Here are 10 essential trading rules that separate consistent winners from the rest of the market:

**Risk Management First** - Never risk more than 2% of your total capital on a single trade. This rule protects your account during inevitable losing streaks and keeps you in the game long enough to profit.

**Set Stop Losses Before Entry** - Determine your exit point before you buy. Emotional decisions destroy accounts faster than volatile markets do.

**Profit Taking Discipline** - Define take-profit levels beforehand. Greed kills more traders than fear. A 20% gain locked in beats a 50% loss chasing more.

**Avoid Overtrading** - Quality over quantity. One well-planned trade beats ten desperate ones. Wait for high-probability setups.

**Position Sizing Matters** - Adjust your position size based on volatility. Larger swings demand smaller positions to maintain consistent risk per trade.

**Trend Following Works** - The trend is your friend until it ends. Respect support and resistance levels. Counter-trend trades cost money.

**Keep Emotions Out** - Stick to your trading plan. Fear and greed create panic sells and FOMO buys. Both destroy wealth.

**Diversify Your Holdings** - Don't go all-in on one asset. Spread risk across multiple positions and timeframes.

**Track Your Trades** - Document every trade with entry, exit, and reasoning. Review losers to identify patterns and improve.

**Accept Losses as Learning** - Even professional traders lose. The difference? They lose small and learn faster. A losing trade with proper risk management teaches more than a lucky win.

These principles apply whether you're trading Bitcoin, altcoins, or any volatile asset. Master these fundamentals before pursuing advanced strategies.