Decoding Momentum with Precision: Absolute Strength HistogramMomentum is more than just a buzzword—it’s the pulse of price action. The Absolute Strength Histogram v2 is a powerful open-source indicator that brings that pulse to life, helping traders visualize the ongoing tug-of-war between bulls and bears with clarity and precision.
In this post, we’ll explore how this tool works, how we use it at Xuantify, and how you can integrate it into your own trading strategy to sharpen your edge.
🔍 What Is the Absolute Strength Histogram ?
Originally developed by jiehonglim , this indicator is a refined version of the classic Absolute Strength Histogram. It measures the relative strength of buyers and sellers and plots it as a color-coded histogram.
Key Features:
Color-coded bars to reflect bullish or bearish dominance
Clear visual cues for trend strength and exhaustion
Helps identify trending vs. ranging market conditions
Open-source and customizable
Unlike traditional oscillators, this histogram doesn’t just show overbought or oversold—it shows who’s in control , and how strongly.
🧠 How We Use It at Xuantify
At Xuantify, we use the Absolute Strength Histogram as a momentum confirmation tool within our multi-layered trading models. Here’s how:
1. Trend Confirmation
We look for alignment between price structure and histogram color. For example, if price breaks structure to the upside and the histogram turns green and rising, that’s a strong confirmation of bullish momentum.
2. Divergence Detection
When price makes a new high but the histogram prints a lower high, it signals momentum divergence —a potential early warning of reversal.
3. Range Filtering
Flat or alternating histogram bars often indicate a ranging market . We avoid trend trades during these periods and instead look for mean-reversion setups.
🧩 New: Pivot High/Low Overlay for Reversal Clarity
To make the Absolute Strength Histogram even more actionable, we’ve added a custom Pivot High/Low indicator that visually marks key swing points on the chart. This addition helps traders clearly see how the histogram behaves before, during, and after reversals .
Below an example of HTF 4H used as stronger trade confirmation:
Why this matters:
It highlights where momentum shifts align with structural turning points
It helps validate divergence signals from the histogram
It makes backtesting and visual analysis much easier
How to use it:
Watch for histogram color or slope changes near pivot highs/lows
Look for divergence between price and histogram at these pivots
Use the pivot zones as potential entry or exit points when confirmed by momentum
🔄 Does It Repaint?
One of the most common concerns with momentum indicators is whether they repaint —meaning they change past values based on future price action. The Absolute Strength Histogram is designed to be non-repainting .
Once a histogram bar is printed, it remains fixed, making it suitable for real-time decision-making and reliable backtesting . This gives traders confidence that what they see on the chart is what actually happened in the moment—not a hindsight illusion.
⚙️ Settings That Matter
The indicator comes with several adjustable parameters, but one of the most impactful is the “Indicator Method” setting.
Our recommendation:
Set Indicator Method = STOCHASTIC for smoother, more responsive signals
This setting tends to reduce noise and better capture momentum shifts
It works especially well in combination with structure-based entries
Other useful settings include:
Length – Controls the sensitivity of the histogram
Smoothing – Helps reduce choppiness in volatile markets
Color thresholds – Customize visual cues for easier interpretation
⚙️ Best Combinations with This Indicator
To maximize its effectiveness, we combine the Absolute Strength Histogram v2 with:
Market Structure Tools – Like BOS/CHOCH from LuxAlgo Smart Money Concepts
Volume Profile – To confirm strength around key volume nodes
Fair Value Gaps (FVGs) – For precision entries when histogram confirms direction
RSI or Stochastic – For additional momentum or exhaustion confirmation
This layered approach helps us filter out noise and focus only on high-conviction trades .
⚠️ What to Watch Out For
No indicator is perfect. The Absolute Strength Histogram can sometimes lag slightly in fast-moving markets. It’s best used as a confirmation tool , not a standalone signal generator.
Also, in low-volume or choppy conditions, the histogram may give mixed signals. Always combine it with structure and context.
🚀 Final Thoughts
The Absolute Strength Histogram is a clean, intuitive, and powerful tool for traders who want to see momentum clearly . Whether you’re a trend trader, scalper, or swing strategist, this indicator can help you stay on the right side of the market.
At Xuantify, we’re all about combining simplicity with precision. This tool fits that philosophy perfectly.
Add it to your chart, test it, and see how it sharpens your edge.
Community ideas
Fake Candle: Stop Getting Liquidated TodayA giant green candle pops up on your chart… You get excited, jump in — and boom, price dumps !
Fake candles are one of the market’s most psychological traps .
This breakdown shows how to avoid getting tricked — and even profit from them!
Hello✌
Spend 3 minutes ⏰ reading this educational material.
🎯 Analytical Insight on Dogecoin:
Dogecoin has posted an impressive 60% rally in recent weeks and is now testing the key psychological resistance at $0.25. A confirmed breakout from this level could unlock at least 22% further upside , aligning with a breakout above the descending channel toward the $0.28 target. Key daily support, Fibonacci confluence, and a rising trendline are also in play. 📉🚀
Now , let's dive into the educational section,
🧠 The Psychology Behind Candle Traps
It all starts when the market shows a sudden sharp move. A strong bullish candle — full of hope — shows up out of nowhere. But guess what? Most of the time, it’s just bait.
Smart money loves this moment — when retail traders think a moonshot is coming.
So never trust the candle’s look alone. Look deeper for confirmation.
🛠 TradingView Tools to Catch Fake Candles📊
practical tools inside TradingView that help detect false signals.
Set these up and test them live in your charting flow:
Volume Profile
Shows you where volume is really happening. No volume = no trust.
Session Volume HD
Reveals hidden session volume. If a big candle has weak session volume, that’s a red flag.
Relative Volume (RVOL)
Tells you if current volume is above/below normal.
Fake candles often come with volume mismatch.
Candle Close Timer
Shows how long until a candle closes.
Wait for that close — fake candles often flip last minute.
Multiple Timeframe Analysis
Check higher TFs before trusting the move.
Many fake candles trick you in low TFs.
Apply these directly inside your TradingView layout — it’s a game changer.
🔍 Real Candle vs Fake Candle
A real candle usually forms at a key support/resistance level with solid volume.
A fake one? Often pops up in a random zone, low volume, and before higher timeframes confirm.
Pro tip: Wait for the candle to fully close — then check if volume + structure supports the move.
📉 Rookie Mistake Alert
New traders often jump in on the first big candle they see.
Why? Because they want to be “early” and catch the move.
But in markets, patience wins — not speed.
Follow footprints, not fireworks.
🎯 Three-Step Filter For Fake Candles
Here’s your anti-fake-candle checklist:
No volume? No entry!
Confirmation over assumption. Use indicators like RSI, divergence, or MAs.
Always check the higher timeframe. Low TF = high deception.
🔄 Market Makers Love These Games
Fake candles are a classic weapon for market makers.
They know exactly when emotional traders will FOMO in.
These aren’t just candles — they’re emotional traps.
Study the trap, not just the move.
🧩 Final Takeaway & Suggestion
Fake candles aren’t just technical — they’re psychological .
Use the right tools, wait for confirmation, and don’t let your emotions lead .
Start your next analysis with a mental filter , not just a visual one.
always conduct your own research before making investment decisions. That being said, please take note of the disclaimer section at the bottom of each post for further details 📜✅.
Give me some energy !!
✨We invest countless hours researching opportunities and crafting valuable ideas. Your support means the world to us! If you have any questions, feel free to drop them in the comment box.
Cheers, Mad Whale. 🐋
Spinning top candle - live example (potentially)🕯️ Spinning Top candle – What It Means!?
A spinning top has:
1. Small body (open ≈ close)
2. Long upper and lower wicks
What it shows? It shows indecision between buyers and sellers after a previous move.
Ok, so what we can learn from it?
📉 We can learn how to Trade a Spinning Top candle!
THIS IS A SHORT SETUP (if confirmation follows)
Confirmation candle: A bearish candle that closes below the spinning top’s low ($106,407)
Entry: ~$106,350–106,400 (after breakdown)
Stop Loss: Above the high of the spinning top: $107,350
Take Profit: $103,800 (deeper pullback near EMAs)
Probability: 65/35 bearish if next candle confirms rejection.
Enough theory, see yourself!
How to Draw Trendline in Changing MarketHey Traders so here I wanted to illustrate how you catch the change from Uptrend to Downtrend on the charts. You never know for sure if the trend has completely changed but basically look for 3 bars that you draw a straight line and connect them together. You don't need indicators you just need to be able to draw a straight line. Buy or Sell when market touches trendline. Technical Analysis is a little bit like Art but alot of time it can work really well if you draw correctly!
So in uptrend you would be buyer at the trendline.
In downtrend you would be seller at the trendline.
Always use Risk Management! (just in case your wrong in your analysis)
Hope This Helps Your Trading
Clifford
Golden Cross? You are late! Here’s How to Get In Early.📉 “Golden Cross? No Thanks. Here’s How to Get In Early.”
By FXProfessor
Video here:
Everyone’s hyped about the Golden Cross again...
📰 “Bullish Signal!”
📈 “50 SMA crossed the 200!”
🎉 “Party time!”
