Survive to be the last to laugh in a bull market.

I started full-time trading in 2018 and have been navigating the crypto world for six years. My deepest insight isn't about how much someone has made, but about those traders who can survive wave after wave of bull and bear markets. They share a common trait — understanding the market rhythm and controlling their hands and hearts.

I went from an unknown rookie to someone who can make a living through trading, without relying on insider information or overnight riches. The only right thing I did was using the "dumbest" approach: living longer than others.

I want to share six counterintuitive survival rules, each learned through real lessons paid in hard cash.

**1. Rapid Rise, Slow Fall, Usually Not the Top**

Newbies panic when the market suddenly surges and then slowly pulls back. But the truth is, this is often a sign of capital rotation and clearing out weak hands. You don't need to rush to sell. The real top is when there's a sharp drop trapping traders, not a gradual decline.

I've seen too many people get shaken out during consolidation, missing out on subsequent doubling gains. Remember, traders won't openly tell you they're about to push prices higher; instead, they'll use various tactics to get your chips before the move starts.

**2. Rapid Drop, Slow Rise, Maybe Not an Opportunity**

After a flash crash, prices creep back up slowly. Many think, "It's fallen so much, it must bounce back," and rush to buy the dip. But this pattern is often the market manipulators pushing prices up to unload their holdings, giving you a second chance to buy, only to be the last to be harvested.

**3. Volume is the True Mirror**

Watch volume during price movements. A rise without volume is just bluffing; a fall without volume might be a fake drop. The real trend reversal is most honestly revealed by volume.

**4. Stop-Loss Never Loses Money**

Many people suffer big losses because they refuse to set or stick to stop-losses. Set your stop-loss level and execute it — that’s how you survive. Greed is the real killer.

**5. Don’t Chase the Top or Bottom**

Buying at the fastest rise often means buying at the peak. Bottoming out during the sharpest decline often means falling into a deeper trap. Patience is the strongest virtue.

**6. Emotions Are the Biggest Enemy**

Losing money and wanting to recover, making more when you’re winning — these emotional trades will eventually catch up with you. Have a plan and stick to it. If you don’t have a plan, take a break. Don’t let greed and fear drive your decisions.

That’s how the crypto world works. Those who survive aren’t necessarily the smartest, but the most disciplined. Before the next bull market arrives, stay alive and wait.