If You Still Have $100, Listen to This đ¤đ
Back in 2020, I found myself with just $183 in my Binance account. My journey had started with $3,000, peaked at $100,000, and then, slowly but surely, the market took it all back. Crypto trading is ruthless, and before I knew it, I was left with almost nothing.
But there was one habit that kept me goingâI transferred $1 daily to a separate fund account, no matter what. Even when my trading capital dwindled, I stuck to this small but meaningful routine. Four years later, that habit has become second nature, and now I transfer $5 a day.
During that time, life wasnât just tough financiallyâI felt isolated, and no one checked in on me. Then, just when things hit rock bottom, my girlfriend left. She took one of my phones, which had crypto stored on it, though I doubt she even knew how to access it. Losing her was harder than losing my money. A month later, my trading account hit zero, and I was completely alone.
At the time, I was living in Shanghai, stuck waiting for a visa that kept getting delayed. If you were in Shanghai in 2020, youâd understandâthe lockdowns, restrictions, and uncertainty made it feel like life was frozen. I needed a reset, so I decided to leave for Lingyan Mountain and spend time at a Buddhist temple.
Three Months at the Temple
I hoped for clarity, even enlightenmentâbut thatâs not how it worked. Life at the temple wasnât about sudden breakthroughs; it was about routine and endurance. I kept waiting for a big moment of transformation, but nothing like that came.
Instead, change happened slowly. My body recoveredâI gained weight, my hands stopped trembling, and I cut down on smoking and drinking. Without the urge to constantly check my phone, my mind became quieter. Still, I had no real plan for the future. All I had left was $183 and a lot of uncertainty.
Before I left, a senior monk gave me some parting words: "Go as you came." At first, I didnât understand. But later, I realizedâit wasnât about leaving the mountain as a different person. It was about finding the strength to face life again, just as I was.
When I returned, I downloaded Binance again and decided to start fresh.
How I Rebuilt Everything from Just $183
1ď¸âŁ Focus on a Core Group of Cryptocurrencies
I stopped chasing every new coin. Instead, I focused on a handful of assets: BTC, ETH, BNB, SOL, and DOGE. Over time, I narrowed it down even further to mainly BTC and ETH. This focus helped me understand patterns better and make more disciplined decisions.
2ď¸âŁ Establish a Strict Daily Routine
Every day, I wake up at 6:30 AM, take a cold shower, and exercise. The cold showers were tough at first, especially in winter, but they kept my mind sharp and alert before I even sat down to trade.
3ď¸âŁ Trade Outside the House
I found that trading at home created mental clutter. Instead, I started my mornings by heading outâusually grabbing a coffee at KFCâbefore sitting down to trade. I made a rule: never open trading software at home. This separation helped me stay disciplined and avoid impulsive decisions.
4ď¸âŁ Use Low Leverage and Take Gradual Long Positions
One of my biggest mistakes before was high leverage. I switched to a strategy focused on low-leverage long positions for steady growth. I rarely shorted, except at major price peaks, like around $71,000, testing first at $69,500 with stop-losses at each stage. I built positions gradually, letting profits run instead of closing too soon.
5ď¸âŁ Hedge with Options and Practice Risk Management
Hedging became a key part of my strategy. At major resistance levels, I used options to protect my positions. When trends reversed, I adjusted my take-profit levels instead of panic-selling. Over time, I also practiced "T" trades (short-term trades for quick gains), but only after mastering risk management. For new traders, I wouldnât recommend thisâitâs risky without experience.
6ď¸âŁ Take Breaks After Each Market Cycle
After each big market move, I took a half-month break. During these periods, I switched to a phone with no trading apps, completely disconnecting from the market. These breaks helped me return with a clear head, avoiding emotional trades fueled by excitement or fear.
7ď¸âŁ Maintain Daily Transfers and Structured Withdrawals
I never stopped my habit of transferring small amounts daily. It started with $1, then grew to $5 a day. Additionally, I set strict withdrawal rulesâ20% of profits would go into spot market buys for long-term holdings.
I also layered take-profit orders at different levels: 2x, 3x, 4x, and 5x. Some holdings dipped into losses, but I stayed patient and only sold when my pre-set stop-loss was hit.
Looking Back and Moving Forward
After four years of sticking to this system, Iâve avoided blowing up my account again. My spot holdings now account for 40% of my total profits, with the rest coming from trading contracts.
So, if you only have $100 or $200 left, hereâs my advice:
â Step back.
â Refine your mindset.
â Build a structured trading plan.
This isnât about making a million overnight. Itâs about slow, steady, and disciplined growth. If you focus on risk management, patience, and self-control, you can turn even a small amount into something significant over time.
The road back wasnât easy, but now I knowâitâs possible.