Bitcoin (BTC) Today's price: US$94,425.45 24 - hour trading volume: US$16,550,686,730 24 - hour price change: - 0.54% 7 - day price change: 10.53% Circulating supply: 19.86 million BTC Market capitalization: US$1,870,317,951,317

Ethereum (ETH) Today's price: US$1,814.58 24 - hour trading volume: US$11,233,924,361 24 - hour price change: 0.46% 7 - day price change: 12.17% Circulating supply: 120.72 million ETH Market capitalization: US$218,940,202,186

Ripple (XRP) Today's price: US$2.17 24 - hour trading volume: US$2,439,973,470 24 - hour price change: - 0.96% 7 - day price change: 5.52% Circulating supply: 58.44 billion XRP Market capitalization: US$128,633,166,750

Hard Truths in the Crypto World

Lately, I've been advising against holding spots and suggesting that altcoins might only see a 2 - 3x increase in this bull run, and boy, did I catch heat for it! Some folks were furious, claiming I don't understand bull markets and questioning how a few - fold increase could even be called a bull market.

But here's the reality: those who've been clinging to altcoins tightly, have they actually made a killing in this bull market, or have they been on a wild ride and ended up with massive losses? Some are still using the playbooks from the previous two bull runs. If you're one of them, you're setting yourself up for failure!

Let's be honest. Every industry evolves from a golden age to a saturation point, and the crypto world is no different! Take Bitcoin as an example. In 2017, it surged to US$19,000 during the bull market, only to plummet to US$3,000. Then in 2020, another bull run began, peaking at US$69,000 in 2021. That's a 20 - fold increase from the bottom of the previous bear market and 3.6 times higher than the previous bull market peak.

Now, predictions for this bull market's peak are around US$130,000 - 150,000. Even calculating from a bear market low of US$15,000, that's just over a 10 - fold increase and barely 2 times the previous bull market peak. And the next cycle? While it's hard to predict exact numbers, it's clear that the gains will be even more modest.

The same logic applies to altcoins! In the early days, it was common to find coins that would increase 100 - fold, with 10 - fold gains being a dime a dozen. By the 2021 bull market, 100 - fold increases had become rare, while 10 - fold gains were still somewhat common. In today's market, if a decent altcoin can achieve a 10 - fold increase, and lesser ones can manage a 2 - 3 - fold gain, that's considered a good outcome. The problem is, most newcomers lack the discernment to pick quality altcoins and often end up with the duds. So when I say these might see a 2 - 3 - fold increase, I'm being generous!

Newcomers to the crypto space, let me give you a piece of advice: ditch the fantasy of getting rich quick! Don't delude yourself into thinking you're a chosen one who can make money effortlessly in this space. I've seen too many people start off arrogantly, convinced they're trading geniuses, only to end up losing their shirts and realizing that making money in the crypto world is harder than climbing to heaven, while losing money is as easy as drinking water.

And what's even more frustrating? The bull market frenzy! When Bitcoin hits US$100,000 or US$120,000, there are always folks shouting that it's heading to US$200,000 or US$300,000. The entire internet goes into a buying frenzy, with the "eternal bull market" slogan echoing everywhere. But what happens next? When the tide recedes, it reveals who's been swimming naked, and everyone ends up paying the price.

So, folks, remember these two things: never hold onto spot cryptocurrencies too tightly; sell when you should. If your altcoins can achieve a 2 - 3 - fold increase, take the profit and run; don't daydream about getting rich overnight! Trust me, and you'll avoid a lot of detours!