Brief Summary
This YouTube video features an interview with ZF, a meme coin trader, who shares his journey, strategies, and insights into the world of meme coin trading. He discusses his initial foray into crypto, his transition to meme coins, and the wallet tracking methods he uses to identify promising projects. ZF also touches on the importance of community, the challenges of staying ahead in the fast-paced meme coin market, and the mental toll it can take. Key takeaways include:
- The importance of wallet tracking and identifying "cabal" activity for successful meme coin trading.
- The need for hard work, discipline, and continuous learning to stay ahead in the market.
- The potential for significant profits in meme coins, but also the risk of substantial losses and mental strain.
- The evolving nature of the meme coin market and the importance of adapting strategies to stay profitable.
Introduction
The host introduces ZF, emphasizing his deep involvement and success in the meme coin space. ZF is described as someone who is extremely knowledgeable and dedicated to meme coin trading. The host sets the stage for a discussion about ZF's background, strategies, and experiences in the crypto world, particularly his focus on meme coins.
ZF's Background and Entry into Crypto
ZF shares his background, starting with his family business before entering the crypto space in 2021. He initially experienced losses due to FOMO (fear of missing out) but later found success in forex trading in 2023. Prompted by a friend, ZF shifted to crypto in late 2023, initially skeptical but eventually finding success with altcoins like Arc Block, which gave him a 40x return. He emphasizes his focus on altcoins for potentially life-changing gains, driven by information he got from YouTube.
Transition to Meme Coins and Aris's Influence
ZF discusses his transition to meme coins after a conversation with Aris, who was fully invested in memes. Initially skeptical, ZF was intrigued by the potential upside of memes compared to utility-based crypto. He started exploring meme coins in August 2024 after a conversation with Aris, Tendy Cong, and Jodi, who encouraged him to try using Telegram bots for trading. He started with 50 SOL, marking the beginning of his deep dive into meme coins.
Early Meme Coin Experiences and Jackpot
ZF shares his early experiences in meme coins, highlighting a significant jackpot with LLM, where he turned 10 Solana into 2000 Solana in 6 hours. He also mentions another successful trade with GCH Coin, where he made nearly 700 Solana from a 1 Solana investment in 4 hours. ZF notes that his biggest wins often occurred when he was low on funds, pushing him to take risks. He admits to sometimes going "full port" into a single coin, which could lead to significant drawdowns.
Wallet Tracking and Retardia Success
ZF explains how he started using wallet tracking to identify promising meme coins. He initially joined various groups and tried screening coins himself but found limited success. A friend introduced him to wallet tracking, which involved following the wallets of proven traders. He initially tracked KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders) but later refined his approach. His first success with wallet tracking was with Retardia, where he turned 2 Solana into 300 Solana.
Refining Wallet Tracking and Peanut Jackpot
ZF discusses how he refined his wallet tracking strategy after initial setbacks. He learned to identify top traders from successful coins and track their wallets. This led to a significant jackpot with Peanut, where he turned 11 Solana into 400 Solana. He held Peanut until it was listed on Binance, where it reached a $450 million market cap, but he paper-handed it. This experience solidified his belief in wallet tracking as a primary strategy.
Current Wallet Tracking Methods and Mentor
ZF details his current wallet tracking methods, which involve identifying wallets being "washed" after successful plays. He looks for fresh wallets with no prior history and tracks their transactions to identify new opportunities. He also mentions tracking wallets clustered around specific plays, such as RFC and Hosiko. ZF also reveals that he recently found a mentor who has helped him refine his tracking game.
Mentor's Influence and Risk Management
ZF explains how his mentor has influenced his trading, particularly in risk management. He no longer enters "size plays" and focuses on smaller entries, typically under $100,000 market cap. His mentor advised him that entering above this level doesn't significantly impact the potential ATH (All-Time High). He now focuses on smaller positions (1-4 SOL) in coins under $100,000 market cap.