Let me stop you right there.
If you’re waiting for that cross to go long —
You’re not late.
You’re definitely late.
The Golden Cross is a lagging indication.
It’s the afterparty. The smart money already had the drinks and left.
🔍 Here's the deal:
✅ Golden Cross forms after the move
✅ Price is usually already up double digits
✅ Sometimes it triggers right before a top
✅ Even EMAs (which I prefer) are still confirmation tools
✅ The real edge? Structure. Trendlines. Pressure zones.
📊 What I use instead:
-Custom EMAs that react faster
-My signature parallelogram method for early pressure
-Focus on trendlines and structure
-Above all — logic, not hype
- Fundamentals first!
For example, while the Golden Cross just printed, I was already watching $74,394 and $79,000.
Why? Because pressure builds before indicators react.
That's where the best entries live.
So next time someone posts
“Golden Cross confirmed!” 😏 Just smile and remember:
By the time the cross lights up, I’m already halfway to the next target.
Use EMAs if you like. But structure comes first.
That’s where the party starts.
One Love,
The FXProfessor 🧠📈
Disclosure: I am happy to be part of the Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analysis.
Exposing Price Inefficiencies: The Role of Fair Value Gaps (FVG)In the ever-evolving landscape of price action trading, one concept has gained significant traction among institutional and retail traders alike: Fair Value Gaps (FVGs) . At Xuantify, we believe that understanding market inefficiencies is key to anticipating high-probability setups—and FVGs offer just that.
🔍 What Is a Fair Value Gap?
A Fair Value Gap is a price imbalance that occurs when the market moves too quickly in one direction, leaving behind a "gap" in liquidity. This typically happens during high volatility or news-driven events, where price skips over levels without sufficient buying or selling.
In technical terms, an FVG is identified when a candle’s low (in a bullish move) or high (in a bearish move) does not overlap with the previous or next candle. This creates a three-candle structure :
- Bullish FVG : Candle 1 (bearish), Candle 2 (strong bullish), Candle 3 (bullish or neutral)
- Bearish FVG : Candle 1 (bullish), Candle 2 (strong bearish), Candle 3 (bearish or neutral)
These gaps often act as magnets for price , as the market seeks to rebalance and fill the inefficiency.
🧠 Why Do FVGs Matter?
FVGs are not just visual anomalies—they represent institutional footprints . When large orders are executed, they often cause price to move rapidly, leaving behind unfilled orders. Smart money tends to revisit these zones to complete their positions.
Key Benefits of Trading FVGs:
- ✅ High-probability entries: Price often returns to fill the gap before continuing its trend.
- ✅ Clear invalidation levels: The edges of the gap provide natural stop-loss zones.
- ✅ Works across timeframes: From scalping on the 1-minute to swing trading on the daily.
🧩 Using the “Fair Value Gap ” Indicator
To simplify the process of identifying and trading FVGs, we recommend the Fair Value Gap indicator on TradingView. This tool automatically highlights bullish and bearish FVGs, tracks their mitigation, and even provides alerts when gaps are filled.
Key Features:
- Auto-detection of bullish and bearish FVGs
- Mitigation tracking: See which gaps are filled and which remain open
- Threshold filtering: Focus on significant gaps by adjusting the minimum size
- Dynamic mode: Monitor evolving FVGs in real time
- Alerts: Get notified when price fills a gap
💡 No Repainting, No Delays
One of the most reassuring aspects of this indicator is that it does not repaint . Once a fair value gap is printed, it stays on the chart—no disappearing zones, no misleading signals.
Even better, the indicator plots FVGs in real time . It uses a three-candle structure and confirms the gap immediately after the third candle closes . This means you’re seeing valid, actionable gaps as they form—not in hindsight.
This makes the LuxAlgo FVG tool a reliable companion for both live trading and backtesting , giving traders the confidence that what they see is what the market actually delivered.
How to Use It:
1. Add the indicator : Search for “Fair Value Gap ” in the TradingView Indicators tab.
2. Adjust settings :
- Use the “Threshold %” to filter out smaller, less relevant gaps.
- Enable “Mitigation Levels” to track filled gaps.
- Use “Auto Threshold” for adaptive filtering based on volatility.
3. Trade setups :
- Contrarian : Wait for price to fill a gap and look for reversal signals.
- Trend-following : Enter trades in the direction of the gap when it forms.
⚠️ FVGs Are Not Always Honored
While FVGs offer powerful insight into market inefficiencies, it's important to remember: they are not guaranteed reversal or continuation zones . Sometimes price will blow right through a gap without reacting—especially in trending or news-driven markets.
Why this happens:
The gap may have already been mitigated on a lower timeframe
Strong momentum or macroeconomic catalysts override technical zones
The FVG is too small or lacks confluence with other key levels
How to manage this:
Always combine FVGs with structure, liquidity, and volume
Use alerts and confirmations (e.g., candle patterns or BOS/CHOCH)
Avoid trading FVGs in isolation—context is everything
🧠 Best Indicator Combinations with FVG
To increase the accuracy of FVG-based setups, we recommend combining the LuxAlgo FVG indicator with the following tools:
1. Market Structure (LuxAlgo Smart Money Concepts)
Identify breaks of structure (BOS) or change of character (CHOCH) near FVGs. Use structure shifts to confirm whether the FVG is likely to hold or fail.
2. Volume Profile or Session Volume
Confirm FVGs with low-volume nodes or volume gaps . FVGs aligning with volume imbalances are more likely to be respected.
3. Order Blocks
Look for FVGs that overlap with bullish or bearish order blocks . This confluence often signals institutional accumulation or distribution.
4. Relative Strength Index (RSI) or Stochastic
Use momentum indicators to confirm exhaustion or continuation near FVGs. For example, a bullish FVG + oversold RSI = potential long setup.
5. Liquidity Zones (Equal Highs/Lows, Swing Points)
FVGs near liquidity pools are often targeted before reversal. Combine with sweep setups for sniper entries.
Here’s a new section you can add to your blog post, focusing on the power of **Multi-Timeframe (MTF) FVG Alignments**:
🧭 Multi-Timeframe FVG Alignments
One of the most powerful ways to increase the reliability of Fair Value Gaps is by using multi-timeframe confluence . When FVGs align across different timeframes—say, a 1H FVG inside a 4H FVG zone—it often signals a high-probability reaction area .
Why it works:
Higher timeframe FVGs represent broader institutional imbalances
Lower timeframe FVGs offer precise entries within those zones
Alignment confirms that multiple layers of market participants are active in the same area
How to use it:
Start with a higher timeframe (e.g., 4H or Daily) and mark key FVGs
Drop to a lower timeframe (e.g., 15M or 1H) and look for fresh FVGs forming inside the higher zone
Wait for structure shifts or liquidity sweeps within the lower timeframe FVG before entering
This technique is especially effective when combined with tools like LuxAlgo Smart Money Concepts and Volume Profile , helping you time entries with sniper-like precision while staying aligned with the broader market narrative.
📊 Backtest It Yourself
FVGs are best understood through chart time . Load up your favorite pair on TradingView, activate the LuxAlgo FVG indicator, and observe how price reacts. You’ll be surprised how often these zones act as support, resistance, or launchpads for major moves.
🚀 Final Thoughts
Fair Value Gaps are more than just a buzzword—they’re a window into how smart money operates. By incorporating FVGs and tools like the LuxAlgo indicator , you gain a deeper understanding of market dynamics and a sharper edge in execution.
At Xuantify, we’re committed to decoding institutional logic and bringing it to the retail trader. Stay tuned for more insights, and as always— trade smart, not hard .
What Is the ICT Silver Bullet Strategy, and How Does It Work?What Is the ICT Silver Bullet Strategy, and How Does It Work?
The ICT Silver Bullet strategy offers traders a unique approach to capitalising on market opportunities during specific trading hours. This article explored this advanced strategy, explaining the role of fair value gaps, liquidity, and timeframes and how to implement it.
Understanding the ICT Silver Bullet Strategy
The ICT Silver Bullet trading strategy is a sophisticated trading methodology developed by Michael J. Huddleston, known as the Inner Circle Trader, or ICT. This strategy is designed to capitalise on specific, high-probability trading opportunities that align with certain times throughout certain sessions, specifically the London and New York sessions.
Central to the ICT Silver Bullet strategy are two key concepts: liquidity and fair value gaps. Liquidity in this context refers to places within the market where there is significant trading activity, often indicated by previous highs and lows of a trading session or historical price points that attract significant interest from traders.
Fair value gaps are price areas that were either skipped over quickly during rapid price moves or areas where the price has not returned for a significant period, reflecting a disparity between perceived value and market price.
The strategy's effectiveness hinges on executing trades during specific one-hour windows known as Silver Bullet times. By focusing on these concepts and timings, traders can more accurately analyse market movements and align their trades with the influxes of smart money, potentially improving their returns by catching swift moves towards liquidity points.
