Looking at others' profit screenshots—50,000 turning into 500,000, 100,000 into 5 million—those feelings of envy mixed with FOMO make me want to go all in immediately. But when I actually make a move, I either suffer losses or get trapped. I've studied technical indicators, looked at candlestick charts, so why do I still panic during volatility? Either cut losses early or buy more as prices fall, sinking deeper each time.

I've asked myself this question countless times.

Until one day, an old trader from Beijing talked with me for a few hours. This guy went from 100,000 in capital to a market cap of tens of millions, and he summed up the whole process with one painfully honest sentence: "In the crypto market, all retail traders are driven by emotion. Whoever can control their panic and greed, faces a 24-hour ATM."

That moment I finally understood—technical analysis and fundamental research are just entry tickets. The ones who truly survive and make money rely on another set of skills: trading discipline and emotional management.

**Don’t go all-in at the first entry; that’s not bravery**

You like a coin, and immediately go full position. I’ve done this, many others have too. When FOMO hits, my fingers tremble, and I want to push all my chips in at once.

But this market isn’t about who rushes the fastest; it’s about who can last the longest.

What do the big players who make real money do? They test the waters quietly. Small amounts multiple times, gradually building positions—like a snake swallowing an elephant. What’s the benefit of this? Even if you make a wrong call, losses are controlled; if you’re right, you get multiple chances to buy in. Steadily building a position is always safer than going all-in at once. This isn’t conservatism; it’s the wisdom to survive.

**Consolidation isn’t garbage time; it hides the biggest opportunities**

Some dislike sideways movement, feeling frustrated when prices don’t rise or fall, just waiting. But if you think that way, you miss what I call "true observation opportunities."

During sideways oscillations, chips are slowly changing hands. If the price keeps consolidating at high levels for days without breaking out, it often indicates increasing selling pressure above, weakening bullish momentum, and a potential drop could happen at any moment. Conversely, if the price repeatedly dips but doesn’t fall further, with buyers stepping in at each bottom, that’s a sign of strong bottoming.

Traders who understand the market are positioning during these periods. They watch support and resistance levels, waiting for a breakout. So don’t dismiss sideways movement as boring; it’s the market’s golden period for reflection.

**Volatility itself isn’t scary; your reaction is**

Suddenly, a surge happens. What’s your first reaction? Chase it or take partial profits?

Then the price plunges again. Panic sets in—cut losses or stay calm and look for opportunities?

Most people’s problem is here—volatility isn’t the real risk. The real danger comes from emotional reactions triggered by volatility. When the market moves, if you have no plan and just react based on feelings, that’s deadly.

On the other hand, if you’ve planned ahead—at what price to take partial profits, at what level to add or cut—then volatility becomes a test of your strategy. The market moves according to your script.

**Entry and exit points, the key is to go against human nature and follow the trend**

There’s an old saying in the market: buy on divergence, sell on consensus.

When the entire market is euphoric, chasing highs, with all green on the screen and chatter in groups rushing forward, you need to be extra cautious. Not that you shouldn’t chase, but understand—at this moment, the market has attracted a lot of retail money, which is often a sign that big players are quietly offloading.

Conversely, when everyone is panicking and selling, with continuous red candles and wails everywhere, that’s the best time to calmly position yourself. Because the true bottom is often found where human despair peaks.

This isn’t some mystical secret; it’s about using rationality to suppress human nature. Think against the crowd’s emotions, then operate in the true trend direction.

**The bottom line: always leave a way out for the worst-case scenario**

Surviving in the crypto world is victory itself.

So never go all-in; stagger your entries as common sense. More importantly—firmly set stop-losses. That’s not giving up; it’s insurance to keep playing.

Imagine where the worst outcome could be. Knowing this bottom line, you can pursue the best opportunities without burden. Because you know how much you can afford to lose, your mindset stays stable.

Every one of these insights is earned with real money. The market never lacks opportunities; what’s truly missing are discipline, patience, and emotional restraint.