To be completely honest: with contracts, what really knocks people out isn’t losing money, but liquidation. Especially for friends whose principal is less than 10,000 USDT—a single impulsive move can wipe you out instantly.

I’ve seen too many cases like this. People enter the market with a few thousand USDT, full of hope, staring at the screen until their eyes are red, trying to catch every rumor. The moment the market moves, they go all-in. The first three days are so exciting they can’t sleep, but after a week, the account is wiped out, and within half a month, they’re gone without a trace. You think you’re fighting hard, but in reality, you’re just paying tuition to the market.

I’ve paid that tuition myself. I once held 20,000 USDT, thinking I could multiply it several times. And the result? Chasing the crowd, stubbornly holding losing positions, trading emotionally—after one round of this, there was barely anything left in my account. After that, I forced myself to calm down and review my trades, and I came up with three survival rules. By sticking to these, I steadily grew my account to 100,000 USDT in four months—without a single liquidation.

**Rule 1: Never use more than half your capital**
There are always plenty of opportunities in the market, but if you lose your principal, it’s gone for good. Keeping some ammo is a hundred times more important than trying to catch every big surge. If you’re on the right track, add positions slowly. If you’re wrong, exit immediately.

**Rule 2: Be ruthless with stop-losses and take-profits**
When it’s time to exit, exit. When it’s time to cash out, cash out. The biggest mistake beginners make is being reluctant—trying to recover losses, or wanting just a little more profit. The market doesn’t care about your feelings; a single pullback can wipe out all your gains. Setting clear stop-loss and take-profit lines isn’t cowardice—it’s professionalism.

**Rule 3: Never touch what you don’t understand**
Calls from chat groups, trending short videos, or influencer tips—nine and a half out of ten are traps. If you don’t even know what a project actually does and you rush in, you’re gambling on luck. It’s better to miss an opportunity than to step on a landmine.

When the market is moving, stay calm. When it’s choppy, be patient. If you can protect your 10,000 USDT, only then can you grow it to 100,000 USDT. If you can stick to your rules, the market will give you room to survive.

What the crypto market lacks isn’t opportunity, but a calm mind. Don’t rush to get rich overnight—protect your principal first. Master these three survival rules, and you’ll evolve from a rookie into a player who can earn steady profits.