Key Components of the Strategy
The Silver Bullet ICT strategy employs a detailed approach to trading that revolves around understanding market dynamics at critical times. Here are the key components that define this strategy:
Fair Value Gaps
A fair value gap (FVG) occurs when the price quickly moves away from a level without significant trading occurring at that price, leaving a "gap" that is likely to be tested again when the price returns to this point. In the context of the ICT Silver Bullet strategy, these gaps are targeted because they represent potential inefficiencies in the market where the price may return to balance or fill the gap. Traders using this strategy watch these gaps closely as they often present clear entry points when approached again.
Liquidity Targets
Liquidity targets are essentially areas where there is expected to be a significant volume of orders, which can lead to particular price movements when these levels are approached. These include:
- Previous session highs and lows: These are often areas where stop-loss orders accumulate, making them prime targets for liquidity-driven price moves.
- Swing points in the market: Key reversals and continuation points that have historical significance.
- Psychological levels: These include round numbers or price levels ending in '00' or '50', which often act as focal points for trading activity.
Specific Trading Times
Unlike many strategies that align strictly with market opening times, the ICT Silver Bullet trading strategy utilises specific one-hour windows during the day when liquidity and volatility are expected to be high due to trader participation across the globe. These Silver Bullet hours are strategically chosen based on their potential to tap into significant market moves:
- London Open Silver Bullet: Occurs from 3:00 AM to 4:00 AM Eastern Standard Time (EST) in winter and from 2:00 AM to 3:00 AM in summer, which is 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in winter and 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM in summer.
- New York AM Session Silver Bullet: From 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM EST, translating to 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM GMT.
- New York PM Session Silver Bullet: From 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM EST or 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM GMT.
These time slots are selected based on historical data showing heightened trading activity and, therefore, increased opportunities to capture moves towards identified liquidity targets.
Implementing the ICT Silver Bullet Strategy
Traders utilising the ICT Silver Bullet strategy typically prepare by marking potential fair value gaps and liquidity targets before these key trading times. As these windows approach, they monitor price action closely for signs that the market is moving bullishly or bearishly toward these liquidity points, enabling them to search for an entry.
Note that because this is an intraday strategy, ICT says it’s better to use a 15-minute timeframe or lower. Most traders use the 1-minute to 5-minute for the Silver Bullet setup, though those inexperienced with the strategy may prefer the 5-minute.
Here’s a breakdown of the strategy:
Entry
- Market Direction and Liquidity Analysis: Before the designated Silver Bullet timeframes, traders perform a detailed assessment of the market direction on higher timeframes, such as the 15-minute to 4-hour charts. This initial analysis is crucial to align their strategies with the market's overall momentum.
- Identifying Key Liquidity Points: Traders also mark significant liquidity targets during their analysis, such as previous session/day highs and lows. These points are expected to attract significant trading activity and thus are critical for planning entry points.
- Formation of Fair Value Gaps (FVG): During the Silver Bullet hours—specifically from 3:00 AM to 4:00 AM, 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, and 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM EST—traders watch for the market to approach these liquidity points and leave behind a Fair Value Gap. This movement is essential as it indicates a potential inefficiency in price that the market may seek to correct.
- Setting Limit Orders at FVGs: Once an FVG is identified, traders set their limit orders at the boundary of the FVG closest to their intended trade direction. If aiming for a long position, the order is placed at the top of the FVG; for a short position, at the bottom. This method allows traders to potentially enter the market as it moves to 'fill' the gap, aligning with the initial momentum assessment and the subsequent market reaction to liquidity levels.
Stop Loss
- Initial Placement: Traders typically place stop-loss orders to potentially manage risk tightly with respect to the FVG's structure. If trading long, the stop loss might be set just below the low of the candle that forms the FVG; if trading short, just above the high.
- Swing Points: Alternatively, stop losses might also be placed beyond recent swing highs or lows, providing a buffer against market volatility and minor fluctuations that do not affect the overall market trend.
Take Profit
- Targeting Liquidity Points: The common practice for setting take-profit points involves aiming for the next significant liquidity target identified during the preparatory phase.
- Risk-to-Reward Considerations: Many traders set their take-profit goals based on a calculated risk-to-reward ratio, often aiming for at least a 1:2 ratio. This means that for every unit of risk taken, two units of reward are targeted. In terms of pips, traders generally look for at least 15 pips when trading forex and 10 points in indices.
EUR/USD Example
In the provided EUR/USD chart example, a detailed analysis of higher timeframes has established a bearish outlook. Consequently, the focus is on identifying short trading opportunities while disregarding potential long setups.
During the 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM GMT window, there's a noticeable Fair Value Gap (FVG) that forms following a swift rejection from an upward move. This price action reflects a viable entry point for a short position. Traders could place a limit order at the bottom boundary of the candle that initiated the FVG, with a stop loss positioned just above the candle's high or the nearby swing point high, depending on their risk tolerance. The target for this trade is set at the previous day's low, which is reached and prompts a short-term reversal in price direction.
Later in the day, between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM GMT, another FVG develops. Following the same principle, we can enter at the bottom of the FVG. Setting a stop loss above the swing high is considered more prudent than directly above the candle high, which in this case would likely lead to a stop-out due to the tightness of the entry. Since the previous day’s low has already been reached earlier, the next logical target is the low of the US session, aligning with the day's bearish momentum.
The Bottom Line
The ICT Silver Bullet strategy provides a precise framework for traders looking to exploit specific market conditions tied to the rhythmic movements of liquidity and price during crucial trading hours. By focusing on fair value gaps and strategic entry points, traders can align their actions with significant market forces.
FAQs
What Is the Silver Bullet Strategy in Trading?
The Silver Bullet strategy in trading is a specific, time-sensitive approach designed to capitalise on liquidity and fair value gaps that typically form during key periods of market volatility. Developed by Michael J. Huddleston, also known as ICT, it aims to take advantage of the movements that occur when the market reacts to these gaps during certain hours of the trading day.
What Time Is the Silver Bullet Strategy?
The Silver Bullet strategy is executed during three distinct one-hour windows corresponding to heightened market activity periods. These are:
- London Open Silver Bullet: Occurs from 3:00 AM to 4:00 AM Eastern Standard Time (EST) in winter and from 2:00 AM to 3:00 AM in summer, which is 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in winter and 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM in summer.
- New York AM Session Silver Bullet: 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM EST (3:00 PM to 4:00 PM GMT).
- New York PM Session Silver Bullet: 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM EST (7:00 PM to 8:00 PM GMT).
How Long Does Silver Bullet Last?
As an intraday trading strategy, the Silver Bullet targets quick, short-term trades within specific one-hour windows. The trades are typically intended to be closed by the end of the trading day, capitalising on rapid movements towards and away from liquidity points.
This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.
The Invisible Hand in Crypto: Are We Just Puppets?You think you’re trading based on your analysis?
Maybe you’re just thinking that.
The crypto market might be far more controlled than you realize — here’s how, when, and why .
Hello✌
Spend 3 minutes ⏰ reading this educational material.
🎯 Analytical Insight on Ethereum:
Following its impressive recent rally, ETH continues to show strength, supported by high volume and a clear bullish market structure. A key daily support—confluent with the Fibonacci zone and an ascending trendline—remains intact. My main target stands at the psychological $3,000 level, implying ~16% upside potential if momentum sustains. 🔍
Now , let's dive into the educational section,
📊 TradingView Tools: Decoding the Minds of the Whales
In a market where price moves often feel pre-scripted, precision tools aren’t a luxury — they’re survival gear. TradingView offers indicators like Accumulation/Distribution, On-Balance Volume, Smart Money Concepts, and Liquidity Heatmaps that help you spot where big money is entering or exiting . These tools, especially on higher timeframes, can reveal underlying accumulation or distribution before major moves happen. For instance, if OBV rises while price remains flat, whales might be silently building positions. Also, indicators like Whale Alerts, based on on-chain analysis, can show large transactions often tied to upcoming volatility. Combine this with tools like Volume Profile or classic trendlines, and you’re no longer chasing price — you’re anticipating it.
🎯 Collective Behavior or Whale-Orchestrated Moves?
Markets — especially crypto — haven’t moved on simple supply and demand for a long time. Many of the price spikes or dumps you see aren’t organic; they’re orchestrated. Big players with massive volumes steer liquidity to where they want it.
🧠 Retail Psychology: A Weapon in Bigger Hands
Why do you always enter after a pump? Why does the market bounce right after you panic sell? These are not coincidences. Fear and greed are weapons. Smart money knows exactly how to trigger emotional trades from retailers, turning those reactions into their profits.
🔄 The Recycled Trap Scenarios
Here’s a classic: sudden green candle to trigger FOMO, followed by a slight dip, more retail buys in, then a sharp dump — liquidity collected. If this sounds familiar, it’s because it keeps happening. Those who spot it early survive.
📉 It’s About Liquidity, Not Your Support Line
Whales don’t care about your trendlines. They care about liquidity. If you know where most long or short positions are placed, you can often predict the next market move. TradingView indicators help identify liquidation zones — follow them.
🕹 You’re Just a Pawn — Unless You Learn the Map
If you’re just reacting candle by candle, you’re losing. But when you start thinking like whales, understanding their setups, you flip from pawn to player. Sentiment tools, volume flow, and behavioral indicators are your way out of the trap.
