Many people think that holding long-term short positions on altcoins is as safe as it gets—after all, it's only a matter of time before they go to zero.

That’s not wrong, but the market doesn’t always follow the script. Some coins can drop for three years, then suddenly shoot back up in ten days. Why? Maybe big money takes an interest, suddenly steps in to manipulate the price and squeeze the shorts. These kinds of “dead cat bounces” come out of nowhere and can really make you question everything.

The most brutal case I’ve seen: a certain coin dropped 90% from its peak—everyone thought it was safe, right? Then it skyrocketed 300% in two weeks, and countless long-term short positions were instantly liquidated. The market makers are counting on your mentality of “it’ll go to zero anyway.”

So honestly, most altcoins aren’t suitable for stubborn holding. In a bear market, shorting at the highs can work, but when the market warms up, you need to be careful—if you don’t hit your ideal entry, cut your losses decisively. Don’t get into a standoff with the market. After all, staying alive is more important than being right.