In this market, discipline is the only weapon small retail investors have to withstand volatility.

Last year, I mentored a beginner with an initial capital of only 500U. After three months, his account grew to 28,000U. People around him said he was lucky. But the truth is, he had no luck—every trade was executed strictly according to the rules, never breaking discipline. With small funds, survival is already tough; to achieve stable profits? Discipline is even more essential.

Today, I won't recommend specific coins, but will share a few hard truths that are truly necessary to survive in the crypto space.

**Three-Fold Capital Allocation, No All-In**

Suppose you have 800U. The most foolish thing is to put it all in at once. The advantage of small funds is quick flexibility in shifting strategies; the disadvantage is weak resilience under pressure. What to do? Divide the money into three parts.

The first part accounts for 30%-40%, dedicated to intraday short-term trading. Focus only on Bitcoin and Ethereum. Why avoid altcoins? Altcoins have poor liquidity, shallow order books, and a slightly larger buy order can cause a dump, potentially burying thousands of dollars in a single wave. Set profit targets at 3%-5%, then take profits. Limit to a maximum of 2 trades per day—frequent trading just hands over fees to the exchange.

The second part also accounts for 30%-40%, used for swing trading. Wait for genuine breakout signals on the 4-hour chart before opening positions. Hold for 3 to 5 days, aiming for a 15%-20% increase. 80% of the time in crypto is spent grinding; truly rhythmic trending markets are rare. Most of the time, your job is to stay calm and wait, not to be scared out by oscillations.

The third part, 20%-30%, is the forbidden zone—never touch it. This money is your last chance to turn things around and your mental ballast. With it in reserve, your mindset won't collapse.

**The core logic is simple**

Trading isn't about who has the biggest guts; it's about who can survive the longest. When you replace impulsiveness with discipline, and chasing gains with patience, your account will naturally gain vitality. Small capital leaves no room for error, so every decision must be made thoughtfully. This isn't about talent; it's about execution.