📌 Final Words
If you thought your analysis was behind your trades — think again. Smart money plays by a plan, and TradingView’s tools help you see the blueprint. Don’t be manipulated — learn to move like the movers.
always conduct your own research before making investment decisions. That being said, please take note of the disclaimer section at the bottom of each post for further details 📜✅.
Give me some energy !!
✨We invest countless hours researching opportunities and crafting valuable ideas. Your support means the world to us! If you have any questions, feel free to drop them in the comment box.
Cheers, Mad Whale. 🐋
Market Psychology 101Good day traders and investors,
There are benefits to being (AWAKE) or at least there should be.
This is where I stand at the moment with the Bitcoin & crypto market. I do believe Is in the final stages of the bull market marked with a circle. The final stage has biggest gains and it happens in 30 to 45 days.
Most of what I wan to say is in the chart. Please, feel free to add something you feel I have missed or why you may disagree.
Kind regards,
Demetrios
How to Manage Slippage on TradingViewThis tutorial explains what slippage is and how it relates to market and limit orders as well as times when you might expect higher than normal slippage.
Disclaimer:
There is a substantial risk of loss in futures trading. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please trade only with risk capital. We are not responsible for any third-party links, comments, or content shared on TradingView. Any opinions, links, or messages posted by users on TradingView do not represent our views or recommendations. Please exercise your own judgment and due diligence when engaging with any external content or user commentary.
Stop-loss orders are submitted as market orders and may be executed at prices significantly different from the intended stop level, particularly during periods of high volatility or limited liquidity. Stop-limit orders carry the risk of not being executed at all if the market does not reach the limit price. It is important to understand that neither type of order guarantees execution at a specific price. Market conditions can change rapidly due to scheduled or unexpected news events, and even quiet markets may experience sudden disruptions. These factors can affect trade execution in ways that may not be predictable or controllable.
Soybeans: The Global Protein Powerhouse🟡 1. Introduction
Soybeans might not look like much at first glance — small, round, unassuming. But behind every bean lies a global story of protein demand, export flows, and economic policy.
They feed livestock, fuel vehicles, nourish entire populations, and move markets. In fact, soybeans sit at the intersection of agriculture, industry, and geopolitics — making them one of the most actively traded and strategically watched commodities in the world.
If you’re looking to understand how soybeans move markets — and how you can trade them effectively — this article is your starting point.
🌍 2. Why the World Cares About Soybeans
Few agricultural commodities carry the weight soybeans do. Their importance spans both the food and energy sectors — and their global footprint is enormous.
Here’s why they matter:
Protein Meal: After processing, about 80% of the soybean becomes high-protein meal used to feed poultry, pigs, and cattle.
Soybean Oil: Roughly 20% is extracted as oil — a key ingredient in cooking, industrial products, and increasingly, biodiesel.
Biofuels: As the push for renewable energy grows, soybean oil plays a major role in sustainable fuel strategies.
Top producers:
United States — historically the world’s largest producer.
Brazil — now rivals or exceeds U.S. production in some years.
Argentina — a dominant player in soybean meal and oil exports.
Top importers:
China — imports over 60% of globally traded soybeans.
EU, Mexico, Japan — also large buyers.
Soybeans are a bridge commodity — connecting livestock feed, food manufacturing, and renewable energy. That’s why traders from Chicago to Shanghai watch every yield forecast and export announcement closely.
💹 3. CME Group Soybean Contracts
Soybeans trade on the CME Group’s CBOT platform, with two main futures products:
o Standard Soybeans
Ticker: ZS
Size = 5,000 bushels
Tick = 0.0025 = $12.50
Margin = ~$2,150
o Micro Soybeans
Ticker: MZS
Size = 500 bushels
Tick = 0.0050 = $2.50
Margin = ~$215
Soybean futures are among the most actively traded agricultural contracts, offering deep liquidity, tight spreads, and excellent volatility for strategic traders. Keep in mind that margins are subject to change — always confirm with your broker. Micro contracts are ideal for scaling in/out of trades or learning market structure without large capital risk.
📅 4. The Soybean Calendar
Soybeans follow a seasonal cycle that creates rhythm in the market — and a potential edge for informed traders.
In the United States:
🌱 Planting: Late April to early June
☀️ Pod development / blooming: July and early August (weather-sensitive)
🌾 Harvest: September through November
In Brazil:
🌱 Planting: October to December
🌾 Harvest: February through April
This staggered calendar means that soybean markets have multiple weather risk windows each year. It also means the export flows and global pricing dynamics shift between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres throughout the calendar year.
That’s why soybeans tend to have two major volatility windows — mid-summer (U.S. crop concerns) and early Q1 (South American weather). Traders often build seasonal strategies around these patterns — buying weakness before key USDA reports, fading rallies during overbought harvests, or trading futures spreads between U.S. and Brazilian supply flows.
🔄 5. How Soybeans Are Traded Globally
Soybeans move through a complex international web of growers, crushers, exporters, and consumers. As a trader, understanding this flow is essential — because each node introduces price risk, opportunity, and reaction points.
Key players:
o Hedgers:
U.S. and Brazilian farmers hedge production risk using futures or options on futures.
Exporters hedge shipping schedules against fluctuating basis and FX risk.
o Crushers:
Companies like Cargill or Bunge buy soybeans to crush into meal and oil.
Crush margin (aka “board crush”) affects demand and influences futures spreads.
o Speculators:
Institutional funds trade soybeans as a macro or relative value play.
Retail traders use micro contracts (MZS) to capture directional or seasonal moves.
o China:
Its purchasing pace (or sudden cancellations) can move markets dramatically.
Announcements of bulk U.S. purchases could trigger short-covering rallies.
Additionally, soybeans are sometimes traded indirectly via their by-products:
Soybean Meal (ZM)
Soybean Oil (ZL)
These contracts often lead or lag ZS based on demand shifts in feed or fuel.
📈 6. What Makes Soybeans Unique to Trade
Compared to wheat and corn, soybeans are:
More weather-sensitive during July and August (especially to drought and heat).
More globally integrated, thanks to China’s dominant import role.
More complex, due to crush dynamics and multiple end-use markets.
This multifaceted nature is why many professional traders monitor soybeans, even if they aren’t actively trading them every week.
📌 7. Summary / Takeaway
Soybeans are one of the most important — and most tradable — commodities in the world. They feed livestock, fuel industry, and anchor the agricultural markets across two hemispheres.
Their unique role in food, fuel, and feed makes them more than just another contract — they’re a barometer for global health, demand, and policy.
Whether you’re trading the standard ZS contract or getting started with MZS, mastering soybeans means understanding weather, trade flows, product demand, and seasonality.
🧭 This article is part of our agricultural futures trading series.
📅 Watch for the next release: “Weather and Corn: A Deep Dive into Temperature Impact”
When charting futures, the data provided could be delayed. Traders working with the ticker symbols discussed in this idea may prefer to use CME Group real-time data plan on TradingView: www.tradingview.com - This consideration is particularly important for shorter-term traders, whereas it may be less critical for those focused on longer-term trading strategies.
General Disclaimer:
The trade ideas presented herein are solely for illustrative purposes forming a part of a case study intended to demonstrate key principles in risk management within the context of the specific market scenarios discussed. These ideas are not to be interpreted as investment recommendations or financial advice. They do not endorse or promote any specific trading strategies, financial products, or services. The information provided is based on data believed to be reliable; however, its accuracy or completeness cannot be guaranteed. Trading in financial markets involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. Each individual should conduct their own research and consult with professional financial advisors before making any investment decisions. The author or publisher of this content bears no responsibility for any actions taken based on the information provided or for any resultant financial or other losses.
Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF (MGK): FAQ guide before investing🚀 Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF (MGK): A Deep Dive into Holdings and Hypothetical Returns
🌟 The Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF (MGK) is a popular exchange-traded fund offering investors access to some of the largest and most dynamic growth-oriented companies in the U.S. market. MGK closely tracks the CRSP US Mega Cap Growth Index, emphasizing mega-cap stocks.
🎯 Key Features of MGK
💰 Expense Ratio: 0.07%, a cost-effective choice for investors.
📊 Assets Under Management: Around $25.42 billion.
💵 Dividend Yield: 0.44%, distributed quarterly.
🏆 Top Holdings:
🍎 Apple Inc. (AAPL): 14.34%
🖥️ Microsoft Corp. (MSFT): 11.93%
🎮 NVIDIA Corp. (NVDA): 10.70%
📦 Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN): 7.63%
📱 Meta Platforms Inc. (META): 4.33%
🔌 Broadcom Inc. (AVGO): 3.54%
🚗 Tesla Inc. (TSLA): 3.22%
💊 Eli Lilly and Co. (LLY): 3.20%
💳 Visa Inc. (V): 2.76%
🔍 Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL): 2.31%
📌 Sector Allocation:
💻 Technology: ~52.8%
🛒 Consumer Discretionary: 15.9%
📡 Communication Services: 11.0%
📈 Performance Overview
MGK has consistently demonstrated strong returns:
🗓️ Year-to-Date (YTD): 0.96%
📅 1-Year Return: ~21.09%
📆 3-Year Return: ~23.26%
📊 5-Year Return: ~19.26%
💸 Hypothetical Investment Scenarios
Assuming an average annual return of 19.26%, here's how various investments might grow over five years:
💲 $10,000 Investment:
Year 1: $11,926
Year 2: $14,219
Year 3: $16,951
Year 4: $20,207
Year 5: $24,070
💲 $100,000 Investment:
Year 1: $119,260
Year 2: $142,190
Year 3: $169,510
Year 4: $202,070
Year 5: $240,700
💲 $1,000,000 Investment:
Year 1: $1,192,600
Year 2: $1,421,900
Year 3: $1,695,100
Year 4: $2,020,700
Year 5: $2,407,000
⚠️ Note: These returns are hypothetical and assume consistent annual performance, which may not reflect actual market volatility.
