In the 2017 bull market, I set my sights on ADA, gradually accumulating from 0.03U. The first thing I did every morning was to check my account, watching it soar to 1.2U in just three months, with unrealized gains approaching 40 times. I even pulled out the configuration list of my Porsche and looked at it repeatedly. And the result? Not a single coin moved.

Later, everyone knows what happened. ADA fell all the way back to 0.2U, and the profits slipped through my fingers like sand, falling from my grasp. That feeling—dreaming of a Porsche turned into the down payment for a used car, bones aching from the disappointment.

But this fall was worth it. It taught me a truth with real money: buying in is easy, selling is the real skill. Today, I want to share these profit-taking and stop-loss rules earned through blood and sweat, especially suitable for friends who don’t have time to watch the market during work.

**Don’t bet on the top, just earn from the body of the fish**

I’ve seen too many people try to sell at the highest point, only to be slapped in the face. My approach now is simple:

Step one, get your principal out first. When the price doubles, sell 30% to recover your initial investment. This move keeps your mindset steady as an old dog because the remaining money is all profit, so you won’t panic no matter how you play.

Step two, lock in profits in batches. When it rises to 3 times, sell another 30%. Taking ADA as an example, from 0.03U to 1.2U, if you split the sale into two batches, you can securely lock in 60% of the gains. This way, you enjoy the market’s rise without greedily holding onto the last hair.

Step three, for the remaining 40%, use a trailing stop-loss. Set a 15% retracement from the peak to trigger automatic sell. For example, when ADA hits 1.2U, set the stop at 1.02U. It will sell automatically if it drops there, avoiding foolishly waiting until 0.2U.

In simple terms: the market isn’t short of opportunities; what’s missing are those who stay alive at the table. Instead of greedily earning more, it’s better to earn steadily.

**Mindset is more valuable than technique**

The most painful thing in crypto isn’t losing money, but earning and then ending up with a loss. The root cause is always greed. When you see your account numbers double or triple, rationality begins to decline. You keep thinking, “Just a little more,” “Let’s wait and see,” maybe it’ll go higher. The result? Watching profits evaporate right before your eyes.

My current strategy is to enforce rules strictly. After setting your take-profit point, sell regardless of market noise—don’t leave a single penny behind. Some ask, “What if I miss the chance?” My answer is—opportunities are always there; only the living hands can catch the next wave. Those who regret not going all-in often regret even more losing everything after a reckless gamble.

**Why working professionals especially need this set of rules**

People who don’t have time to watch the market are most prone to mistakes. Because once you buy in, you have to work, sleep, live your life, and can’t see real-time prices. After a week, opening the app might surprise you with a doubled account or a halved one. Without preset stop-loss and take-profit rules, your mindset can completely spiral out of control.

Following my method, you only need five minutes when buying to set your sell points. The rest is left to time and the market. When it’s time to cash out, it happens automatically—no need to watch constantly. Even if you’re in a meeting, on a business trip, or sleeping, you can ensure you won’t hold on through the craziest moments or panic during the sharpest drops.

**Final ramblings**

The beauty of the crypto market lies in its volatility. But volatility also means risk. Those who made big money in 2017 probably didn’t do so because of sharp eyesight, but because they chose to exit at the right time. Conversely, those waiting for the perfect sell point often become the “once almost” stories.

Next time you see your unrealized gains hitting new highs, remind yourself: knowing when to sell is the real master. Not all profits are worth greed; staying alive to participate in the next market wave is the ultimate winning strategy in this game.