About a year ago, a friend of mine—a professional poker player—decided to seriously enter the cryptocurrency market.

He did not casually try like ordinary investors but approached it with the seriousness of a professional competition. Now, he has become one of the most successful crypto investors I know.

Recently, I interviewed him and summarized the 12 principles he adheres to daily. These rules apply not only to poker but also to crypto investment:

1. Whales control the situation.

At the poker table, the player with the most chips controls the pace.

In the crypto market, large players dominate the trends. They create illusions, set traps, and squeeze retail investors.

→ You cannot beat the whales, but you can recognize their moves and follow the trend.

2. Patience is the strongest weapon.

In poker, 80% of starting hands should be folded; just wait for the best moment.

In crypto investment, 90% of the rise and hype should be ignored; just wait for the real opportunity.

→ Most losses come from impatience, not luck.

3. Never trust others easily.

At the poker table, everyone has motives to mislead you.

In the crypto circle, opinion leaders, promoters, and even 'experts' all have their own interests.

→ You can listen to opinions, but ultimately you can only trust your own independent analysis.

4. One loss does not mean failure.

In poker, the best play can still lose a hand.

In crypto investment, the right decision can also lead to short-term losses.

→ Focus on the quality of decisions, not short-term results.

5. Mental resilience determines victory or defeat.

In poker, 'loss of control' can ruin even the best players.

In crypto investment, emotional trading is a fatal flaw.

→ Your biggest enemy is not the market, but yourself.

6. Small wins accumulate into big wins.

In poker, you don’t need to win huge pots, just need stable profits.

In crypto investment, you don’t have to pursue getting rich quickly; instead, focus on sustainable steady growth.

→ Small advantages and long-term compounding are the key.

7. Only go heavy when the odds are high.

In poker, you need to raise and pressure when you have a strong hand.

In crypto investment, only when all conditions are met can you moderately increase your position.

→ But the premise is that you have earned the opportunity to exit through patience.

8. Cut losses without hesitation.

In poker, you must decisively fold when the flop is unfavorable.

In crypto investment, bad positions need to be quickly exited, rather than praying for miracles.

→ Small losses are tuition, while big losses can destroy an entire career.

9. Review mistakes like a scientist.

In poker, you must review carefully after each game.

In crypto investment, every trade should be summarized, especially the failed ones.

→ Continuous improvement is a daily requisite.

10. Understand the mathematical logic behind each decision.

In poker, odds, win rates, and potential returns must all be calculated.

In crypto investment, risk-reward ratio, win rate, and probability analysis are also essential.

→ Trades without data support are just blind gambling.

11. Adapt to changes, or be eliminated.

In poker, not adjusting your strategy will lead to defeat by opponents.

In crypto investment, not following new narratives, new cycles, and new trends will lead to being abandoned by the market.

→ Adaptation is a compulsory course for survival.

Summary:

Poker taught my friend that the crypto market is not about 'certainty', but about how to manage risk better than others in an environment of incomplete information.

In the long run, skill beats luck. Every day, discipline beats emotion.

This is how he achieved success at the poker table, and it’s also the secret to his wealth in the crypto space.