🔑 Considerations for Investors
🎯 Concentration Risk: MGK heavily invests in technology and a few major stocks, tying its success closely to these specific companies.
📉 Market Volatility: Although historically strong, MGK can be highly volatile, particularly during tech-sector downturns.
📈 Long-Term Growth: Ideal for investors seeking significant long-term capital appreciation through prominent U.S. growth firms.
📌 In Summary: MGK provides focused exposure to U.S. mega-cap growth stocks with a strong track record. Investors should consider portfolio diversification carefully due to its sector concentration.
How to read Speed Index and Identify Potential Reversals!In this chart we removed all Plutus signals and we are reading just Speed Index and weighted Averaged Speed Index. The purpose is to identify a potential reversal at a significant location such as Fib.
There are two numbers visible on every price wave swing, the first one is the wave's Speed Index and the second one is the weighted average Speed Index of the 30 waves back.
What do we need to identify for a potential reversal? The answer is Abnormal Speed Index compared to the weighted average Speed Index, which means that something is cooking.
Reading the chart:
- Look at highest volume up wave hitting the Fib area, Speed Index at 6.2 while the average at 5.0 , higher than the average but not too abnormal.
- The next down wave is where it gives you an Abnormal Speed Index of 10.4 with an average of 5.2. This is what we call their first Push Down, now definitely something is cooking.
- The next up wave has a Speed Index 10.4 (Abnormal) with an average of 5.2 and that's we call a Hard to Move Up Wave (HTMU).(by coincidence these two waves have the Speed Index and average Speed Index)
- Finally to make sure that all these were sellers we need price to break these waves.
To Summarize this is how we approach this Short trade (annotations are in sync with chart).
1. Fib Location (potential sellers might enter)
2. The highest volume up wave to get to Fib
3. Placed AVWAP at the beginning of this up wave, because we will go short if price goes below AVWAP with the appropriate Speed Index justification.
4. First Push Down wave with SI 10.4 with AvgSI at 5.2
5. HTMU (Hard to Move Up) wave with SI 10.4 with AvgSI at 5.2
6. Our entry Short breaking the structure of the previous waves and cross AVWAP downwards.
I hope this helps all you Weis Wave Speed Index owners. Enjoy!!!
Your Crypto Wallet Isn’t Safe AnymoreA security update is splitting the market in two; some think they’re safe, others are running scared!
Security becomes dangerous when it makes you careless — and right now, that’s exactly where we are!
Whales aren’t just switching wallets, they’re changing where the money flows… and you need to know
Hello✌
Spend 3 minutes ⏰ reading this educational material .
🎯 Analytical Insight on Bitcoin: A Personal Perspective:
Bitcoin has recently established multiple daily resistance levels and has now executed a strong breakout above its long-standing descending channel. This move is backed by a significant increase in buying volume, signaling renewed bullish momentum. From a short-term perspective, I anticipate at least a 6% upside, with a target around the $110,000 zone. 📊🚀
Now , let's dive into the educational section,
🔐 New Security in Crypto
Tech like MPC and smart contract wallets look fancy but come with a lot of questions underneath.
If your private key isn’t in your hands, then you don’t really own your wallet.
Most people feel safe because they don’t have to memorize a seed phrase. But that one phrase could save or ruin you.
🧠 Trader Psychology and Feeling Safe
False security makes traders ignore managing their risk and stop doing real analysis.
Thinking “everything’s safe” shuts down your brain — right when the market is about to turn.
In crypto, fear and greed run the show; security is just an excuse to get greedy.
📈 Market Reaction to Security Updates
Tokens like TWT, SFP, and KASPA pump after security upgrades, but those pumps are often fake.
When exchanges roll out security updates, smart money is actually pulling out, because whales want real control, not just a safe look.
📉 Security Without Responsibility?
Social recovery means relying on a group of people. What if someone in that group betrays you?
Users think it’s easier now, but easier doesn’t always mean safer — sometimes it’s way riskier.
🕵️♂️ Watch What Whales Do
Data from TradingView shows old-style wallets are gaining users after MPC updates.
Whales prefer a hardware wallet and a paper backup over smart recovery systems any day.
📊 Tools You Need to Know ( in TradingView )
Use Wallet Flow and Smart Money Index on TradingView to track where the money’s moving.
The Wallet Activity heatmap tells you when the market is gearing up for a big move.
🤯 Feeling Safe = Market Blind Spot
When everyone feels safe, that’s exactly when the most liquidations happen.
Calm markets are traps built by whales to catch others off guard.
🔄 Final Thoughts
Security should be a tool, not an illusion. If you put all your trust in tech, you no longer control your money.
A pro trader doubts even when the market says it’s safe, because in crypto, nothing is ever guaranteed.
However , this analysis should be seen as a personal viewpoint, not as financial advice ⚠️. The crypto market carries high risks 📉, so always conduct your own research before making investment decisions. That being said, please take note of the disclaimer section at the bottom of each post for further details 📜✅.
Give me some energy !!
✨We invest countless hours researching opportunities and crafting valuable ideas. Your support means the world to us! If you have any questions, feel free to drop them in the comment box.
Cheers, Mad Whale. 🐋
Unlocking Market Cycles with the RSI Cyclic Smoothed IndicatorIntro
In the world of technical analysis, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is established. However, the RSI Cyclic Smoothed indicator takes this classic tool to the next level by incorporating cyclic smoothing and dynamic bands. This post will explore the features, configuration, and practical applications of this powerful indicator.
What is the RSI Cyclic Smoothed Indicator ?
The RSI Cyclic Smoothed indicator is an advanced version of the traditional RSI. It enhances the classic RSI by adding cyclic smoothing and cyclic memory, allowing it to better adapt to market cycles and provide more accurate signals.
Dynamic Bands
One of the standout features of the RSI Cyclic Smoothed indicator is its dynamic bands. These bands adjust automatically to the asset’s cyclical levels, providing clearer signals in varying market conditions. The adaptive upper and lower bands help traders avoid whipsaw trades and identify overbought and oversold conditions more effectively.
What kind of indicator is it ?
The RSI Cyclic Smoothed indicator falls into the category of oscillators. Oscillators are technical analysis tools that vary over time within a banded range, typically used to identify overbought and oversold conditions.
Leading or Lagging ?
The RSI Cyclic Smoothed indicator is primarily a lagging indicator. It smooths the RSI data to reduce noise and provide more reliable signals, but it does not predict future price movements.
Key Features
Cyclic Smoothing: Reduces noise and enhances signal accuracy.
Dynamic Bands: Adaptive upper and lower bands that adjust to market cycles.
Cyclic Memory: Uses the dominant cycle length to optimize signal accuracy.
Benefits Compared to Normal RSI
Enhanced Signal Accuracy: The cyclic smoothing reduces noise and false signals, providing more reliable trading signals.
Adaptability to Market Cycles: The cyclic memory allows the indicator to adapt to the dominant market cycle, making it more responsive to cyclical changes.
Dynamic Bands: Unlike the fixed levels in normal RSI, the dynamic bands adjust to market conditions, offering better identification of overbought and oversold levels.
Reduced Whipsaw Trades: The smoothing process helps avoid the frequent false signals that can occur with the normal RSI, especially in volatile markets.
Indicator Configuration
Configuring the RSI Cyclic Smoothed indicator involves setting the dominant cycle length and adjusting the smoothing parameters. The key parameters include:
Dominant Cycle Length: Defines the duration of the dominant market cycle.
Smoothing Factor: Reduces fluctuations and noise.
Cyclic Memory: Stores the indicator’s history to calculate dynamic reference levels.
Ideal settings vary based on market conditions, but a common approach is to start with a dominant cycle length that matches the asset’s typical cycle and adjust the smoothing factor to balance responsiveness and noise reduction.
Enhancing Signal Accuracy with a Trend Indicator
To enhance the accuracy of signals generated by the RSI Cyclic Smoothed indicator, it can be used in conjunction with trend indicators. Examples of trend indicators include:
Moving Averages: Simple Moving Average (SMA) and Exponential Moving Average (EMA) are widely used to identify trend direction.
MACD: Moving Average Convergence Divergence helps reveal both direction and underlying momentum.
ADX: Average Directional Index measures the strength of a trend.
Combining these tools helps confirm signals and reduce false positives.
