6 Ways To Rug Pull Yourself in Crypto (No Scammer Needed!)

Sometimes, we make mistakes. And more often than not, we look for someone else to blame maybe because it’s easier, or maybe because admitting we got something wrong stings a little too much. In the world of crypto, where things move fast and risks are everywhere, it’s easy to point fingers at scammers, bad projects, or market conditions. But the truth is, sometimes, we end up being our own worst enemy.

I’ve been in this space long enough to realize that even experienced people, those who’ve been here for years, still make costly mistakes. I’ve had times where I’ve stopped and thought, Wait… did I just rug pull myself? It wasn’t some shady developer or a pump-and-dump scheme that got me, it was my own choices, impatience, or lack of due diligence.

This page is a collection of 10 hard lessons I’ve learned first hand. If you’ve ever made a bad trade, fallen for hype, or ignored your gut feeling only to regret it later, you’re not alone. Hindsight is everything, and the more we recognize our own missteps, the better we can navigate this space.

Emotional trading

Years in trading, and I still catch myself doing it, emotional trading, the ultimate self sabotage. One minute, I have a solid plan, the next, I’m panic selling for $50 because a red candle made my stomach drop like I’m on a rollercoaster with no seatbelt. And let’s not even talk about FOMO buying at the top because, of course, this time it’s different, right? Right?! Spoiler: It’s never different. Whether it’s greed whispering, “Just a little higher,” or fear screaming, “Get out now!” emotions have rugged me more times than any scammer ever could. I tell myself I’ve learned my lesson, But in the past Bitcoin moves 5%, and suddenly I’m refreshing charts like my life depends on it. The truth is, It doesn't matter how long you've been in the market traders fall into this trap, it’s just part of the game. But at least I can laugh about it now… just right after I check the charts one more time.

Overleveraging

Oh, I know I’ve done this more times than I'll admit to my wife. Overleveraging the classic “go big or go home” Except most of the time, I end up going home with an empty account…..FML. Using leverage is like playing with fire, except instead of a small burn, you’re setting your entire portfolio ablaze. The gains feel incredible until they don’t. One bad trade, one unexpected market swing, and BOOM And your capital is gone!

"This time it'll be different," we’ll tell ourselves, blissfully ignoring the fact that the market has the emotional stability of a morning without caffeine. Then, just as we hit that overleveraged position, the market pulls a U-turn so fast. Goodbye, funds. Goodbye, dignity. Goodbye, dreams of early retirement. We swear we’ll never do it again. We’ll trade responsibly. And then, next week, we see someone on Twitter (x) will flexing their insane gains from a 50x long, and suddenly, we’re back in, clicking that leverage slider all the way up, and again FML.

Scams & Rug Pulls

You think this can’t be my fault, John? SCAMMERS ARE SCAMMERS, “HOW CAN THIS BE MY FAULT?!” Well, let me tell you, yes I completely disagree with scammers. Taking your money? They are dishonest and downright disgusting. But let’s be real crypto is like the Wild West, people disappearing leaving you head in hands.

So, can I really say getting scammed is your fault? Not entirely And I know really I shouldn't. But let’s not pretend we didn’t see it coming. Investing in projects with no research, trusting anonymous cartoon profile pictures, aping into “too-good-to-be-true” pump-and-dump schemes, and falling for fake giveaways We all clicked that free Airdrop link, Trust It's not what it says on the tin 99.999999% of the time.

Lack of Research (DYOR)

“This Is Definitely Rug-Pulling Yourself”

Lack of Research (DYOR) We all have that art of throwing money into random coins based purely on hype, a Twitter (X) post, or because some guy named “CryptoWizardDick” with laser eyes told you It's called safe moon What could go wrong.

No whitepaper? No roadmap? No team? Who cares! The chart looks like a straight line to the moon, I mean, I know I’ve found random coins before, and even as my finger hovers over the “Buy” button, my brain is SCREAMING at me “What are you doing? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” And yet… click buy. Boom. I’m in. No research, no logic, just pure, unfiltered degeneracy.

At that very moment, I’m not just investing I’m personally rug-pulling myself. I knew this wasn’t going to go my way. I knew this project had a website made on Wix, and the dev’s profile picture was a stock photo of a guy in a suit. But did that stop me? Nope. Because deep down, I embrace the chaos. I willingly take this ride, watching the chart nosedive in real time, clutching my bags. Dann!! $0. But you know what? I can still hold my head up high, look in the mirror, and proudly say I AM A CRYPTO DEGEN. And that, my friends, is worth everything… right? Right?!

Making Others Emotional The Art of Rugging Yourself

Ah yes, the classic move running into the community chat like a headless chicken, screaming "I'M DOWN 80%! THIS IS A SCAM! GAME OVER!" while still holding the token. Absolute genius. Because nothing says "rational investor" like panic-posting in all caps at 3 AM, making sure everyone knows that your portfolio is suffering.

Here’s the thing when you unleash your emotional meltdown in the chat, it spreads like wildfire. Suddenly, Chad, who was totally fine just five minutes ago, starts doubting his life choices. Bob, who was just about to go to bed peacefully, is now stress checking the chart. And little Timmy, who just put his college savings into this token, is hyperventilating. One by one, they all start selling. The market cap starts tanking. And before you know it, YOU just rug-pulled yourself all because you couldn’t keep your panic to yourself. And the worst part? The real scammers are just sitting back, sipping their coffee, watching you do their job for them. Congratulations, you played yourself.

Greed

Oh, we've all been there gripped by greed, convinced the price will definitely go higher. “This time is different $10 more”. We feel like were not just making money… We literally sat on the toilet for three minutes and check the balance again and it's higher, Especially at the start of a bull run like 2021 when your portfolio starts pumping so hard you check it every five minutes, heart pounding, already calculating which yacht/Lambo you’re going to buy first.

At first, you're in disbelief, Is this real? Did I crack the code of wealth itself? It keeps going up, and now you’re thinking, I'm not just holding… I'm flipping retiring! Visions of private islands, Lambos, and early retirement comes to mind. Then, the market tops. But hey, it only dips a few percent no big deal, just a healthy correction, I convince my self.

Then it dips again. And again. Hmm… okay, okay, no worries, it'll bounce back. You tell yourself, As soon as it goes back up, THEN I’ll sell. That's going to be a Smart move. But the market doesn’t care about your dreams. It just keeps going down. Before you know it, you’re trapped in a bear market… for three years. You go from refreshing your portfolio every five minutes to avoiding it. Guess what You just rugged yourself For three years

Anyway, guys, I hope you don’t end up rug pulling yourself because trust me, there’s no worse feeling than being your own worst enemy. The market can be brutal, but it can also be a thing of beauty especially if you play it smart and don’t let greed be the boss of you. So, remember to tread carefully, stay level-headed, and most importantly, stick to a plan. And as always, Stay safe out there! “Do big things or do nothing at all”

John Crypto Enthusiast