Having been in the crypto world for so many years, the most memorable moment for me was the 2017 altcoin boom. Back then, the market was like a nationwide feast, with everyone dreaming of getting rich overnight.

I set my sights on the $DOLO coin, gradually accumulating from $0.03. Honestly, I didn’t think too much at the time, just followed my instincts. As a result, in just three months, the price skyrocketed to $1.2, and my account instantly multiplied nearly 40 times. At that moment, dreams of buying a house and financial freedom flashed through my mind. The first thing I did every morning was to stare at the market app and refresh.

Then, the dream was shattered.

ADA suddenly experienced a cliff dive, crashing back to $0.2. Unrealized gains evaporated like water, and 80% of my profits disappeared within a few weeks. That house dream turned into an illusion.

This lesson made me realize: knowing when to buy is just beginner-level; true profit-making experts understand the core competitive advantage lies in knowing when to sell.

**Ladder Take-Profit Method** is a blood-and-tears summary I learned through real money. Suppose a coin rises from $1 to $2, I would first sell 30% to lock in the principal, so the remaining position won’t cause panic during fluctuations; if it continues to rise to $3, I sell another 30%, and finally, I keep 40% with a trailing stop—if the price pulls back 15% from the high, I exit completely. This way, I can catch the main upward wave without giving back all my profits.

**I have a strict rule for stop-loss**: single-loss trades should never exceed 5% of the total principal. Every time I buy, I immediately set a -10% stop-loss order, which is like installing a fuse in the trade. Many people worry that this might cause them to miss rebounds, but we need to understand a harsh reality—the crypto market never lacks volatility. Once the principal is wiped out, you lose your ticket to turn the tide.

Over these years of market ups and downs, I’ve seen too many stories of overnight riches, but more often, people lose everything in rollercoaster markets. Those who can truly walk away with profits intact are usually the most disciplined traders. The rules are simple, but execution is difficult—yet this is precisely the dividing line between profit-makers and losers.