Identifying "Cabal" Wallets and Confirmation Bots
ZF discusses how he identifies wallets associated with "cabal" activity, which are likely behind plays that reach multi-million dollar market caps. He tracks these wallets as they are "washed" and looks for their next deployments. He also uses a channel bot to confirm whether these influential wallets are entering a play, providing additional confidence to hold longer.
Candle Reading and Profitability
ZF reveals that he still uses candle reading for meme coins, leveraging his forex trading background. He uses 1-minute and 5-minute candles, adjusting the timeframe as the coin matures. He emphasizes that his success isn't just luck but also based on technical analysis. Despite the risks, ZF confirms that he has been profitable trading meme coins since September, starting with an initial deposit of 80 SOL.
Indonesian Trencher Community and Kabal
ZF mentions that there are many skilled meme coin traders in Indonesia, but they often remain anonymous. He believes that those at the highest level are likely part of a "cabal" with real-life connections. He emphasizes that trying to trade meme coins alone without any tools or connections is unlikely to be successful.
Challenges of Degen Trading and the Importance of Edge
ZF and the host discuss the challenges of degen trading and the importance of having an "edge." They agree that many people are drawn to meme coins due to laziness and the desire for quick money, often leading to losses. Wallet tracking is presented as one such edge, but it has a limited lifespan as more people adopt it. The key is to increase social capital and become part of a kabal to gain access to exclusive information.
Hard Work and Mental Toll of Degen Trading
ZF emphasizes that successful degen trading requires hard work, including constant digging on Solscan and tracking wallets. He reveals that he does all of this from his phone, opening hundreds of tabs daily. He admits that this lifestyle has taken a toll on his mental function. He recounts a time when he missed the Trump coin launch and was so upset that he cried, highlighting the emotional investment and stress involved.
Biggest Loss and Portfolio Allocation
ZF shares that his biggest realized loss was around $20,000 on VG. He currently holds altcoins in the Ethereum ecosystem in his spot portfolio. Meme coins are only for trading, and he doesn't hold any long-term positions. Solana makes up less than 10% of his total portfolio, with the majority invested in altcoins.
Altcoin Convictions and Narratives
ZF discusses his altcoin convictions, focusing on projects with market caps under $10 million. He is heavily invested in Oracle and DeFi narratives, specifically cross-chain Oracle and liquid staking. He mentions Chainlink for Oracle and Stader Labs for DeFi, highlighting their potential and recent developments.
ICM Narrative and Guner Coin Miss
ZF explains that he often identifies narratives through wallet tracking. He admits to missing out on the ICM (Internet Capital Markets) narrative because he didn't find an early entry point. He shares a story about missing Guner Coin, a play that went from $50,000 to $60 million in a single day, because he faded it due to the oversaturation of gun-themed coins.
Creator Fees and Korean Influence
ZF and the host discuss the creator fee meta and its potential benefits for committed creators. ZF shares insights from his Korean contacts, noting that Sui and Hyperliquid are currently popular among Korean investors. He emphasizes the significant influence of Korean investors in the crypto market, known for their FOMO and willingness to take on debt to invest in crypto.
Bullish or Bearish Game
The host plays a "bullish or bearish" game with ZF, asking for his sentiment on various coins. ZF provides his opinions, often based on intuition and limited knowledge. He expresses bullish sentiment on WIF, Bong, PP, Uptos, Hyperliquid, BNB, ETH, and Bitcoin, while bearish on Pengu, Floki, Trump, Polygon, Ondo, Shibainu, Avalanche, Cardano and XRP.
Sui and Pokemon Rumors
ZF mentions that many of his Telegram contacts are farming airdrops on Sui, as Sui is reportedly developing a DEX. He also shares a rumor about a potential partnership between Pokemon and Sui, which could be a significant catalyst for the chain.
Conclusion
The host thanks ZF for sharing his insights and experiences. He emphasizes that ZF's success is due to his hard work, discipline, and dedication to wallet tracking, rather than simply following KOLs. The video concludes with a message encouraging viewers to learn from ZF's example and approach degen trading with a proper strategy and work ethic.
