'1 SOL & a dream': A foolproof guide for beginners

Note: This is what worked for me, and definitely not the ONLY way to degening. See what works for you & proceed accordingly! Also, none of this is financial advice. Okay, we shall proceed.

If I had 1 SOL (and a little extra for gas): I’d take a calculated but aggressive approach.

→ Phase 1: The Micro-Cap Casino Target micro-caps (~100k market cap). This is where real degens thrive. It’s high risk, high reward.

• Go in with at least 0.5 SOL per play. Why? Because micro-caps are essentially slot machines. You need enough in the pot to make the spins worth it.

• Exit at 100% or more. Take out your initials when you double up. Anything beyond that is free play.

• Keep your expectations grounded: 2x to 5x max per play.

• If you’re expecting 10x+ on every play, you’ll end up bag-holding shitters.

• This phase is about quick hits. You’re in and out. Don’t catch feelings for any ticker.

• No conviction. No loyalty. 1 SOL -> 10 SOL is the goal.

→ Phase 2: The Conviction Narrative (10-15 SOL) Once you hit 10 SOL, the game shifts. Micro-caps served their purpose; now you level up.

• Shift to mid-range plays (400k to sub-1m caps). These projects are less volatile and offer better liquidity. They’re also likely to have some narrative backing them—whether it’s utility, community, or a meme with legs.

• Spread your bets wisely: Punt 0.5-1 SOL per play across 10-20 tickers.

• Always take out initials on green candles. You need ammo to keep firing, and the market doesn’t care about your conviction when it dumps.

• At this stage, you’re building a portfolio of moon bags while protecting your stack.

→ Phase 3: Risk Management in the Trenches Let me be clear: Risk management as traders know it doesn’t exist here.

• If you want stop losses and -50% exits, go play in stocks or ETFs. • In these trenches, you either hit or miss. Simple as that. • At 10 SOL, you have 10-20 tickers to manage. Here’s how to decide your strategy:

1. Left Curve (Gut-Feel Meme Play): Specialized skill: Feeling the meme and understanding its potential.

Build conviction on vibes alone. You see a stupid ticker with a stupid name, but you just know it’s going to fly. Trust the vibes.

1. Mid Curve (Follow the Crowd): Look for plays from trusted CT callers or influencers.

Safer plays with lower risk-to-reward (r:r), but you’re less likely to get rugged.

1. Right Curve (Data-Driven): Go full quant. Study everything:

Holder count. Volume. Top 10 holders and their allocations. Supply distribution, and a lot more stats to form your thesis.

Build conviction from numbers and patterns. Pick what suits you, but stick to your lane.

→ Phase 4: From 10 SOL to 50 SOL Here’s the mindset shift: You’re either profiting or holding dust.

• Don’t exit at -20% or even -90%. Dust can turn into gold overnight. Example: I had some 0.1 ETH left in ⁃ in my photon. Forgot about it, opened it a month or two later: 1.1 ETH bag.

• When you hit 50 SOL, you’ve got breathing room. You’re no longer playing the trenches; you’re moving up to safer plays.

→ Phase 5: The Big Leagues (50-100 SOL) This is where you start targeting higher-cap plays (1.5m+ market cap).

• Why bigger caps? Less volatile than micro-caps. Lower risk of getting rugged. Better narratives, often backed by larger communities or partnerships.

• How to play this phase: Punt 5-15 SOL per play.

⁃ Risk management matters here ⁃ Wait for retracements. ⁃ Don’t chase green candles. ⁃ DCA into solid plays when they dip.

• Research is key: Basics like holder count, supply distribution, and community activity matter now more than ever. • Rug pulls can still happen, so always stay diligent.

• At this stage, 1 SOL -> 100 SOL feels like a natural progression.

Bonus Strategies:

⁃ Moon Bags and Lottery Wins Some microcaps can pump 10x+ overnight. If they do, take out 50-70% and leave a moon bag. It’s free money for the future if the project actually delivers.

⁃ No Selling on Losses In the trenches, drawdowns of 90% are common. Projects can pump out of nowhere, so hold that dust until it’s truly dead.

⁃ A Milestone-Based Roadmap The key to reaching 100 SOL is breaking it into milestones: 1 -> 5 SOL 5 -> 10 SOL 10 -> 20 SOL 20 -> 40 SOL 40 -> 80 SOL 80 -> 100 SOL

Each phase is just a 2x jump. It feels manageable and less daunting when you think of it like this.

• Play the Game, Don’t Let It Play You This isn’t about being right; it’s about winning.

• Keep your emotions in check, and always take profits when you can.

• The market doesn’t necessarily reward conviction, but it always rewards action.

• With everything stated above, finding good tickers among 1000s of random coins launching is still the most challenging task. Find your tribe, and the best callers, study their win rates, and follow along.

Ready Player 01? Good luck.

CFW

(Let me know if you found this useful, happy to make more! Bookmark for future reference!)