Having been in the crypto world for so many years, I have witnessed too many investors losing everything—mainly falling into two types of token traps: one is the long-dead "zombie coins," and the other is the project team's "infinite money printer," also known as "inflationary dump tokens." Today, I want to start from the pitfalls I’ve experienced myself and clarify the routines behind these two types of tokens.

First, let's talk about "zombie coins." These used to be somewhat popular, but now they have become digital trash. Their technical frameworks are outdated, the code hasn't been touched in years, and they can't keep up with market trends. The community has cooled off—Telegram, Twitter, Discord are all dead zones. The project team has long since become absentee landlords, with only a few slogans still floating around. The most frightening part is—exchanges can delist them at any time. Once the trading pairs are gone, the price drops to zero instantly, and there's no chance to stop the loss. I’ve personally experienced this—one time, a certain altcoin evaporated overnight. That feeling is something I never want to experience again.

Next, let's discuss "inflationary dump tokens," which are the real tools for cutting leeks. The project teams' tricks are simple: they massively inflate tokens and cash out, then, once the unlock period hits, they dump aggressively, causing the price to plummet. Early investors and the project team team up to cash out and escape, leaving retail investors holding the bag at high prices. These tokens have terrifying inflation rates; the longer you hold, the more you lose. The fate of coins like OMG and STRAT is well known—their declines are heartbreaking. FIL is even more dramatic—every unlock triggers a tragedy, with many repeatedly getting cut and questioning their life choices.

My straightforward advice: don’t be greedy with low-priced coins—they’re almost certainly traps; no matter how sentimental an outdated project is, it can’t be saved—don’t let past memories blind you; and avoid tokens with absurdly high inflation rates—most of your chips will end up as someone else’s gains. The crypto space is inherently risky but also full of opportunities. The only way out is to stay alert and steer clear of these pitfalls, so you can navigate these turbulent waters more steadily.