The Transformation of People in Highly Volatile Markets: What Crypto Truly Leaves Behind

I entered the crypto market in 2017. I have experienced the despair when Bitcoin dropped from tens of thousands of dollars to just a few thousand, and I have also witnessed the madness when prices hit historic highs. Today, I am not here to discuss technical analysis, nor to boast about achievements. I just want to share a raw truth: once you’ve tasted the feeling of earning a month’s salary in a single day, it’s very difficult to go back to the “stable job” life as before.

1. Quick Money Completely Disrupts Perception In the past, working in a traditional environment, working overtime constantly, earning a few tens of millions per month was satisfying. But then one day, during a hot market, your account skyrocketed after just a few candles. That moment is not just about money – it completely breaks the concept of labor value. The emotional threshold is pushed very high: Once accustomed to strong volatility, sitting in an office, making reports, waiting for the end of the month to receive a paycheck becomes burdensome and meaningless. Risk appetite changes forever: The daily two-digit market swings make a few percent gains per year in traditional work seem too slow. This “freedom” has a dark side. It easily makes people addicted to adrenaline and lose patience.
2. What Cannot Be Reversed Is Not Money, But Ego Many think that people in crypto are obsessed with the dream of quick wealth. In fact, the thing that keeps them in the game the longest is the change in their self-identity. The lucky group: Those who make a large amount of money too quickly often fall into emptiness. They are unsure whether it is their ability or luck, so they are both afraid of missing opportunities and hesitant to leave the game. The value-creating group: Those who delve into research, product development, or market data analysis are more stable. For them, crypto is a tool to amplify their capabilities, not a gamble. Long-term players do not see the market as a casino but as a battlefield where perception is transformed into money. During sideways markets, experienced traders often: Follow institutional money flow via ETFsAnalyze on-chain data to determine whale holding costsCompare monetary policy cycles with Bitcoin volatility These activities require much higher discipline and focus than ordinary office work.
3. The Only Path to Maturity: Understanding Volatility Some say crypto is a zero-sum game. I do not fully agree. Zero-sum only exists when everyone is fighting for the same slice of the pie. Those who understand the market can create new value. Exploiting Price Reflexivity Prices themselves can generate stories. When an asset surpasses its previous high, it attracts more capital due to FOMO. Experienced traders participate when the story is still faint and withdraw when the crowd becomes overly excited. Finding Certainty in Chaos The market is not as random as many think. Bitcoin’s volatility is increasingly tied to macro policies. Instead of trading on emotion, focus on: Interest rate decisionsLarge fund inflows and outflowsUnusual activity of large wallets Maintain a Defensive Mindset Many have made money but failed to keep it. My personal strategy is quite simple: Core capital focuses only on large, sustainable assetsA small portion is allocated to new trends, always with limited riskWhen reaching certain profit milestones, always realize to ensure financial safety
4. Conclusion: True Freedom Comes from Risk Control The biggest appeal of crypto is not just escaping the office job, but the opportunity to redefine the concept of “work.” If you only seek luck, you will become fuel for the market. If you are willing to learn, analyze data, understand macro context, and train emotional discipline, the market will reward you accordingly. Big daily gains and losses will also become normal. Only the ability to turn volatility into stable cash flow is an asset no one can take away. Learning and upgrading awareness is always the highest-yield investment in this market.