Having been in the crypto world for 8 years, I’ve stepped on countless pits and paid countless tuition fees, enough to fill an entire candlestick chart. One of the most common questions I get is: Why have I been trading for a year or two and still going in circles? The answer is often not luck, but your trading mindset.

Today, I want to share 9 core principles that I have repeatedly validated over the years, each of which has saved my account.

**1. Don’t trade frequently if you don’t have much capital**

When you only have around 200,000 to 300,000 yuan, there’s really no need to seize dozens of opportunities in a year. When a market trend arrives, fully capturing the gains of the main upward wave often yields far more than frequent tinkering throughout the year. Less trading is actually the most direct way to protect your principal.

**2. Don’t start practicing with real money right away**

The value of a simulated account is often underestimated. It’s not for beginners to pass time, but for those who haven’t figured things out yet to experiment and make mistakes. Losing a hundred times in simulation causes no real loss, but one big mistake in real trading can destroy your confidence or even cause you to be forced out by the market.

**3. Stay calm during major positive news**

I’ve seen too many people rush in as soon as good news appears, only to become the bag-holder the next day. When good news comes out, exercising restraint and exiting at a high open can surpass most traders. Greed often causes loss of control in this very moment.

**4. Protect your capital before holidays**

Markets don’t always fall, but just one drop can be very painful. Holding a small position over holidays not only helps you sleep better but also gives you enough time and space to react and adjust.

**5. Keep cash for mid- to long-term holdings**

Your account should always have some cash ready. Be willing to sell when prices rise, and be willing to buy when prices fall. Rolling positions helps you survive longer in this market. Those who stubbornly hold onto a single position often won’t make it to the next market cycle.

**6. Keep short-term trading simple**

Volume combined with pattern analysis is enough. No matter how good the story or perfect the logic, if there’s no volume, it’s just a waste of time. Complex technical indicators only make you more confused.

**7. Watching the speed of decline is more important than the extent of decline**

Slow declines are the most torturous, easily wearing traders out halfway. Rapid drops, on the other hand, tend to trigger rebounds. The rhythm of the market is far more important than specific price levels.

**8. Admit mistakes and don’t fight it**

The market never rewards stubbornness. Stop-loss isn’t losing; it’s preserving the chips to continue playing. Those who can cut losses in time are often the ones who survive the longest.

**9. Focus only on small cycles for short-term trades**

A 15-minute candlestick chart with simple indicators is enough. Don’t trap yourself in endless technical mazes, as that will only deepen confusion.

**Final advice**

Don’t try to learn everything at once. Choose two or three methods that truly suit you, and use them repeatedly until you master them. The crypto world is never short of opportunities; what’s lacking are those who can avoid basic mistakes and survive to the next cycle. If you’ve been here for a year but still haven’t found the right path, the problem might be that you need someone to help straighten out your thinking.