:40
Damn, this guy is telling the truth. In 2018, I was the same way—borrowing money and leveraging to chase highs, and ended up losing everything. Now, every time I see the price go up, I have to hold myself back. Honestly, without those three strict rules, I would have been gone long ago.
View OriginalReply0
BearMarketHustler
· 01-03 18:36
Really, discipline is the key. All those K-line experts ultimately fall victim to FOMO. It's hilarious.
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GasFeeBarbecue
· 01-03 18:29
Well, damn, this is the wisdom of living.
The part about borrowing money and leveraging to buy the dip really resonated with me. I did that back in the day too.
Having a 30% position may sound "cowardly," but it's truly money for survival.
View OriginalReply0
OnChainSleuth
· 01-03 18:21
It's quite eye-opening; the 90% losing money figure is no exaggeration. Those around me who watch K-line charts all day until their eyes go blind, in the end, still fall prey to emotions, honestly.
I have a deep feeling about the part where people borrow money and leverage to buy the dip. I did the same foolish thing in 2021, and I still feel scared when I think about it. Greed at that moment makes people stupid.
I think a 30% position size is quite reasonable—not too conservative, and the risk-reward ratio is acceptable. However, that 8% stop-loss rule—how strong must one's self-discipline be to truly follow through? Most people always want to take a lucky shot at the last minute.
Someone always asks me: "How have you been in this industry for so long? Not getting carried away in a bull market, not panicking in a bear market?" My answer is straightforward—it's not because of some extraordinary talent, but because I follow a set of rules to constrain myself.
Many traders are actually not bad. Among the people I know, some read K-lines better than I do, get information faster than I do, and are well-informed. But in the end? They all fall into the same trap—always trying to turn things around with one big move.
I learned this lesson back in 2018. That year, BTC plunged from a high, and I got greedy. I borrowed money and used leverage to buy the dip, but I bought in the middle of the move. My account was liquidated, and I lost everything. Only afterward did I realize: "Haste" is the real poison. 90% of people in the crypto world lose money, not because of technical issues, but because of their speed—FOMO chasing after rapid surges, and panic selling at dips. To put it plainly, it's not the market that loses, but your adrenaline.
Later, I set three strict rules for myself. They might sound a bit "stupid," but they really saved my life:
**First, never risk more than 30% of my position.** Even if I am confident prices will rise, I only dare to allocate 20%-30% of my capital. If I lose, it doesn't hurt my overall health; if I gain, my mindset remains stable. During ETH's recent rebound, I bought in three times, adding a bit each time it dropped 5%. My average cost was lowered, and I took partial profits when it rose 10%. It may not seem like much profit, but my account curve steadily climbed upward.
**Second, set a stop-loss line on my phone wallpaper.** If the daily drawdown exceeds 5%, I force myself to turn off the computer and walk the dog; if any trade loses 8% of my principal, I must cut my losses immediately. Sounds a bit cowardly? But this "cowardice" has kept me alive until now.