I will never forget that night when the number on the screen instantly dropped from 100,000 USDT to zero; my palms were sweaty, and my heart raced like a drum. At that moment, I truly understood that cryptocurrency contract trading does not offer a shortcut to wealth, but endless regret.
Today, I want to tell my story, not to seek sympathy, but to hope that someone can awaken from my experience.
Step one: The starting point of 100,000 USDT, the sweetness of making a small profit
In 2024, I had saved up 100,000 USDT, which was my hard-earned savings over the years. There were always people in my social circle flaunting screenshots of profits from contract trading, stories of turning thousands into tens of thousands made me itch with desire. I thought, there are many opportunities in the crypto world; why not give it a try? So, I opened an account on a platform, chose BTC/USDT perpetual contracts, started with 10x leverage, thinking to proceed steadily and make some small profits.
The first order went smoothly, Bitcoin rose by 3%, and the account gained 3,000 USDT. I was so excited I couldn't sleep, feeling like I had caught the wind. In those days, the market cooperated well, and I chased a few more orders, quickly bringing my account balance to 130,000 USDT. Watching the numbers jump, I even began to fantasize about financial freedom—quitting my job, traveling, buying a house, as if it were within reach.
Step two: Greed expands, the temptation to double
After making 30,000 USDT, I started to feel unsatisfied. Earning this little with 10x leverage? A friend told me that 20x or 50x was needed to 'turn things around'. I was tempted, feeling like I had found the trick. One time, Bitcoin was oscillating upward, I opened a long position with 20x leverage, with 10,000 USDT as principal, preparing to take a gamble. Sure enough, BTC rose by 5%, and the account jumped directly to 150,000 USDT. At that moment, I felt like a genius, the contract was my ATM.
But where is there always a tailwind in the market? The next day, Bitcoin suddenly corrected, and I didn't have time to stop loss; the account shrank to 120,000 USDT. I comforted myself, saying this is normal fluctuation, the next wave of the market will help me break even. So, I increased my position, betting it all with 50x leverage, thinking I would withdraw after recovering. As a result, BTC fell again by 2%, the liquidation warning popped up, and 50,000 USDT disappeared in an instant, leaving the account with only 70,000 USDT.
Step three: Reluctant struggle, a tug-of-war of repeated gains and losses
70,000 USDT could still turn around! I gritted my teeth and re-entered the battle. This time I learned to be 'smart', lowering leverage to 10x, focusing on K-line analysis, hoping to rely on technicals to recover losses. Luck was on my side, and several short-term trades made me regain 20,000 USDT, bringing the account back to 90,000 USDT. I breathed a sigh of relief, thinking I had finally stabilized.
But human nature is like this; after making money, one wants to earn more. One night, BTC surged, and I became greedy, chasing long with 50x leverage, putting all 20,000 USDT in. It rose by 8%, and the account once surged to 110,000 USDT; I thought I had caught another opportunity. But in the early morning, the market reversed, BTC suddenly dropped by 4%, and the liquidation warning popped up again. 20,000 USDT vanished into thin air, leaving only 90,000 USDT in the account.
In the following days, I was like possessed, staring at the charts every day, repeatedly entering and exiting. I made 5,000 USDT, lost 8,000 USDT, made another 3,000 USDT, then liquidated again losing 20,000 USDT... The account felt like a roller coaster, ups and downs, and my mindset collapsed along with it. By early 2025, the initial 100,000 USDT had dwindled to 30,000 USDT.
The final blow: The despair of going all in to zero
30,000 USDT, I am unwilling to just give up like this. A friend said, a big market is coming, BTC will break through 100,000 USD. I stared at the remaining funds and decided to make a last-ditch effort—100x leverage, a full position long order of 30,000 USDT. At that moment, I prayed for a miracle. At first, BTC really rose by 5%, the account jumped to 60,000 USDT, and I even started to fantasize about the possibility of breaking even.
But the crypto market never shows mercy. An hour later, a big bearish candle crashed down, BTC fell by 3%, and the liquidation warning popped up mercilessly. The balance on the screen turned to 0. I stood there, my hands trembling and unable to hold my phone, tears flowing uncontrollably. 100,000 USDT, months of struggle, just like that, it was gone.
My regrets and lessons
Looking back, contract trading felt like a carefully designed gambling game, giving me the illusion of getting rich, yet leaving me with nothing. Those moments of profit were like poison, making me amplify leverage again and again, unwilling to exit, ultimately pushing myself to a dead end. If I had been satisfied with small profits and stopped, if I could control my greed, perhaps the outcome wouldn't have been like this.
Now, I just want to tell those who are still fighting in the contracts: don't believe those stories of getting rich overnight; the market is always smarter than you. A lesson of 100,000 USDT taught me that true wealth is not gambled away, but preserved. If you are still hesitating, stop and think, will my today be your tomorrow?
----- The article is excerpted from the investment contract journey of an anonymous client from Vanguard Eye, who has now entrusted us with managing a TP account of 30,000 USDT.
