How to Actually Make Money Trading: A Straightforward Approach

Let me share something real with you. A reader once asked me about making money with crypto trading, and instead of giving them some complicated theory or promising overnight riches, I told them exactly what works.

The Question Everyone's Asking

Here's what the reader wrote back in August 2021:

"I've been interested in cryptocurrency lately and found your 'Old Zhang's Token Review' column really helpful. But you haven't updated in a while. I've been reading tons of articles and learning about grid trading, but I'm still confused about long-term trends. Like, XRP shot up last weekend then crashed right back down. While everything else was falling, DOT kept climbing steadily. How do I actually understand crypto?"

Sound familiar? This is the exact confusion most people face when they start trading.

Here's What Actually Works

If your goal is to make money trading—not become a crypto philosopher or market guru—the path is surprisingly straightforward.

First, you need a reliable trading platform. Grid trading has become one of the most effective strategies for consistent returns because it automates the buy-low-sell-high process that manual traders struggle with. The key is finding a platform that makes this accessible without eating up your profits in fees.

👉 Start automated grid trading with zero learning curve

Once you're set up, here's the critical part most people miss: follow someone who actually knows what they're doing. Look for traders with proven track records and transparent strategies. Find accounts that share their trades publicly so you can learn from real decisions, not just theory.

One trader I recommend following is Haze. Check out their Medium articles to understand their investment philosophy—not just what to trade, but how to think about trading. Their approach focuses on sustainable gains rather than gambling on moonshots.

The Money Rules You Can't Ignore

This is where most people blow it, so pay attention:

Only invest money you can afford to lose. This isn't just advice—it's a survival rule. If you're trading with rent money or taking out loans, you're already making a critical mistake that will likely end badly.

Kill the get-rich-quick mindset. I know it's tempting when you see those "10x gains in a week" posts, but here's the truth: people with that mindset usually end up broke. Consistent, modest gains beat home-run swings every single time.

Don't quit your day job. Your main income should stay stable while you learn trading. Treat this as a side income stream until you've proven yourself over months (or years), not days.

Why This Approach Works

Grid trading removes emotion from the equation. You're not panic-selling when prices dip or FOMO-buying at peaks. The system executes trades based on preset parameters, capturing profits from market volatility automatically.

Following experienced traders gives you a roadmap. You're not stumbling around in the dark trying to predict whether XRP will pump or dump next week. You're learning pattern recognition and risk management from people who've already made (and learned from) the expensive mistakes.

The mental game matters more than the technical analysis. Staying disciplined, avoiding debt, and maintaining realistic expectations—these boring principles are what separate profitable traders from gamblers.

Getting Started the Right Way

Set up your trading account and start small. Follow traders who document their strategies transparently. Read their analysis, understand their reasoning, and mirror their approach with amounts you're comfortable losing.

👉 Open your account and explore grid trading strategies

Watch how professionals manage their positions during both bull and bear markets. Notice how they don't chase every pump or panic during corrections. That's the skill you're developing—disciplined execution over emotional reactions.

The Bottom Line

Making money trading isn't about predicting which coin will moon tomorrow. It's about having a systematic approach, learning from experienced traders, managing risk intelligently, and staying psychologically balanced.

Start with automated strategies like grid trading that work while you sleep. Follow proven traders and absorb their methodology. Keep your expectations realistic and your main income stable.

That's it. No secret sauce, no complex formulas. Just a straightforward path that actually works if you follow it consistently. The reader who asked me that question back in 2021? They wanted the truth, not hype. This is that truth.