The market in 2025 taught me an expensive lesson. My biggest takeaway isn't technical indicators, but four key insights—mindset and survival always come before profit.

**First shift: Volatility turns from the devil into a friend**

BTC soared from $90,000–$100,000 at the start of the year to a new high of $126,000 in October, mainly driven by continuous institutional ETF buying and supply tightening after the halving. But macro risks in Q4 slammed the market down by over 30%, ending the year oscillating between $87K and $91K. This correction taught me a principle: the market is a machine that tests your faith with extreme volatility. I stopped fearing declines and started viewing them as real opportunities for "buy low, sell high."

**Second shift: Survive first, then talk about making money**

The stupidest thing I did before was going all-in on a rally, only to see unrealized gains vanish in a second, crushing my mindset. In 2025, I set strict rules: every trade must have a stop-loss (loss limit of 8–10%), leverage no more than 2-3x, no overthinking. Risk management comes before market judgment—if I miscalculate, I can still survive and wait for the next wave. Those who go all-in always end up out.

**Third shift: Cash is bullets**

Now I maintain a 20–30% stablecoin position (USDC/USDT combined with staking yields). During panic drops, I add to my position instead of always being fully invested in a sleepwalking manner. The market dips in 2025 confirmed this logic: those without bullets admit defeat first. Turning "holding cash" from passive waiting into an active tactic makes a huge difference in mindset.

**Fourth shift: Abandon bottom-topping and top-timing, embrace uncertainty**

The era of institutions has changed the game. Cycles are less clear, and macro trends and ETF flows speak louder than technicals. I no longer strain to catch the top or bottom but focus on core assets (BTC at 50%+) and narratives with support (ETH, RWA, DePIN), letting time and compound interest work for me. I write trading logs daily, review moments of FOMO and panic, and reflect on what drove my decisions—accounts driven by emotion won't go far.

These insights aren't groundbreaking; they are survival rules earned with real money in 2025. Trading ultimately isn't about who reads the charts better but about who can survive longer and keep capital rotating in the market. Currently, BTC hovers around $90K. Opportunities still exist, but only those who master mindset and risk management will truly profit from the market.