Centralized exchanges are not your friend After the collapse of FTX and Celsius, I only trust highly transparent exchanges (like Coinbase), and I always prefer to withdraw my funds to my own wallet. Even large exchanges may hide problems in the shadows.
The market does not forgive false emotions Sometimes we tie our feelings to our wallet, especially if we invest in a currency because we believe in its team or idea. But the market does not care about your feelings. I have seen "beautiful" projects philosophically collapse because they did not execute their plans. Do not fall in love with investing, treat it with a cool head.
Success in trading doesn't mean you're a genius At first, I made big profits by chance, and I thought I "understood the market". But the subsequent loss was a harsh lesson: random success is more dangerous than failure. Now, I ensure that my profits come from a clear strategy, not luck.
Timing is more important than you think Even if you choose the right currency, you may lose if you enter at the wrong time. For example, buying a currency after it has risen by 300% in two weeks means you are trading on "old news". I have learned that waiting for clear opportunities (like a market correction after a buying peak) increases the chances of profit more than rushing in.
Price does not always reflect value In 2017, Bitcoin was worth 20 thousand dollars, but it was not "better" technically than it is now at a price of 108 thousand. The price is affected by liquidity, supply and demand, and sentiment. Do not be fooled by associating a high price with quality.
Don't be the "angry man" in the market There are investors who insist on recovering their losses by increasing the size of the bet (like doubling the investment after every loss). This is a dangerous game. Personally, when I lose, I stop for days, study my mistakes, and return with a smaller trading size until I regain my confidence.
Technology is not everything You might think that the best technically advanced currency will dominate the market, but the reality is more complex. There are factors like marketing, partnerships, and even the "internal politics" of the community. A currency like Dogecoin (despite its technical simplicity) rose due to its strong community. Don't underestimate the social power of currencies.
Big news moves the market... but not always in the expected direction When China announced a ban on cryptocurrencies in 2021, Bitcoin dropped, but it rebounded strongly after weeks. Sometimes the market overreacts to negative news, creating smart buying opportunities. I learned not to rush to sell at the first negative statement.
Mental well-being is more important than profits If trading makes you check the price every 10 minutes, or affects your sleep, you are paying a high price even if you are winning. Personally, I have set specific times to review my portfolio (once a day at most), and this has helped me make more rational decisions.
Technical vs. Fundamental: Don't Mix Them Up Many focus on technical analysis (charting) and ignore fundamental analysis. I see the opposite: Technical analysis is good for short-term timing (like day trading). Fundamental analysis is what determines if a currency will survive in the long term. Example: In 2021, technical analysis indicated that Bitcoin would rise, but due to the volatility of the Federal Reserve, the market collapsed. Here, an understanding of macroeconomics would have saved you.
Emotions are the number one enemy I have seen investors sell in panic and buy at the peak (FOMO). My advice: If the market rises suddenly, wait 24 hours before buying. Often 'speculation' is the reason for the rise. If the market drops, only sell if the fundamentals of the project change (such as developers withdrawing or a network breach).
Long-term investment ≠ blind holding There is a difference between investing in Bitcoin or Ethereum (which are considered "stores of value" like digital gold) and small coins. Personally, I keep 60% of my portfolio in large coins (BTC, ETH) as a hedge against risks. The remaining 40% I allocate to emerging projects, but with a monthly review: if the project fails to meet its plan (such as delays in updates), I sell without hesitation.
Learn from the mistakes of others (not just your own) In 2022, the LUNA currency collapsed despite being one of the largest projects. The reason for the collapse was a flaw in its fundamental design (the dollar-pegged currency UST). If investors had read the Whitepaper carefully, they would have found that the system was built on dangerous assumptions. Therefore, always read the official documentation of the project, and do not rely on the opinions of YouTubers!
The market never sleeps, but you need to sleep Day trading may seem tempting, but it is exhausting and affects your decisions. I tried this for a month and lost 30% of my capital due to random trading. Now, I use a buy and hold (HODL) strategy for strong projects, and I only trade on clear descriptions (like post-Fed news volatility).
Do not trust anyone who says "this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" On Telegram and Twitter, you will find dozens of free "signals" to buy a currency. 95% of them are scams or Pump & Dump. Even professional analysts make mistakes, so how can you trust an unknown person? My advice: base your decision on your own data, or follow one analyst you trust (after testing their credibility for months).
Always prepare for the worst Keep a portion of your money in a stablecoin (like USDT) to take advantage of sharp declines. In March 2020, Bitcoin dropped to $3,800, and those who bought here saw their investment multiply 20 times in two years. Also, make sure to store your coins in a cold wallet (Hardware Wallet) away from centralized exchanges (Remember the FTX collapse!).
Do not invest what you cannot afford to lose. This is not just a repeated slogan, but a lesson learned the hard way. The market is crazily volatile, especially with external factors like "celebrity tweets" or government regulations. Even if you are confident in a project, set a stop-loss limit and stick to it. I have seen people lose everything because they believed the market would bounce back "in an hour".
Diversification ≠ Overbuying Diversification is important, but don't buy 20 coins just because they are cheap. Focus on 3-5 projects that you study in depth. Personally, I prefer projects that: Have a transparent team with prior experience. Solve a real problem (like Solana in speed, or Chainlink in connecting the web to the digital world). Do not rely solely on 'hype' or rumors.
Don't forget the "Profit Taking Order" Just as you set a stop loss, set a profit stop! Greed makes you miss opportunities to secure your gains. Emotional trading is destruction If you enter a trade with your heart, get out of it! Excessive anger or joy clouds your decisions. Record every action you take Write down your reasons for entering, when to exit, and learn from your mistakes. Journaling raises your awareness. The market has cycles Don't expect the market to go up forever. Learn when it shifts from bullish to bearish and vice versa. Stay away from the herd If everyone is buying, only follow with a plan. "FOMO" is the biggest trap for beginners. Allocate a small percentage for adventures For example: 5% for meme coins or unknown projects. Losing it won’t affect you. Review your strategy every month What works today may fail tomorrow. Be flexible and adjust your plan according to the market. Don't ignore fundamental news Geopolitical events or bank decisions can turn the market overnight. Trade Spot on strong projects Focus on coins with a solid team and technical background, not just what's "trending". Fees eat away at capital Frequent short trades with high fees = silent loss. Calculate it! Don't invest when you're tired Make sure you can sell the coin quickly if needed. Some coins can trap you! And remember: the market won't disappear, you need to live! Opportunities don't end, so don't sacrifice your health for a trade. 🚀
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