Five Years in Crypto: 10 Hard Lessons Every Trader Learns the Hard Way

This was my 5th year in crypto

Here are the most important lessons I’ve learned

Don't make these mistakes!

1) Don't trade perps:
90% lose money trading perps, and only ~5% make consistent, long-term profits. Even if you think you understand the market — you probably don’t.

2) Don't trust CT:
Much of what you see is fake or wrong. Countertrading Crypto Twitter often works.

3) Don't baghold:
Only hold 3–5 conviction plays. Every other trade should have a clear timeframe. It’s better to sell at –20% than to hope and end up at –70%.

4) Take profits — always:
No matter how small. Move part of your profits to a hardware wallet and earn ~10% yield instead of roundtripping

5) Stop farming InfoFi:
If you put 6 months of real work into building a genuione account instead of writing AI slop, you’ll get real job opportunities that outperform any InfoFi airdrop.

6) Don't buy YT tokens just for airdrops:
Only farm airdrops where you can earn money along the way. Paying upfront for uncertain rewards is usually a losing game.

7) Keep ~70% in stables:
Earn ~20% yield on stables. Use the yield to buy BTC and SOL, and keep stables for dips (they always come).

8) Learn skills and gain an edge:
Before you make serious money, you will lose. Document your Ws and Ls, and build an advantage others don’t have.

9) Less is more:
Don’t chase every meta. Studies show that simply holding BTC, SOL, and earning yield often outperforms active traders.

10) Surround yourself with smart people:
Ideally people who think very differently from you — the ones who force you to question and rethink your decisions.

Last but not least have a hardware wallet (costing around $100–$200). Use your hot wallet like daily cash.