I am 30 years old, and I have been navigating the crypto world since I was 20. Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. During these ten years, I have witnessed wild price surges and crashes, gone through countless psychological tests, and this year, my account finally broke through the eight-figure threshold. Honestly, at this moment, I don’t feel as excited as I imagined; instead, I feel much more grounded: I no longer worry about hotel room prices, my suitcase is covered with various stickers, and I share a knowing smile when I meet fellow traders at the airport. These details have become a unique form of recognition within the community.

Over the past ten years, someone has asked me every month if I have any secrets to trading cryptocurrencies. In fact, it boils down to eight words: mindset first, skills second. Here are five of the most practical "mindset principles," learned through blood and tears.

**First, understand the overall market direction — BTC is always the anchor**

BTC’s movement is like the steering wheel of the entire market. When it is sluggish, altcoins—even with strong concepts—won’t make much of a splash; but once BTC gains strength, altcoins get their stage to perform. ETH occasionally can break out independently, but don’t expect altcoins to surge against the trend—that’s wishful thinking.

**Second, understand the tug-of-war logic between USDT and BTC**

When USDT premiums keep rising, it indicates market panic—that’s a signal. Conversely, when BTC suddenly surges, you should decisively take some profits and reduce your position accordingly, so you can feel more at ease.

**Grasp three key time windows**

From midnight to 1 a.m. is the most likely time for price spikes. If you have set limit orders, you can often buy at a cheaper price during this period.

6 a.m. to 8 a.m. are the market’s early indicators. If the market was weak the night before, and it remains weak during these two hours, a rebound is likely that day; if it was strong the night before, a correction may be coming.

Around 5 p.m. is when US funds start entering in large volumes. Volatility tends to increase significantly at this time, so be especially cautious.

**Don’t be fooled by the "Black Friday" talk**

Some say prices tend to fall on Fridays, others say they tend to rise. In reality, both can happen; what truly drives market changes are news and information. Instead of obsessing over the date, focus more on what is actually happening.

**Finally, and most importantly: as long as there is trading volume and it’s not an air coin, don’t fear declines**

As long as the coin isn’t an air coin and still maintains some trading activity, there’s no need to panic excessively. Give it three to five days, or about half a month, and it often returns to a relatively reasonable price range. If you have spare funds, you can buy in batches to lower your average cost; if not, hold steady. Never let short-term emotions dictate your actions—being thrown off rhythm is more painful than losing money.

These mindset principles sound simple, but few can truly stick to them. My deepest realization over ten years is that the biggest opponent in the crypto world is never the market, but one’s own desires and fears.