MTF Chart Setup
Below is an example chart showcasing the RSI Cyclic Smoothed indicator in action. The chart highlights trading signals where the signal line crosses above or below the adaptive bands, providing clear entry and exit points. Below are the 1H, 2H and 4H overbought aligned.
Alternatives
While the RSI Cyclic Smoothed indicator is powerful, there are other alternatives that also focus on overbought and oversold conditions:
Stochastic Oscillator: This indicator measures the level of the closing price relative to the range of prices over a certain period. It identifies overbought and oversold conditions with key levels below 20 (oversold) and above 80 (overbought).
Williams %R: Similar to the Stochastic Oscillator, Williams %R compares the closing price to the high-low range over a specified period. It indicates overbought conditions above -20 and oversold conditions below -80.
CCI (Commodity Channel Index): The CCI measures the deviation of the price from its average price over a given period. It identifies overbought conditions above +100 and oversold conditions below -100.
Bollinger Bands: While not an oscillator, Bollinger Bands can be used to identify overbought and oversold conditions when the price touches the upper or lower band.
Additional Insights
The RSI Cyclic Smoothed indicator is highly responsive to market moves and can be fine-tuned to match the dominant cycle of the asset being analysed. For more in-depth information, refer to Chapter 4 of "Decoding the Hidden Market Rhythm, Part 1".
Practical Tips
Combine with Trend Indicators: Use the RSI Cyclic Smoothed indicator alongside trend indicators to confirm signals.
Adjust Cyclic Parameters: Fine-tune the cyclic parameters to match the market conditions and dominant cycle.
Monitor Dynamic Bands: Pay close attention to the adaptive bands for overbought and oversold signals.
Backtest Thoroughly: Before using the indicator in live trading, backtest it on historical data to understand its performance and adjust settings accordingly.
Stay Updated: Market conditions change, so periodically review and adjust the indicator settings to ensure they remain optimal.
Which Securities Does This Apply For?
The RSI Cyclic Smoothed indicator can be applied to a wide range of securities, including: Stocks: Useful for identifying cyclical patterns and overbought/oversold conditions in individual stocks. ETFs: Effective for analyzing exchange-traded funds, especially those tracking cyclical sectors. Forex: Valuable for currency pairs, helping traders identify market cycles and potential reversals. Commodities: Applicable to commodities like gold, oil, and agricultural products, where cyclical movements are common. Cryptocurrencies: Can be used to analyze digital assets, providing insights into cyclical trends and volatility.
Conclusion
The RSI Cyclic Smoothed indicator is a powerful tool for traders looking to enhance their technical analysis. By incorporating cyclic smoothing and dynamic bands, it provides clearer and more accurate signals, helping traders navigate complex market cycles.
Click…Click…Boom : What’s Your Count?Hello Traders and welcome to Crypto Aera.
The inspiration for today’s episode comes from a conversation I had recently.
Someone asked me, "I’m moving up in my position size, and there’s this knot in my stomach. I’m numb to smaller figures, but now I’m stressed." That stayed with me.
A few days later, I stood on a beach, watching the waves lap against a shore covered in endless pebbles.
As I began stacking them, I noticed a pattern. The higher the stack climbed, the more precise I had to be. I spent longer searching for flat, perfectly matched pebbles.
You see, you can’t throw a large pebble on top of a small one, followed by another large one, and expect stability. The tower will hesitate, teeter for a moment, and then collapse under the weight of imbalance.
Trading is no different. It’s physics, it’s art, it’s strategy. Your foundation—your portfolio—can only carry so much unless each decision is deliberate, consistent, aligned.
A misplaced pebble, much like a poorly timed trade, and you’re staring at the rubble of a once-promising stack, left with barely 8%—if you’re fortunate.
Similar-sized, flat pebbles stack because consistency breeds strength. The higher you go, the more thoughtful you must become. The rules of pebble stacking and trading are inseparable.
Now, let’s address that knot in your stomach.
How do you conquer it?
You embrace the crash.
You let the tower burn—not on its own terms, but on yours.
You take control.
Cut the trade, close it yourself.
It may seem like a minor act, but it’s not.
Holding on for hours, days, endlessly hoping, is how you wear yourself down, tumble-dry your psyche into exhaustion.
But here’s the alchemy of transformation: you choose the moment.
Pick the time, pick the place, and sever the cord.
Because waiting for the market to punish you, to bring your tower down, is surrender.
Hope is a subtle assassin, and hesitation will chain you to stagnation.
Don’t allow it.
Let the tower fall, let it crash.
That moment—the collapse—is not an end.
It’s a doorway.
It’s the reset button, the gateway to moving forward.
Guilt?
Leave it behind.
Regret?
That’s weight you can’t afford.
Be nimble, be decisive.
Don’t get swept away by the explosion; walk yourself out of that burning tower with precision and strength.
Scars are avoidable if you leave on your terms.
Every trade is a deliberate action, a piece of a larger construction.
Each choice builds your tower, step by step, click by click.
The market’s tide can shift in an instant, but you can decide whether you stand still, hesitating, or take action to preserve what you can.
So I’ll ask you:
What’s your count?
How many pebbles have you stacked?
How many missteps have you learned from?
Each toppled stack is not failure—it’s a masterclass in rebuilding, stronger and sharper.
Balance risk and reward, ambition and patience.
Understand that every pebble plays a role. Yes, at the bottom of the stack it's not a heavy burden... it's when you see growth... that's where things tend to get wobbly.
And next time you feel that knot in your stomach, remember this: you are the architect of your stack. You are the one who decides when to burn the tower and when to build it higher.
Don’t hesitate.
Act.
Thank you for tuning in to Crypto Aera's Mental Analysis Navigation.
Until next time: keep stacking, keep counting, and keep mastering.
PS: Split your stacks.
Over and Out,
Craft
Behind the Numbers : Meet Your Dark SideIn the heart of every trader lies an unspoken duality—a relentless pursuit of precision battling against a ravenous hunger for chaos.
It begins innocuously enough: the first trade, the first click, the first taste of triumph. But beneath the surface, hidden in the shadows of spreadsheets and tickers, a darker force stirs. It’s cunning, calculating, and seductive—a predator dressed in the guise of ambition.
You meet this dark side not in moments of triumph, but in the haunting seconds between fear and greed. It whispers to you as the market turns against you, as the screens bleed red and your pulse quickens. It watches as your composure fractures, as your carefully laid plans buckle under the weight of desperation. It thrives in the silence, in the endless ticking of the clock as you hesitate, second-guess, and linger on the edge of ruin.
The dark side is not an external force; it is you. It is your impatience when the chart doesn’t move fast enough, your overconfidence when the numbers briefly tilt in your favor. It is the knot in your stomach, the feverish obsession, the siren call of doubling down when you know you shouldn’t. It is your recklessness disguised as boldness and your hesitation masked as strategy.
You don’t fight the dark side.
You negotiate with it.
You confront it, standing toe-to-toe, dissecting its motives and unmasking its lies.
To do otherwise is to surrender—becoming a puppet to your own fear, enslaved to the same impulses that destroy those who lack the discipline to conquer themselves.
In trading, the battlefield is not the market. It’s the war within you. And to emerge victorious, you must first meet your adversary:
YOURSELF.
Craft
The Hot Seat: Adapt or BurnSo, you've found yourself squarely in the hot seat.
Welcome to the Trading Trail, Dorothy—except this isn’t Kansas, and you’re lightyears from home.
This is new terrain, uncharted and merciless. In prior episodes, I barely skimmed over the dark side of trading—the facets of your psyche that stealthily pilot your decisions. Perhaps it left you sighing, unsure of where to begin. Let's change that today.
Consider this a no-frills exposé into the abyss—the countless unseen facets of your being that dictate your behavior on autopilot. As traders, many scream manipulation as markets sway violently against their carefully plotted plans. Yet, all the market truly does is wield a figurative hot pogo stick, jabbing precisely where your weak points lie—not maliciously, but with unerring precision.
Let’s be honest.
Western Hollywood scripts spoon-feed us formulaic redemption arcs. Fifteen minutes in, the hero lands their mission. Fifteen minutes before the credits roll, the final showdown begins.
Tomato, tomahto—it’s predictable fluff.
But real life doesn’t stick to screenplay rules. It’s jagged, it’s raw, and the narrative rarely ties up neatly. If you’re seeking depth, you won’t find it in blockbuster tropes—you’ll find it by doxxing your own dark side.
That’s right—exposing the facets of yourself you don’t even realize exist. It’s intense, it’s uncomfortable, but it’s transformative.
Here's a quick roll call of scenarios you might recognize:
- You close your trade prematurely due to impatience and wavering conviction.
- You've DCA'd your account into oblivion, clutching blind hope from a TA analysis you were too stubborn to question—aka Disney goggles.
- Revenge trading—you've been there, too. We all have.
Here’s the brutal truth: every “loss” is nothing more than the market holding up a mirror to your imbalances. Every poke, every jab, is a lesson about you.
Your job isn’t to whine about manipulation, but to analyze yourself. Figure out where you are falling short, because the longer you deny your flaws, the deeper that pogo stick sears into your psyche. Embrace the battlefield; don’t cower. The market is your adversary, yes—but it’s also your greatest teacher.
Now, the million-dollar question—where do you begin?
