In the volatile world of cryptocurrency, where fortunes are made and lost overnight, few stories capture the imagination like that of “If I Don’t Understand” — a 95s-born trader who turned a modest starting capital into millions within just nine months. His journey from e-commerce entrepreneur to top-ranked derivatives trader offers a compelling blueprint for aspiring investors navigating the chaotic yet rewarding crypto landscape.
This article distills key insights from his exclusive conversation at the OKX Singapore office, revealing the mindset, strategies, and systems behind his meteoric rise — and how others can apply them responsibly.
From E-Commerce to Crypto: A Disciplined Entry into the Market
Born in 1996, “If I Don’t Understand” began his career not as a trader but as an Amazon seller managing cross-border e-commerce operations. His introduction to crypto came in 2020, sparked by the explosive growth of SHIB and Axie Infinity (AXS). Unlike many impulsive entrants, he approached the space with the rigor of a business operator.
By day, he managed his online store. By night — from 7 PM to 2 AM — he immersed himself in blockchain research. His initial investment? Just 7,000 RMB in AXS, which multiplied several times over. That early win validated his belief: deep research leads to outsized returns.
With 30,000–50,000 RMB in capital, he dove into the 2021 GameFi boom — a wave combining decentralized finance (DeFi) with gamified incentives. Instead of surface-level speculation, he played nearly every GameFi project, reverse-engineering their economic models and community dynamics.
His efforts paid off. Projects like Radio Caca, BinaryX, and Farmers World transformed his small stake into his first million RMB. This wasn’t luck — it was consensus-driven investing in action.
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The Crash That Changed Everything: Lessons from a 95% Drawdown
Success, however, brought overconfidence. In May 2022, amid Ethereum’s plunge from $3,700 to $800, he doubled down repeatedly, betting on a rebound. He tried to fight the trend — a classic mistake.
The result? Over 95% portfolio drawdown in under two months. Millions vanished.
But instead of quitting, he retreated to entrepreneurship, rebuilding capital through his main business. This experience reshaped his philosophy: never trade with borrowed money or emotional pressure. He now insists on entering markets only with surplus funds — a principle critical for maintaining rational decision-making.
From that pain emerged a new strategy: stop predicting tops and bottoms. Focus instead on what you can control — logic, risk management, and market sentiment.
He pivoted to BRC-20 inscriptions and meme coins in 2023, leveraging his refined approach to achieve his first A8 (100 million RMB) milestone — this time not as a gambler, but as a calculated hunter of market consensus.
The Million-Dollar Trading System: Profiting from Consensus, Not Hype
“If I Don’t Understand” believes price movements aren’t driven by technology alone — they’re driven by belief. A token rises when enough people believe it’s valuable.
“A coin goes up not because its code is better, but because people believe it deserves a higher price.”
His core strategy? Become a consensus hunter. He tracks where attention, capital, and narrative converge — then positions accordingly.
Three Waves of Opportunity: Decoding Market Cycles
- GameFi (2021): DeFi Wrapped in Gameplay
He saw GameFi as DeFi 2.0 — turning yield farming into play-to-earn games. By analyzing tokenomics and player engagement, he identified undervalued projects early. - BRC-20 Inscriptions: Short-Lived Momentum Plays
These leveraged Bitcoin’s network effect but lacked sustainable value accrual — miners earned fees but had no incentive to support prices. Recognizing this flaw, he exited Avalanche inscriptions after a 10x gain. - Meme Coins (2023–2024): FOMO Amplified by Solana
With platforms like Pump.fun accelerating launches, meme coins became pure attention economies. His breakout trade? Going long on Neiro, using BONK and BOME as valuation benchmarks.
When Neiro launched, most traders shorted it. He did the opposite — buying based on its potential to reach a $1 billion FDV, similar to established memecoins. The bet succeeded.
For shorts, his rule is simple: target projects with parabolic rises and zero pullbacks. Examples include PNUT and TRUMP — both surged post-listing without healthy corrections. That absence of shakeout signaled unsustainable momentum — ideal for low-leverage short entries.
