Many traders fall into the trap of holding onto losing positions, hoping the price will eventually recover. On the flip side, when they’re in a profitable trade, they often cash out too early, driven by fear, locking in only small gains. To become a successful trader, you need to reverse this mindset: cut losses quickly and let profits run. A stop-loss strategy is essential—hope is not a strategy. When you’re profitable, ride the wave and let the market work in your favor.

Let me give you an example:

Imagine you bought ETH at $3,200 in the spot market, but the price starts to drop. You might think, “I’ll just wait it out until the price rebounds.” But as Ethereum continues to decline, without a stop-loss in place, you’ll be stuck holding the bag—hoping the market recovers so you can break even or secure a small profit.

Fast forward four to seven months, and ETH finally climbs back to your entry point. Afraid of another drop, you close the trade—whether at breakeven or with a tiny profit.

Sure, you avoided a loss—but the real problem? Wasted time. Holding onto this asset for months blocked you from seizing other profitable opportunities or executing short-term trades. This approach can trap you in a harmful cycle, locking up capital in underperforming positions and stunting your growth as a trader.

Many of you have likely bought altcoins during rough times and held onto them, hoping for a market recovery. But here’s the truth—some markets never bounce back.

Cut your losses, brothers. Stop hoping—start strategizing.