Six years in the crypto world, my understanding of the market is often shattered at the most painful moments, only to be reassembled. The most profound experience happened in 2019.

That year's altcoin frenzy is still vivid in my memory. I spotted ADA and started building a position in batches from $0.03. Within three months, it surged to $1.2. The numbers in my account skyrocketed, with unrealized gains nearly 40 times. The first thing I did every morning was check the market, truly calculating the down payment for a house at that time.

But greed destroyed everything. I didn't sell, and in the end, I faced a harsh outcome: ADA plummeted sharply, crashing back to $0.2. Eighty percent of my profits vanished within days, and my dream of buying a house was shattered.

After that heavy loss, I realized a brutal truth: in the crypto world, just buying is only passing; true winners know how to exit gracefully.

**The ladder take-profit method is a strategy I developed later.**

Suppose a coin rises from $1 to $2, I first sell 30% of my position—my principal is recovered, and my mindset changes completely for the remaining part. When the price reaches $3, I sell another 30%, and for the last 40%, I set a trailing stop: if it falls 15% from the peak, I close everything. This way, I can ride the main upward wave and prevent profits from being wiped out.

**Regarding stop-loss, I have only one strict rule.**

The maximum loss on any trade is 5% of the total principal. Immediately after buying, I place a -10% stop order as an extra layer of insurance. Some might say this causes missed rebound opportunities. But honestly, in crypto, nothing is lacking except market opportunities. Once your principal is wiped out, you lose the qualification to turn the tide.

Over the years, I’ve seen too many stories of overnight riches, but more often, people lose everything on rollercoasters. Those who can truly walk away with profits intact are almost rigidly disciplined. The market is tempting, but surviving and exiting is always the top priority.