What's Actually Risky During This Bull Run

Crypto is doing great currently. Prices are on the rise again, there's a lot of interest, and folks are worried about common concerns like the Fed, rules, or big players messing with things.

But honestly, the biggest risk to your investments isn't those things. It's you.

Your feelings can either make you wealthy or break you fast. Research suggests that around 70% of investors lose cash, not because of bad choices, but because their own thinking hurts them.

Six Common Pitfalls for Crypto Traders

1. Thinking You're a Genius:

A couple of lucky trades can make you feel like you've mastered the market. This can cause you to take bigger risks, make careless choices, and learn hard lessons when things change.

2. Hating Losses:

Losing money feels worse than gaining money feels good. That’s why traders hold onto losing coins, waiting for them to recover, instead of selling and moving on.

3. Only Seeing What You Want to See:

If you believe something (like Bitcoin will only go up), you'll only pay attention to people and news that agree with you. This can prevent you from seeing the full picture and making good calls.

4. Getting Stuck on a Number:

If you bought something at $2.50, and now it's $1.80, it’s hard to sell because you want to get your money back. This emotional attachment to a price can prevent you from making rational moves.

5. Following the Crowd:

When everyone's buying the same hyped-up coin, it feels safe to jump in. But copying others without doing your homework can lead to losses.

6. Assuming the Latest Trend Will Continue:

If Bitcoin went up last week, you might think it will keep going up. But crypto prices always fluctuate. Assuming the future will look like the past is a recipe for disaster.

Investor Psychology in Action

Let's imagine three scenarios investors might experience and how they happen:

1. Ryan started strong but got too sure of himself. He ignored advice, only paying attention to those who shared his views. When the market dropped, his overconfidence and biased thinking led to total loss.
2. Mia watched her friends profit from a meme coin and jumped in without researching. When the hype faded, she lost a lot because she just followed the trend and remembered the earlier gains.
3. Daniel is holding onto a losing investment, refusing to sell until he recovers his initial cost. He's fixated on his purchase price and dislikes losses, trapping him in a bad choice.

Getting Started with Crypto Trading

1. Set clear trading rules beforehand.

Decide when to buy, sell, and stop losses before you invest. Doing this helps you control your emotions.

2. Keep a trading journal.

Write down your reasons for each trade. Review it later to see if emotions or logic influenced your decisions.

3. Consider different opinions.

Don't ignore those with opposing views. Question your decisions to prevent potential losses.

4. Regularly review your portfolio.

Ask yourself: If I didn't already own this coin, would I buy it now? If not, think about selling.

5. Take breaks.

Before big trades, wait a day. Impulsive thoughts often disappear over time.

Final Thoughts: Getting Ahead in Crypto

In a bull market, everyone's feeling good and jumping on the bandwagon. That's usually when mistakes happen.

Then, when things go south, people get too nervous to buy and too stuck in their ways to sell.

If you can control your emotions, you'll do well when everyone else is freaking out. The key to success in crypto isn't just finding the next big thing. It's about knowing yourself.