That year, after a margin call, I was in debt for tens of thousands. I had to save every penny—refusing to eat the 8-yuan bowl of noodles, eating instant noodles that cost only 2 yuan at night while watching the market, making sure to drink all the soup. My mom sent cured meat and sausages from my hometown, always worriedly telling me over the phone not to go hungry.

After eight years of ups and downs, I now have assets worth 20 million in my account. The four ironclad rules I learned during this process are lessons soaked in blood and tears.

**Rule 1: Recognize the tricks of the market makers to avoid pitfalls**

In 2018, I chased a certain public chain, saw it surge 40% rapidly, then stay sideways at a high level for four days, thinking it would continue to rise. Suddenly, it dropped 20% on high volume, and I was wiped out. Later, I realized this was a classic market maker signal—when the coin price short-term gains exceed 35%, stays sideways at high levels for 3 to 5 days, then drops more than 15% on high volume, you must run as soon as this pattern appears.

**Rule 2: Sideways consolidation at high levels is more dangerous than a plunge**

In early 2020, I held a certain coin that had been consolidating at a high level for three months, with decreasing trading volume, turnover rate dropping below 1.5%, and the price more than 25% away from the 20-day moving average. I didn’t take it seriously. Eventually, it crashed to $8. Now, when I see this situation, I just go short and run.

**Rule 3: Volume must speak at the bottom**

In June 2022, I tried to bottom-fish a project, thinking it had hit the bottom, but it continued to plummet. After comparing hundreds of historical bottoms, I found the pattern: the real bottom first shows shrinking volume during consolidation, then three consecutive days of gentle increasing volume with small bullish candles. When Bitcoin dropped to $28,000 in 2023, this pattern appeared. I went all-in, and when it reached $45,000, I sold everything, earning my down payment for a house in Hangzhou.

**Rule 4: Trading volume is fundamental; position size is the soul**

Candlestick charts are just superficial—only trading volume reveals the true market intentions. I always remind myself—operate with half a position, neither greed nor fear. In 2024, when a certain token surged, I waited for it to break out of the box with increased volume, six times the usual, then entered. As soon as the trend line was broken, I took profits immediately. Although I only made 10 times the profit, I avoided the subsequent plunge perfectly.

There are no shortcuts in the crypto world. Enduring losses and learning lessons are the true paths to success.