If you’re diving into the wild world of onchain crypto trading, a recent thread by Jacknuked on X might just be the roadmap you need. Posted on April 21, 2025, Jack shares his journey from a $30 investment to multi-six figures, alongside hard-earned lessons on the mental game of trading. This isn’t your typical technical guide—it’s a deep dive into the mindset and strategies that can help you thrive in the chaotic onchain markets. Let’s break it down.

From $30 to Financial Freedom: Jack’s Onchain Journey

Jack’s story starts in 2021, when he stumbled upon a cryptic thread by a user named “CLs intern” that opened his eyes to onchain trading. Unlike the hype around perpetual futures (perps), spot trading, or NFTs, this was about sniping undervalued tokens on blockchains like Ethereum, Fantom, and later Binance Smart Chain (BSC). With no guidance, teenage Jack spent months figuring out the game, battling through the crypto bear market of 2022.

By mid-2022, he joined a BSC trading community via a YouTube guide, reigniting his passion. He began “camping” new token deploys on platforms like Poocoin, vetting them for scams versus potential runners. Starting with just $30, he turned it into $10k in three months, then $100k in four—paying off a massive family debt in the process. Despite losing 95% of his net worth during the FTX collapse in November 2022, Jack rebuilt, tripling his losses by mid-2023 and hitting his financial goals by year-end. His story proves that onchain trading can be a game-changer for those with a low bankroll but high drive.

The Power of Obsession in Onchain Trading

Jack’s core message is simple but brutal: success in onchain trading demands obsession. He compares it to the rush of playing Fortnite for 12 hours straight—you don’t dread it because you love it. To win, you need to live and breathe the market, spending 10+ hours a day scouring platforms like Memescope or Pulse for new token deploys, analyzing patterns, and predicting trends.

This isn’t about casual trading for a quick $500. Jack argues that someone obsessed, putting in 20 hours a day, will lap the part-timer every time. If obsession doesn’t come naturally, force it—spend every free second studying the market until it becomes your default mindset. As Jack puts it, “the day starts and ends with you thinking about your trades.”

Achieving Flow State for Peak Performance

A key part of Jack’s strategy is entering a “flow state,” a concept popularized by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Flow is when you’re so absorbed in an activity that time disappears—10 hours feel like 30 minutes. Jack experienced this while analyzing tokens, processing data at “maximum throttle,” and spotting patterns he’d otherwise miss.

To get there, set realistic challenges based on your skill level. A trader making $15k a month shouldn’t aim for $5k—that’s too easy and kills focus. Conversely, a $10k portfolio aiming for $500k in a month is too unrealistic, leading to frustration. Jack suggests goals like a 100 SOL (Solana’s native token) portfolio aiming for 2.5 SOL daily—achievable and motivating. This state of deep focus is where you’ll make your best trades and grow as a trader.

Rethinking Onchain Trading: It’s a Game, Not a Gamble

Jack challenges the mindset that onchain trading is just “gambling” or luck-based. Instead, he frames it as a game where dollars are your points. The goal? Spot inefficiencies before others do. This could mean finding a token at $100k that’s undervalued compared to similar tokens at $5m, or predicting a narrative—like the AI token meta in 2023, where coins sat sub-$1m for days before running to $10m.

He warns against blindly following “shillers” or copying wallets. Dependency on anything but your own system is a recipe for failure. Instead, think: What am I seeing that others aren’t? If there’s no edge, move on. Over time, you’ll perfect your ability to spot “lagging runners”—tokens poised for a reprice before the market catches up.

How to Play the Current Onchain Game

Jack notes that onchain trading has evolved since 2021, when locked liquidity was enough to guarantee gains. Now, technicals like liquidity, volume, or charts matter less—human behavior is what drives the market. Platforms like Memescope are your “home base” for vetting new tokens. Jack’s style is to manually check every graduated coin, looking for outliers with unique narratives or tech, buying 1-2% of his portfolio sub-$200k market cap, and letting it ride.

He advises against over-relying on tools like volume trackers or wallet alerts, as they can lead to information overload. Instead, focus on understanding attention dynamics—how much buzz a token might attract and how that correlates with price. For example, during the AI meta, traders who saw the tech’s true value frontran massive repricings. Jack also touches on news trading (like Elon Musk tweets), emphasizing the need to value a narrative’s ceiling within seconds to avoid buying at the top.

Learning from Failure and Avoiding Stagnation

One of Jack’s most striking points is the importance of accountability. Too many traders miss obvious plays—like the “Trump trade” (likely referring to a token tied to a 2024 election narrative)—and brush it off with excuses like “there’s always a next one.” Jack insists you should feel the sting of failure, especially if your experience should’ve caught the trade. Those who reflected on missing the Trump trade and adjusted their approach are now outperforming, while those who ignored it are stuck.

To grow, you need to face your failures head-on, reassess your process, and rebuild as many times as it takes. Jack’s own journey—losing 95% to FTX and starting over—shows how resilience and adaptability are non-negotiable in this game.

Is Onchain Trading Worth It?

Jack’s answer is a resounding yes, especially for those with limited capital but a hunger to succeed. Onchain trading offers unmatched upside for small bankrolls, as his $30-to-$100k run proves. But it’s not easy—there’s no simple blueprint. It’s a puzzle that requires you to outthink thousands of other traders, understanding how they react to narratives and market shifts.

His final advice? Embrace the process, enjoy the grind, and think—constantly. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned trader, Jack’s mental framework can help you navigate the everchanging maze of onchain markets. As he signs off with “Inshallah,” Jack leaves behind a legacy of insights for the next generation of traders. Will you take up the challenge?