These 5 truths @PortaltoBitcoin can help you avoid many pitfalls if understood early on. The 5 points summarized by Portal are all hard truths learned by veteran players who have faced pitfalls, and each one hits home and is very useful. 1. Don't believe that "cross-chain bridges protect Bitcoin"—the more bridges there are, the higher the probability that Bitcoin is exposed to security risks. Numerous theft cases involving bridges have already proven this; if you want to deal with BTC, try to avoid taking the long route through bridges. 2. Managing your own wallet is not an "option"; it is fundamental to Web3—putting your assets in someone else's hands, whether it's a platform or a so-called "custodian," carries the risk of loss. Remember: if you don't hold the private keys, the assets are not yours. 3. Wrapped assets (like wBTC) and real Bitcoin are completely different—wrapped assets are "IOUs" (I Owe You), backed by the credit of the project team, while real BTC is native to the blockchain. The security and underlying logic of the two are vastly different; don't confuse them. 4. Liquidity should not rely on intermediaries—Web3's core principle is "trustlessness." When money goes through a third party, there’s an added layer of risk of being stuck or hacked. True safety comes from direct on-chain transactions without having to rely on others. 5. Cross-chain transactions (AMM) should be done in your own wallet—putting them on a custodial platform means giving up your trading rights. Directly operating in your wallet, with the private keys in your hands, is the only way to truly "call the shots." My deepest lesson was: in the early days, I opted for the convenience of custodial platforms, and later when the platform had issues, I almost couldn't withdraw my coins. That's when I realized that "self-custody" is not a hassle; it's a matter of survival. In Web3, the path that seems "convenient" often hides pitfalls; instead, the choice that is "a bit more troublesome but under your control" is the most stable. Thanks to @PortaltoBitcoin for the summary; it's very useful.