Short-Term Trading Mindset: The "Foolish" Path That Took Me From 10,000 U to Over 1 Million

I used to be just like the majority: drawing all kinds of lines, hunting news, chasing “hot trends,” believing in quick, simplified moves. As you know—the account vaporized faster than a red candle’s rise. My starting point was only 10,000, with no insider information, no team, and no time to monitor the charts 24/7. The only thing I had was discipline. Two years later, I wouldn’t call myself a genius, but I am certain of one thing: I survived and moved up thanks to a sufficiently “stupid” method repeated over and over. My core principle is very simple: only look at the daily timeframe (D1), ignoring all other noise. The more chaotic the market, the simpler the strategy must be. Here are 4 core steps that helped me turn the tables.

1. Asset Selection: MACD Golden Cross Is the Entry Ticket I don’t buy the dip, nor chase the peak. Every day before closing the candle, I spend about 10 minutes scanning major coins, with one condition: MACD on the daily timeframe shows a Golden Cross, preferably above the zero line. Why Above Zero? This indicates an initial confirmation of an uptrend. Eliminates most weak coins, prolonged sideways movements. Significantly reduces the risk of “buying the dip and sinking.” A typical example is Bitcoin before the strong rally to $126,000 (10/2025). MACD had a Golden Cross above zero early on. I didn’t buy at the bottom, but at least I avoided the shakeouts and loss of confidence. Stay Away from “Holy Coins” Coins that spike due to news, meme coins, or community sentiment often cause MACD to distort or signal late. My rule is very clear: 👉 No trend – no trade. MACD doesn’t guarantee wins, but it helps me tilt the odds in my favor.
2. Entry – Exit Points: A Single Moving Average Determines Life or Death Many use 5–6 MAs, waiting for “multiple confirmations,” but when it comes to decision time… they freeze. I’m different, only using MA20 (20-day moving average): Close above MA20 → Hold the position Close below MA20 → Exit immediately, no hesitation Example: early 01/2026, Bitcoin fluctuates around $88,000, with MA20 near $89,000. If the candle closes below MA20, I exit the market, even if it rebounds later. The Nature of MA MA doesn’t predict the future; it just does one thing: 👉 Help you avoid one-way downtrends. End of 11/2025, Bitcoin drops from $126,000 to $87,000. Long-term believers lose about 30%. But according to MA20, I exited around $90,000, preserving capital for other opportunities. The market isn’t short of opportunities; the most easily lost asset is capital.
3. Position Management: Gradually Sell as Price Rises I don’t “all-in,” nor do I dream of catching the top. My position is always divided into 3 phases: 🔹 Exploration Phase Price just above MA20 → invest 30% of capital If broken with volume → increase to 50% 🔹 Harvest Phase When profit >40%, sell half Example: capital of 50,000, profit of 20,000 → take profit of 10,000 🔹 Retreat Phase If the price continues to rise by another 30%, sell the remaining half The final part is considered “free capital,” very comfortable psychologically. This method might miss the “fish tail,” but it ensures no profits are given back to the market. During Bitcoin surpassing $100,000 and then reversing, many waited for $120,000 to sell. But I scaled out early in small parts.
4. Risk Management: Emotions Are the Number One Enemy ❌ Cut Losses Price breaks MA20 Next day, candle closes below and doesn’t recover 👉 Liquidate everything Even if it rebounds later, I don’t regret. Because for me: rules > luck. 🔁 Re-enter If after exiting, the price stabilizes back above MA20 I’m ready to buy again For example: if Bitcoin reclaims $90,000 in 01/2026 and maintains MA20, I will re-enter the market. Many lose because they deceive themselves: “Breaking is just a shakeout.” But a deep trap can wipe out 10 correct trades. Current Market Outlook Moving into 2026, Bitcoin fluctuates around $88,000, with fierce buying and selling battles. Organizational forecasts vary widely: Pessimistic: $65,000 Optimistic: $150,000 In this context, my strategy is: MACD Golden Cross + above MA20 → small position entry Break below $85,000 (lower Bollinger Band) → stay out No guessing tops or bottoms, just reacting to signals. Conclusion: Longevity Wins This method is as boring as working in an office. But the power of repetition transformed me from an anxious trader into a calm executor of plans. The market is always full of surprises—good and bad. But rules help you turn uncertainty into manageable risk. Don’t admire stories of “One Big Win.” In crypto, surviving long-term is the real victory. 👉 Learning, discipline, and risk management — those are your greatest assets.