Start by delving into the layers of yourself.
Explore tools like the Myers-Briggs personality test—it’s one type of gateway to understanding your cognitive tendencies.
Answer impulsively, not meticulously, to ensure untainted results.
Once you unearth your MBTI type, dive deeper. YouTube has a treasure trove of creators offering insights, and here’s a quirky trick: pay attention to the memes that resonate with your dark humor—if it makes you laugh, it may hold clues to your personality type.
Go further. Unearth whether you align with alpha, beta, gamma, or sigma archetypes. And don’t cheat—being an alpha isn’t necessary for trading success. Honesty is paramount. The market will sniff out dishonesty like a bloodhound.
Are you a Heyoka empath? Research it thoroughly, as such individuals often absorb and act under external influences. Understanding this facet could shield your portfolio from emotional sway.
Perhaps astrology speaks to you.
If it does, approach it with sophistication—understanding your sun, moon, and ascendant sign is merely scratching the surface.
True mastery lies in uncovering the full depth of your natal chart through the myriad systems that exist.
Trading and astrology, though seemingly worlds apart, share a startling resemblance: both rely heavily on indicators, and both are prone to human inconsistency.
Ultimately, explore yourself as though you’re reconstructing a high-performance machine.
What happens when your rev limiter is in the red, the tires gripping the pavement at 144mph—do you fishtail with control or spin into oblivion?
That’s trading in its essence, but you’re motionless in a chair, adrenaline pumping, palms sweating.
The goal?
Serenity.
No matter whether you rake in gains or cut losses, your micro-expression remains unchanged—
neutral and poised. Not numb or robotic, but wholesome and unshakeable.
When you embrace this awareness, you transform. You shed skin like a serpent, emerging sharp, agile, and complete.
Suddenly, the market loses its fangs.
You dodge the pogo stick like a lethal machine, executing trades with finesse.
You stop being a victim, instead becoming a warrior.
The market ceases to intimidate, recognizing you as an equal contender.
There are countless tools to learn more about yourself. Skip the IQ tests—this isn’t about being book-smart.
Explore psychological tests, data intake styles, and sensory preferences.
What works for others may not work for you, and that’s okay. Clarity is the key.
And before you dive in each day, try the Human Benchmark website—a simple way to check your mental acuity.
If you’re off your game, sleep.
The trade can wait.
Finally, ponder the Dark Triad—a concept that brushes against psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism. It’s not just a speculative theory—it exists all around us.
Are you one?
Are you dealing with one?
Knowing yourself will sharpen your moral compass and guide your decisions in the battlefield.
Trading isn’t just a skill.
It’s an intimate confrontation with your entire self—the good, the bad, and the shadowy. And like any great narrative, the real depth doesn’t come from shortcuts—it comes from the untamed, unvarnished truth.
Craft
Trader’s Metabolism : “Dragon, Well Done… Please”Trading isn’t just skill.
It’s survival.
And survival isn’t a phase—it’s a permanent residency. It’s 90% of the job. The other 10%?
We’ll get to that when you’ve stopped bleeding.
Because when the market burns you down, it doesn’t just torch your wallet.
It leaves a mark. Personal. Intimate.
Like an ex who knew your passwords and your childhood traumas.
You don’t just lose money—parts of you are marked with an invisible highlighter and then used against you. That is the feeling. No specific term for it—it’s different for everyone, but it’s there.
A delayed punch. The shock hits first, then the sting.
You thought you were unfazed? Cute. It always hits.
Every loss leaves a signature.
You’re basically a walking hall of fame. Who’s fame though?
The market makers, the "manipulators" as some may say?
Of course there are traders who rise. It’s not because they cracked the code.
It’s because they paid the maintenance fee.
Not in dollars—but in discipline.
And the only way to pay that? You keep your trading metabolism in check—at all costs.
That spark of momentum?
Momentum doesn’t arrive in grand gestures.
It sneaks in through the absurd:
• Scrubbing your stove like it insulted your ancestors.
• Folding socks with military precision.
• Blending kale and chia like it’s alchemical fuel that could summon capital gains.
It’s ridiculous.
But it’s survival.
These micro-wins? They’re dopamine.
Pure. Primal.
When the market denies you progress, you hunt that feeling down elsewhere. Anywhere.
Invisible anchors.
Here’s the con:
You set a goal—“By this day, I’ll hit X and I’ll buy Y.”
Sounds motivational. Feels empowering.
It’s not. It’s a booby-trap with your name on it.
You just promised your nervous system salvation through consumerism. And when the market delays the payout?
That thing you prescribed? It becomes poisonous.
You’re not chasing gains—you’re fleeing your own unmet expectations. It drags. It suffocates. It taunts.
Euphoria’s Dark Side:
Dopamine doesn’t care if you’re building an empire or torching it.
You set a magic number. You dream about the condo. You think shiny gear will fix your edge.
Sure. Until it doesn’t. Then what?
You start resenting dreams you haven’t bought. Blaming the strategy that wasn’t the problem. Watching motivation rot into mockery.
Your trading plan looked good—right up until your emotions co-signed the exit.
That trade wasn’t bad.
You were.
And that’s the part we don’t backtest.
The Metabolic Reset:
How do you fight back?
You stop begging the market for meaning.
You stop trading for things.
You start building systems for hardcore exposure and unkind weather.
Discipline becomes your operating system—one that doesn’t crash, only upgrades.
We tend to address and slay the exterior dragons first:
Habits.
Routines.
Appearance.
Our environment.
Don’t get me wrong, they are an absolute must.
The acrobatic part is to turn inward—face the lurking dragons hidden beneath layered gates of facade in your psyche:
It’s typically titled, “This is how I am”.
The market doesn’t see you, let alone your dreams.
However it will mirror your chaos back to you, with laser precision. Like a funhouse reflection—only it costs real money and sanity.
This 2D screen you look at was built on leveraging you against yourself. Whoever made it is a sick genius who carved a niche in demand. Props to them. Diabolical. Elegant.
Honestly, deserves a Netflix origin story.
Maybe call it:
"The Algorithm: A Love Letter to Human Delusion. Starring you… as every character.”
The Fuel. This is your metabolism.
Messy. Brutal. Relentless.
But it’s also the separator. Between those who stay the same—and those who evolve.
So kill the fantasy.
Drop the anchors.
Burn the wishlist.
And if you ever do buy that yacht? Do Keep the AC running. Because the second you slack on overhead maintenance cost—you’re not sailing, you’re renovating… again.
So when you rebuild yourself for the ninth, twentieth, seventy-fifth time…thinking, “Surely this is it. I’m done now.”
You’re not.
It’s infinite.
Like they say, “More money, more problems…”
Well, more experience? More sophisticated problems.
The only thing left to do…is see yourself clearly enough that the market can’t use you against you anymore.
Keep slaying.
The tides do turn.
Just don’t forget: dragons respawn.
Craft
Working in the Dark : Frequency of Energy Amplifying ResistanceSilence.
Sometimes, the best option is to turn it all the way up.
Not to satisfy your ego’s need for control of your helm, but to glimpse a beacon cutting through the heavy fog.
Not to get philosophical or poetic—but what I’m describing is that moment when you learn to master containment of the chaos within whilst having a zero longing to tell a single soul about it.
It’s a deeply personal moment with your own spine.
Exposed. Unshaken.
Sincerely keeping in stillness, eyes locked on that one elusive beacon—the exit point of your turbulent existence.
“THAT” trade, the one that triggers rooted fear.
It’s an umbrella term that covers numerous facets, at which state they do not matter.
In this stillness, you board a ship on a voyage through the fog and that is where fear thrives.
How do you rid yourself of its lingering remnants as it keeps purging its residue while looking for a shore?…
Fear is the propeller of your ship, synced in unison, the driving force that keeps you moving forward where separation seems impossible, united as one.
Now, let’s revisit your ego.
It operates in the realms of past and future.
It uses logic as a lock and key to interpret everything that’s gone wrong in the past and project that failure into the future.
That’s how the propeller keeps turning at high RPM.
Many preach, “Be in the here and now.”
But that’s a difficult state to reach when your anxiety is at its peak.
Sleep may offer brief respite, but the weight upon the waking hour is dreadful.
The heaviness arrives and greets you like a loyal mistress who you betrayed.
So, logically, you might think: “Shut off the propeller, use the sail…”
But here's the catch—reality is far from perfect, and sometimes there’s no wind.
Just layers of fog.
The sail won’t help; it may only complicate things, especially as you don’t have the faintest clue if or when the wind will pick up.
Here’s the turning point.
You learn to embrace the drift.
The term for this is surrender.
Let me say this clearly. Surrender is not weakness.
Some might call it “taking action by not taking action.”
Underlying interpretation is subjective.
The Method of Deduction.
Cliche phrase…
“Reduce the noise to gain clarity”, well because fear is a ‘Frequency of Energy Amplifying Resistance’.
There is no shame in it as no trader is immune.
We all have been dealt a card of the Universal Geo Position, where “Bearlington” and “Bullington” turned into a potential end game, later to surface as a wrenching regretful memory depending on how you processed it.
