Who in the crypto world hasn't dreamed of getting rich overnight? Back in 2018, I had 120,000 yuan (half a lifetime of savings from my parents plus three years' worth of my own) and went all in on the hottest mainstream asset at the time. When the price was $450, all I could think was "The trend is here, financial freedom is just around the corner."

During those days, I was living in a shabby guesthouse in Chiang Mai, with no air conditioning, staying up day and night watching the charts, tearing open 7-Eleven rice balls to eat half. On a hot afternoon in 2019, my account suddenly jumped to 2.3 million, and I was so nervous I almost spilled my iced coffee on the neighbor—counted the decimals three times before I dared to believe it. I really thought I could go home in style.

But the bear market hit faster than a tropical storm. In just a few months, my account plummeted from 2.3 million to 220,000. Credit card debt collection messages flooded my phone screen, and outside the window, rain pounded on the tin roof with a loud bang, feeling like it was pounding on my head. That moment, I finally understood—cryptocurrency markets are never a casino; they are a battlefield. Without respect and caution, you'll get harvested.

Six years of ups and downs, with lessons learned from liquidation and being cut out, have accumulated. Now, relying on a steady strategy, I can achieve an annualized return of 18% (target 20%), finally surviving the scythe. Today, I want to share four "life-saving rules" I’ve developed over the years.

**Rule 1: If your understanding isn't in place, don't reach out even if you want to**

This was the most expensive lesson I’ve ever learned. Back then, I listened to so-called "gurus" calling signals, saying "Metaverse land will double in value," but I didn’t understand how virtual assets work or the underlying technology. I just followed the trend and jumped in. The result is predictable. The deepest lesson I’ve learned over the years is: in this market, never touch what you don’t understand. No matter how many stories you hear, they’re useless.