Accounts grow from 100,000 to 1,000,000, but finally get wiped out due to a reckless hold—stories like this happen every day in the contract market.

I've seen too many. Some short during BTC rallies, thinking they can just adjust and run, only to get pierced all the way down; others chase SOL breakthroughs, set take-profit plans, but a single spike wipes everything out. Behind every liquidation, you can hear the same words: "Just a little longer."

Contract traders who don't cut losses are essentially working for the market makers. Why do the vast majority end up with zero accounts? It's not because the market is bad or luck is poor, but because they never took stop-loss seriously from the start to the end.

Over the years, I only believe in two principles: holding on once might keep you alive; holding on forever will definitely get you killed. What can truly save you is never your win rate, but that stop-loss line you are willing to execute.

**The rules I use now are very straightforward**

First, set a stop-loss when opening a position—don’t hesitate. A 20x leverage corresponds to a 5% stop-loss; if you can afford the loss, accept it and walk away. Don’t think you can turn things around this time; overconfidence will kill your account.

Second, protect your floating profits. The profits are not for you to keep dreaming; they are for locking in. Once you have gains, raise your stop-loss immediately. The market may retrace, but profits should not be fully given back.

Third, set a stop-loss for your emotions too. If you lose several trades in a row, close the software immediately and withdraw funds if you get too emotional. Trades made in such states are usually garbage.

Now, I always keep my contract risk very small, but as long as the market moves in my favor, I can lock in profits. That’s the correct way to trade contracts—not to earn a lot, but to survive longer.

Remember one thing clearly: stop-loss is not admitting defeat; it’s retreating. Those who truly survive are not those who never lose, but those who can afford to lose, walk away quickly, and wait for the next opportunity. Market opportunities are always there, but if your capital is gone, there’s really no next time.