In this market cycle, some people are making a fortune, while others are losing so much they question their lives. The most heartbreaking thing is watching the index rise while your account shrinks. Many people start to doubt themselves, but honestly, the problem isn't how inexperienced you are; it's that the game rules have changed, and you can't keep up with the rhythm.

Let's start with the current situation. Many newcomers have reported the same feeling: overwhelming news, seemingly good data, but in the end, they still get shaken out, repeatedly taking losses, only to realize they're just paying transaction fees for others. This isn't an isolated case; it indicates that the structure is indeed changing.

**First Pitfall: Living in the Dream of the Last Bull Market**

The previous bull run was straightforward—one strong upward wave could make you your first pot of gold. Back then, the market was like a helicopter, soaring straight up. But now? Completely different. The market has turned into a whack-a-mole game, oscillating repeatedly between highs and lows, with shakeouts everywhere. If you're still waiting for that one big breakout, you'll end up stuck halfway up the mountain, getting cut down to just a skin.

**Second Lesson: Newcomers Should Learn to Survive Before They Learn to Profit**

Many people make a little money and then start to get cocky, thinking they've discovered the secret. And then? They suffer even bigger losses. Truly smart players understand a simple principle: survival is the priority. Protect your capital—not out of cowardice, but as a survival strategy.

How to do it? Don't bet everything at once, don't stake your entire life savings on one project, don't leverage high as a gambler, and definitely don't operate impulsively. The right approach is to control each loss, keep some ammunition in reserve, and only then have the qualification to talk about making money.

**Third Truth: Coins You Don't Understand Are Traps**

The biggest risk in crypto isn't volatility. We can handle volatility. The real danger is lack of understanding. If you throw money into a project you only half-understand, you're essentially donating. Many people get caught this way: seeing a coin skyrocket, FOMOing in without truly understanding, and then getting thoroughly weeded out as a rookie.

So the logic is simple: the less you understand, the more you should stick to mainstream coins. Don't gamble on projects you completely don't understand—that's just using your money to prove your ignorance.

**Fourth Trap: Hot Topics Are Signals to Retreat**

Market changes are ridiculously fast. Today it's AI concepts, tomorrow SOL suddenly surges, and the day after it's Layer 2. It seems exciting, but in reality, it's a series of traps. When you hear discussions about a certain sector being wildly popular, big funds are already offloading. When you enter, others are already leaving.

What's the correct stance? Use mainstream coins as your core holdings—this is your stabilizer. Then allocate a small portion of your funds to test emerging coins and participate in hot trends, but never go all-in. Unless you've deeply researched a particular field, staying away from hot topics is always the safer choice.

**Fifth Tip: Information Asymmetry Decides Life and Death**

Domestic information is always a beat behind. The real rhythm is in Europe, America, and Japan/Korea. Policy changes, major moves by institutions, ETF fund flows—these are the key factors that determine market trends.

For example: an important upgrade of Ethereum, the overseas developer community would have already discussed it feverishly, while domestically people are still waiting for official confirmation. By the time Chinese information floods in, the first wave of gains has already been missed. That’s the frustration caused by information gaps.

So, in this market cycle, it all boils down to four words: cognition and rhythm. Your understanding determines the quality of your decisions; rhythm determines whether you can hit the right timing. Protect your capital, stay in sync with international information flow, and that’s the long-term way to survive in this market. Those who last until the end will be the ones who truly enjoy the benefits of a bull market.