Starting with just a few thousand yuan in the crypto world, the biggest fear isn't market downturns but your own greed. Many newcomers like to chase hot trends and go all-in on small coins, only to have their principal repeatedly cut. To survive and make money with small funds, the key isn't pursuing a "big and comprehensive" investment portfolio but following the path of "small and refined"—being sufficiently stable to last longer.

Here's a sobering fact: retail investors using the right methods can grow 3,000 yuan into over 20,000+, while those using the wrong methods can't even preserve their principal. What's the difference? It's in execution and discipline. Today, I share three of the most practical operational strategies—so simple they might seem a bit "conservative," but it's this conservatism that helps most people avoid catastrophic losses.

**Strategy 1: Stick to mainstream coins, abandon 99% of altcoins**

Avoid coins ranked outside the top 50 by market cap. Why? Poor liquidity and high risk. Instead, BTC, ETH, and SOL are the "ballast stones" that are vital for small funds—allowing quick sell-offs during sharp declines, preventing being stuck in a dead coin. Many people always want to "double their money in three days," but end up choosing a "zombie coin," which ultimately goes to zero. Small amounts can't withstand this risk; survival comes first, then consider making money.

**Strategy 2: Set a 5% stop-loss line, don’t indulge in "rebound" fantasies**

This is the hardest to stick to but also the most effective. Invest 1,000 yuan, and if it drops to 950, you must sell. No "wait and see," no "it will rebound"—these thoughts have caused countless losses. A student used to hold on to losing positions, but after learning this rule, he didn't blow up his account for half a year. Instead, through frequent small gains and losses, he accumulated his first savings. Stop-loss may seem "cowardly," but it directly determines how long you can survive.

**Strategy 3: Take profits on half and set a capital preservation stop-loss on the rest**

Take 10%-20% profit and lock in half of it into stablecoins, then set a stop-loss on the remaining position at the break-even point. For example, if SOL rises from $22 to $35, sell half at that point—don't greed for the last few percentage points. Many think this is a bit foolish—why not keep holding? But in reality, staggered profit-taking often yields more than "holding everything," because it avoids systemic risks from major drops.

This approach doesn't rely on complex technical indicators, and may even feel a bit "cowardly," but in small accounts operated with this logic, about 80% of people end up achieving stable returns. The cruelest aspect of the crypto world isn't technical analysis or capital, but human greed. If you dare to be strict with yourself (enforce stop-losses and take profits promptly), the market will be gentle in return.

Rather than blindly chasing hot topics, treat a few thousand yuan as a "laying hen" that lays eggs steadily—gradually accumulating wealth. This is the survival strategy for small investors.