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A Practical 4-Step Framework for Aspiring Traders
While he admits his path can’t be copied exactly, “If I Don’t Understand” shares a repeatable framework:
Step 1: Filter Information Like a Pro
- Follow early-mover KOLs: Instead of drowning in noise, identify influencers who consistently spot trends ahead of the curve (e.g., Thai Zoo’s hippo NFT).
- Dive into communities: Active Discord and Telegram groups reveal real engagement. Robotic spam or paid shills? Red flags.
Step 2: Time Your Entry and Exit
- Enter early: When a project shows strong team activity, clear roadmap execution, and growing traction — but before mass awareness.
- Exit gradually: Once media hype peaks and valuations match or exceed peers, begin scaling out.
He uses macro indicators as “canaries” — for instance, monitoring Circle’s stock (issuer of USDC) to gauge institutional sentiment.
Step 3: Master Risk & Position Management
- Small accounts (<50k RMB): Can take aggressive meme coin bets — but diversify across multiple tokens and avoid holding more than 1% of any project’s total supply.
- Large accounts: Cap altcoin contract exposure at $100k–$200k to avoid slippage and targeting by market makers.
Use the “Quarter-Lot” strategy:
- 25% initial entry
- 25% on favorable retest
- 50% held in reserve for high-conviction opportunities
Step 4: Quantify Market Emotion
He translates vague “gut feelings” into measurable momentum signals:
- If BTC rises 0.1% at U.S. market open and ETH jumps 0.5%, ETH shows strong relative momentum.
- If ETH falls while BTC rises? Weakness detected.
He also favors limit orders over market orders:
- For longs: Place buy limits at calculated support zones during panic sell-offs (“buying blood-stained chips”).
- For shorts: Set sell limits at resistance levels. Only execute if price fails to break through.
The Inner Game: Why Slow Wealth Wins
Beyond tactics, “If I Don’t Understand” emphasizes psychological discipline.
He rejects get-rich-quick mentalities:
“Nobody wants to get rich slowly. But slow wealth is the only kind that lasts.”
Despite earning millions, he lives modestly — avoiding luxury spending and prioritizing value-conscious choices. This emotional control helps him stay grounded during bull runs and resilient during crashes.
He refuses to offer trading signals (“copy my trades”), believing true empowerment comes from teaching methodology, not dependency.
To those considering leveraged or debt-funded trading? His warning is firm: don’t do it. Trading is about patience — waiting for high-conviction setups, not chasing every move.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can beginners replicate his success?
A: While exact results aren’t guaranteed, adopting his principles — deep research, risk control, consensus tracking — significantly improves long-term odds.
Q: What’s his view on leverage?
A: He uses low-to-moderate leverage only when edge and liquidity allow. High leverage increases risk of emotional decisions and liquidation.
Q: How does he validate a project’s community strength?
A: He looks for organic discussions, responsive teams, developer updates, and user-generated content — not just bot-filled chatrooms.
Q: Does he still trade full-time?
A: Yes, but always with capital he can afford to lose. His primary income still includes entrepreneurial ventures.
Q: What tools does he use for analysis?
A: On-chain dashboards, social sentiment trackers, price-action charts, and macroeconomic indicators like stablecoin supply trends.
Q: Is now a good time to enter meme coins?
A: He advises caution. Meme coins require perfect timing. Focus on projects with real communities and avoid chasing pumps.
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Final Thoughts: Wealth Is a Marathon Against Human Nature
“If I Don’t Understand” didn’t win by being the smartest or luckiest — he won by being the most disciplined.
His story underscores three timeless truths:
- Consensus drives price, not just code.
- Risk management separates survivors from casualties.
- True wealth compounds slowly, built on patience and process.
In a world obsessed with shortcuts, his message stands out: slow down to speed up.
As he puts it:
“Be willing to wait for time to make you rich.”
That mindset — more than any indicator or strategy — may be the ultimate edge in crypto trading.
Core Keywords: cryptocurrency trading, consensus investing, risk management, meme coin strategy, GameFi investing, trading psychology, position sizing