One must comprehend in the stillness, that fear is an energy that blocks us, amplifying resistance to PROGRESS or proper ACTION and ignites a REACTION naturally - the deadliest one being frozen in panic.
Now, the action.
You surrender to the fog.
You shut down the propellers and let your ship glide.
There’s always a timer—your liquidation point, a whole host of other factors—and swallowing that pill is never easy.
How do you hold this mindset while time relentlessly ticks away?
Grant yourself a few minutes of stillness…
No inner dialogue, just silence. No inner talk because that leads you straight into a rabbit hole.
This is the balancing act between creativity and surrender—how to dodge the bullet while borrowing calmness.
Amidst this uncomfortable point, you’ll RE-LEARN to hear your breath, the beat of your heart. It’s the world around you that you’ve forgotten to notice. Perhaps the sound of birds chirping at 4 a.m. As time stretches, you may notice the kind of tree that’s outside your window, which has existed before you were long conceived and will stand beyond your expiration date.
Everything begins to scale.
The situation, which felt insurmountable, becomes proportionate to everything else.
You still possess strength.
You still have sight.
You still hear.
You are alive, and that’s a reminder of how far you’ve come.
This is the moment you step outside of your situation. And this, right here, is where the magic happens.
I personally don’t believe in magic. To me, it’s just harmonious mathematics.
But that “AHA!” moment is undeniable.
Your plan starts to take form as a distant mirage through the fog.
Trust when I say, the fog doesn’t settle, your senses obtain a rain-shield and a foglight.
Hello, clarity.
Maybe the charts align this time.
Maybe the structure is moving the way you anticipated. And just like that, you’ve gained a sliver of clarity.
The trick is to keep moving forward, maintaining perspective.
The fog doesn’t magically vanish, but you learn to navigate it.
You engage your surroundings, adjust, and save some fuel in the process.
What you’ve done is re-channel your energy—cut off the fuel-line to the propeller.
Fear loses its grip.
I repeat, that fear—it’s an umbrella term now. The details don’t even matter.
You needed silence.
Shutting off the noise was the first step.
Those propellers were making too much racket.
Now, you just watch.
You float.
You’re no longer entangled in the situation.
I say "situation" instead of "problem" because you don’t have a problem.
Never see things as a problem.
Duality fuels extremes and skyrockets emotional pendulum swings.
There’s no good.
No evil.
There is only what is.
At some point, you realize…
Nothing lasts forever.
There are cycles and phases and that in itself is THE CONSTANT.
And when the fog does clear, you look around—no island, no shore, no beacon.
You’re still floating.
The clock is still ticking.
But here’s the reality check.
Do you realize how many things you could have done in that fear-induced panic mode?
You created a type of momentary anchor.
Take a moment.
Think about it.
The what if’s…if there was an iceberg you couldn’t see?
You could’ve crashed, completely and literally underwater.
It’s not an easy practice and it is a solo journey.
Speaking to others can validate your victimhood, which only drags you down further. Especially when you talk to other traders.
It’s on an extreme rare occasion you’ll ever find your perfect answer.
Most of the time, those voices will sound like an all knowing three-headed dragon mixed with a panicking crew.
Adapt to growing your own spine my love.
The key to regaining focus—designing your decision into action and resolving the situation in your favor with minimal damage—will be an ongoing process.
You’ll learn to surrender, drift, and accept that fear can be a constant companion—but it doesn’t have to control you.
And sometimes, that mistress?
She’s a Trojan horse—deceptively alluring, but full of consequences. Different face, different name, same impact on your lifeboat, if you let her in.
Once again, train to re-frame fear.
It’s ONLY a frequency.
Your next candle is not hope.
It’s the cold proof you made it through the blackout…
…for now
There are no promises, just currents.
Hear the reality.
You kill a trader from the inside by letting them abduct themselves. They go from being the sharpest, most focused individual to a detective in their own head—chasing down ghosts that may not even exist. They either wake up and build the bridge to their own throne, or they keep smashing the keyboard like it’s their only lifeline—until the money dries up and they're left with nothing but a pile of regret.
It’s a war between their ears.
The rest of it? Just noise.
And remember this, the charts aren’t gonna save you, the system isn’t gonna save you...
Only you can own the mind that sits behind that screen.
So yeah, there are no promises, just currents.
As always…over and out,
Craft
What is Opening Range Breakout (ORB)Hello mates today i want to share an Educational post about Opening range breakout a very common and old strategy used by many traders and it's still pretty effective. I hope you will read the complete post and like my publication too friends.
So let's understand about Opening Range Breakout below-::
⚡Introduction to Opening Range Breakout-::
In the world of trading timing can be everything. One of the strategies that traders use to capitalize on market movements at the start of the trading day is the Opening Range Breakout (ORB). This technique is particularly popular among day traders because it leverages the market's early volatility to make quick profits. In this article we'll dive deep into what ORB is, how it works, and how traders can effectively use it.
⚡What is the Opening Range-::
The "opening range" refers to the price range established during the first few minutes of a trading session. This range is defined by the high and low prices observed within this period. Depending on the trader's preference and the asset being traded, this range can be set over different time intervals, commonly 5, 15, or 30 minutes.
⚡Understanding the Breakout-::
A breakout occurs when the price moves outside the opening range, either above the high or below the low. This movement indicates a potential direction for the day's trend. The idea behind the ORB strategy is that the price, once it breaks out of this range, is likely to continue moving in that direction, giving traders a chance to enter a position early in the day and ride the trend.
⚡Why Use ORB-::
1.Early Market Volatility-: The market often shows significant volatility at the opening bell, driven by overnight news, earnings reports, and economic data. This creates opportunities for sharp price movements.
2.Defined Risk and Reward-: Since the opening range is defined, traders can set clear entry, stop-loss, and take-profit levels, making risk management straightforward.
3.Capturing Early Trends-: ORB allows traders to capture trends early, often before the broader market catches on. This can lead to significant profits in a short period.
⚡How to Implement the ORB Strategy-::
1-Identify the Opening Range-: At the start of the trading session, observe the price action and note the high and low points within your chosen time frame (e.g., the first 15 minutes).
2-Set Breakout Levels-: Once the opening range is established, these levels (the high and low) become your breakout levels.
3-Place Orders-::
Long Position-: If the price breaks above the high of the opening range, enter a long position (buy).
Short Position-: If the price breaks below the low of the opening range, enter a short position (sell).
4-Set Stop-Loss-: A common approach is to place a stop-loss just inside the opening range. For example, if you enter a long position, your stop-loss might be slightly below the high of the range.
5-Set Profit Targets-: Profit targets can be set based on a fixed ratio (e.g., 2:1 risk/reward ratio), or by trailing the stop-loss as the price moves in your favor.
⚡Factors to Consider for ORB Success-::
1-Market Conditions-: ORB tends to work best in markets with high liquidity and volatility. Stocks with news catalysts, or major indices, are often good candidates.
2-Time Frame Selection-: The choice of the opening range time frame is critical. Shorter time frames (e.g., 5 minutes) might offer more frequent signals, but they can also lead to more false breakouts. Longer time frames (e.g., 30 minutes) may provide more reliable signals but fewer opportunities.
3-Volume Confirmation-: It's often wise to confirm breakouts with an increase in volume, which can indicate the strength of the move.
4-Avoiding False Breakouts-: Not every breakout leads to a sustained move. To avoid false breakouts, some traders wait for a retest of the breakout level or use additional technical indicators, such as moving averages or momentum oscillators, to confirm the trend.
⚡Example of ORB in Action-::
Let’s consider a stock that has an opening range of 100 to 105 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Here’s how a trader might approach this:
Breakout Above 105-: The trader places a buy order at 105.10 (a little above the breakout level) and sets a stop-loss at 104.50 (just below the high of the opening range). The profit target might be set at 107.20, assuming a 2:1 reward-to-risk ratio.
Breakout Below 100-: Alternatively, if the stock breaks below 100, the trader could short the stock at 99.90 with a stop-loss at 100.50 and a profit target at 97.80.
⚡Advantages of ORB-::
Clarity-: The strategy provides clear entry and exit points, reducing guesswork.
Structure-: It imposes discipline by setting predefined rules for trading.
Simplicity-: ORB is relatively simple to understand and execute, making it accessible to traders of all experience levels.
⚡Challenges and Limitations-::
False Breakouts-: These can lead to losses if not managed carefully.
Whipsaws-: In highly volatile markets, prices might break the range multiple times, leading to potential whipsaws.
Over-Reliance on Opening Range-: Solely relying on the opening range might ignore broader market context or trends from previous days.
⚡Conclusion-::
The Opening Range Breakout strategy is a powerful tool in a trader's arsenal, particularly for those who thrive on early market action. While it offers a structured approach to capturing trends, success with ORB requires discipline, proper risk management, and an understanding of market conditions. By combining ORB with other strategies or indicators, traders can increase their chances of capturing profitable moves while minimizing risks.
Whether you’re a seasoned trader or just starting, mastering the ORB strategy can provide you with the edge needed to navigate the fast-paced world of day trading.
Thanks for reading the post, I hope you will like the information shared above and like my idea too.
Best Regards- Amit