Yet Another Lesson Learnt—The Cost of Weak Hands in Crypto

A few months ago, I made a decision that, at the time, felt like the smart move: I sold the majority of my Bitcoin, keeping only a small portion "just in case." I told myself I was locking in profits, playing it safe, and avoiding the volatility that makes crypto so unpredictable. But as it often goes in this market, the joke was on me.

Before I knew it, Bitcoin shattered its previous all-time high, climbing even higher with relentless momentum. What I thought was a disciplined exit turned into a painful lesson in patience—or rather, my lack of it. Sure, I made a profit, but in hindsight, it feels like a mistake. The gains I secured were nothing compared to what I could have had if I’d just held on.

A History of Missed Opportunities

This isn’t even my first time making this mistake. Many years back, when I was still in university, I bought 1,000 SGD worth of BTC—roughly 0.3 BTC at the time. Back then, Bitcoin was still this weird internet money that nobody really understood. Then, China and Korea banned crypto trading, the first brutal crypto winter hit, and panic set in. Worse, the exchange I was using became inaccessible, and I had no idea where else to trade. So, like many others, I sold out of fear and confusion.

Fast forward a few years, and Crypto.com emerged as a new platform. I jumped back in, this time buying XRP and a token called MCO (which later rebranded to CRO). And guess what? I did it again—I sold right before another crypto winter. But here’s the kicker: CRO later surged to nearly $1 SGD during the COVID bull run. If I had just held onto my stack, I would’ve been sitting on six figures in profit.

The Frustration of Weak Hands

What frustrates me the most isn’t just the missed opportunity—it’s the realization that I lack conviction. For some reason, I can hold stocks through wild swings, watching them dip 20%, 30%, even 50% without flinching. I tell myself it’s a long-term play, that volatility is part of the game. But when it comes to crypto? My hands turn weak. The second I see a big green candle, I start thinking about taking profits. The moment there’s a sharp drop, fear takes over.

Maybe it’s because crypto moves so fast. A 10% swing in stocks is a big deal; in crypto, it’s just Tuesday. Maybe it’s because I still don’t fully trust this market—despite all the institutional adoption, despite Bitcoin proving itself over and over. Or maybe it’s because I’ve seen too many stories of people getting rekt, and I don’t want to be one of them.

The Irony of Crypto Wealth

But here’s the irony: the ones who get truly "crypto rich" aren’t the cautious ones. They’re the ones who YOLO—who diamond-hand through crashes, who ignore the noise, who hold with irrational confidence. And for all my careful planning, I’m starting to wonder if that’s the only way to win big in this space. Not by outsmarting the market, but by outlasting it.

Will I Ever Learn?

So here I am, watching Bitcoin climb, knowing I could have been along for the ride. It’s not the first time I’ve learned this lesson, and I doubt it’ll be the last. But next time, maybe—just maybe—I’ll remember that in crypto, the biggest rewards go to those who can stomach the chaos.

And if I ever want to be one of them, I’ll need more than just strategy. I’ll need nerves of steel. Because history keeps showing me—the real gains come to those who hold.

Moving forward

I bought a hard wallet. Shifted my remaining BTC into the hard wallet and gonna leave it there till i have a grandkid. My 2 sons are only 2 years old and 2 months old now. HAHAHAHA