I have a question to ask you: Ten years from now, sitting by the seaside watching the sunset, will you suddenly think of the winter of 2026? At that time, regulation and opportunity intertwined—how many people are still watching from the sidelines, and how many have already placed their bets. What about those who once mocked you for "still dealing with digital assets"? They are probably still worried about their monthly salary. The answer has long been given by history—remember the guy who in 2013 traded 10,000 BTC for a pizza, versus the big shot in 2024 who exchanged one BTC for a luxury car? The difference isn’t luck, but the depth of understanding of cycle patterns.

Having been in this circle for eight years, I’ve seen too many stories of "entering with luck, losing with strength." Some desperately buy the dip in a bear market, only to lose even their underwear. Others are too greedy in a bull market, earning profits only to give them all back. Ultimately, it’s because they haven’t passed the test of human nature—on one side, the panic when prices fall; on the other, the anxiety of missing out. Most people are swinging back and forth on this emotional seesaw, eventually becoming just a backdrop for the market.

Today, I won’t talk about complex technical analysis or K-line theories. Instead, I’ll share my practical experience and lessons without reservation. For friends in front of the screen who want to change their lives with digital assets, I’ve summarized four core suggestions. Follow them, and at least you’ll avoid three years of unnecessary detours.

**First: The game rule in a bear market is "survive," not "show off your skills"**

Don’t listen to those nonsense about "buying on dips and guaranteed profits." How fierce is the bear market in crypto? A 50-60% drop in BTC is standard, and a 90%+ decline in small coins is common. In 2022, I watched helplessly as some went all-in on the left side of the dip, only for the project team to run off with the funds, leaving everything zero overnight. That lesson was painfully bloody. So, in a bear market, the competition isn’t about who can scoop up the fastest, but who can survive the longest.

How to survive? First, hold enough stable assets—don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Second, replace gambling-style all-in bets with regular small investments. Divide your idle funds into 12 or even 24 parts, investing a little each month or every two weeks. This way, you average your costs and won’t be wiped out by a single misjudgment. After all, only by surviving can you wait for that one day.

**Second: The biggest enemy in a bull market is greed, not the decline**

When a bull market arrives, everyone feels like a genius—everything seems to rise. But that’s when problems are most likely to happen. Many people make profits when a coin rises from 1 dollar to 5 dollars but refuse to sell, waiting for it to hit 10 dollars. The result? When it falls back to 3 dollars, they cut their losses. If you don’t understand this cycle, the extra gains will eventually be handed back to the market.

My approach is to set target returns and take profits when reached. For example, if a portfolio gains 30%, start reducing positions gradually; at 50%, sell half. Sounds conservative? But it ensures profits actually go into your pocket. The cost of greed is often going from rich to poor—happening in an instant.

**Third: FOMO and FUD are two sides of the same coin**

Fear of missing out (FOMO) and fear, uncertainty, doubt (FUD) seem contradictory but actually stem from the same cause—lack of understanding of the market and lack of confidence in oneself. Some rush in when they see news about a coin listing on a platform, only to buy at the top. Others panic and sell at the lowest point when prices drop.

How to break this? Build your own investment framework. Don’t follow blindly; make decisions based on fundamentals and your risk tolerance. Market news is everywhere, but only a few are truly worth paying attention to. The rest is noise. Learning to filter out the noise is half the battle won.

**Fourth: Strategies must differ at different market stages**

Each phase—bear market, bottom zone, early bull, mid bull, top of bull—requires different tactics. Bear markets are for defense, bottoms for accumulation, early bull for building positions, mid bull for adding, and tops for reducing. Many make the mistake of using one strategy for all, ending up missing opportunities or getting caught.

So, regularly check which stage you’re in. When unsure, do less rather than do the wrong thing. Stay flexible, adjust your rhythm according to the market environment—that’s the secret to long-term profits.

In the end, many people chase quick gains in the digital asset space, but few survive. Those who make it to the end are usually not the smartest, but the most calm. They aren’t scared by short-term volatility nor blinded by temporary gains. They stick to their plans, review regularly, and adjust continuously. Only then can they benefit from the cycles.

2026 is coming soon. I hope everyone in front of the screen can find their own rhythm in this cycle. Don’t rush, don’t compete to see who earns faster—compete to see who survives longer.