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🗓This article explores the Bollinger Bands indicator—a powerful volatility tool used by traders worldwide. You'll learn how it works, how to calculate it, and how to use it to detect potential breakouts, trend reversals, and overbought or oversold conditions in the market. 📚 Introduction to Bollinger Bands In the fast-paced world of trading, understanding market volatility is key to making informed decisions. Bollinger Bands, developed by John Bollinger in the 1980s, offer a visual and statistical method to measure this volatility. Unlike simple moving averages, which only tell you the trend, Bollinger Bands expand and contract based on recent price action, helping traders spot overbought, oversold, or consolidation phases. These bands dynamically adjust to market conditions, making them one of the most popular indicators for trend-following, mean-reversion, and breakout strategies. Whether you’re trading crypto, stocks, or forex, Bollinger Bands can help you identify high-probability setups by combining trend direction with volatility. 📚 How Bollinger Bands Are Calculated Bollinger Bands consist of three lines: Middle Band – This is a simple moving average (SMA) of the price, typically over 20 periods. Upper Band – The middle band plus two standard deviations. Lower Band – The middle band minus two standard deviations. Middle Band = SMA(n) Upper Band = SMA(n) + (k × σₙ) Lower Band = SMA(n) - (k × σₙ) Where σₙ is the standard deviation of the price for n periods and k is the multiplier, typically set to 2, which captures ~95% of price action under normal distribution. The middle band shows the average price over the last 20 candles. The upper and lower bands adjust based on how volatile the price has been — expanding in high volatility and contracting in low volatility. 🤖 For those traders who want to implement Bollinger Bands into algorithmic strategy we provide formula it's calculation in Pine Script: Pine Script® basis = ta.sma(src, length) // Middle Band (SMA) dev = mult * ta.stdev(src, length) // Standard Deviation × Multiplier upper = basis + dev // Upper Band lower = basis - dev // Lower Band 📚 How to Use MACD in Trading Strategies ⚡️Bollinger Band Squeeze (Volatility Contraction and Expansion) The idea is pretty simple, а squeeze indicates low volatility and often precedes a breakout. The squeeze is the situation when the Upper Band and Lower Band contract, and BB width is at a local minimum. In this case you shall be prepared for the high volatility after the period of low volatility. This strategy doesn’t predict direction — it prepares you for volatility. Long setup: Price is in long-term uptrend, you can use 200 EMA as a major trend approximation - price shall be above it. Bollinger Bands is narrow in comparison to the previous period. Price usually is in sideways. Open long trade when candle shows a breakout and closes above the Upper Band. Set a trailing stop-loss at the Middle Band. Short setup: Price is in long-term downtrend, you can use 200 EMA as a major trend approximation - price shall be below it. Bollinger Bands is narrow in comparison to the previous period. Price usually is in sideways. Open short trade when candle shows a breakdown and closes below the Lower Band. Set a trailing stop-loss at the Middle Band 📈Long Trading Strategy Example 1. Price candle shall be closed above 200-period EMA. In our example we have BTCUSDT.P 4h time frame. 2. Bollinger Bands shall be narrow in comparison with the previous periods. 3. Open long trade when candle closes above the Upper Band. 4. Close trade when price touched the Middle Band. 📉Short trading strategy example 1. Price candle shall be closed below 200-period EMA. In our example we have BTCUSDT.P 4h time frame. 2. Bollinger Bands shall be narrow in comparison with the previous periods. 3. Open short trade when candle closes below the Lower Band. 4. Close trade when price touched the Middle Band. ⚡️Mean Reversion (Rebound from the Bands) This is the most common approach to use Bollinger Bands. The idea is also very simple, we just want to open long if price touches Lower Band and short if price reaches Upper Band. Price tends to revert to the mean (Middle Band), especially in range-bound markets. It's very important to trade in the direction of the major trend to reduce the probability of the large move against you. Long setup: Price is in long-term uptrend, you can use 200 EMA as a major trend approximation - price shall be above it. Open long trade when price touches the Lower Band. Set the initial stop-loss at the fixed percentage below entry price. Choose this percentage number with your personal risk/money management, you shall be comfortable to lose this amount of money in case of stop-loss hit. If price reached Middle Band set stop-loss at breakeven. Close trade when price reached the Upper Band. Short setup: Price is in long-term downtrend, you can use 200 EMA as a major trend approximation - price shall be below it. Open short trade when price touches the Upper Band. Set the initial stop-loss at the fixed percentage above entry price. Choose this percentage number with your personal risk/money management, you shall be comfortable to lose this amount of money in case of stop-loss hit. If price reached Middle Band set stop-loss at breakeven. Close trade when price reached the Lower Band. 🧪 Important: the most common approach to close trades is the Middle Band touch, this is classic mean reversion. We experimented multiple times with different approached and revealed that usually it's better to take profit at the Upper/Lower band for long/short trades and use Middle Band only for setting stop-loss at breakeven. This approach provides better risk to reward ratio. 📈Long Trading Strategy Example 1. Price candle shall be closed above 200-period EMA. In our example we have BTCUSDT.P 4h time frame. 2. Open long trade the Lower Band. 3. Put Initial stop-loss 2% below the entry price. 4. When price reached Middle band place stop-loss at the breakeven. 5. Close long trade at the Upper Band. 📉Short trading strategy example 1. Price candle shall be closed below 200-period EMA. In our example we have BTCUSDT.P 4h time frame. 2. Open short trade the Upper Band. 3. Put Initial stop-loss 2% above the entry price. 4. When price reached Middle band place stop-loss at the breakeven. 5. Close short trade at the Lower Band. 🧪 Important tip: notice that initial stop-loss is needed only to avoid disaster in case of price moves strongly against you. This percentage shall give enough space to avoid its reaching too often. Mean reversion strategy provides fast trades with the small average gain, so you shall maintain the high win rate (perfectly above 70%). You have to choose stop-loss based on particular asset volatility. ⚡️Combined Approach: Mean Reversion + Trend Following Skyrexio made multiple researches about Bollinger Bands strategies and we found that we can receive better gains in combination of different approaches. Mean reversion gives you great entry with discount but you don't need to exit that early. Use the trading stop and allow to gain profit while market is moving in your direction. This approach you can find in our advanced strategy Bollinger Bands Enhanced Strategy which we shared in 2024. Click on the link to read about it and understand how you can combine best features of this popular indicator. 📚 Conclusion Bollinger Bands are more than just a volatility indicator — they provide a flexible framework for understanding price dynamics and market conditions. By visualizing the relationship between price and standard deviation around a moving average, traders can gain valuable insights into whether an asset is consolidating, trending, or preparing for a breakout. The real strength of Bollinger Bands lies in their versatility. They can adapt to different trading styles — whether you’re a short-term scalper, a swing trader, or a long-term position holder. From identifying squeeze setups to riding strong trends or capturing mean reversion moves, BBs offer a strategic edge when used correctly. However, Bollinger Bands should never be used in isolation. Like any technical tool, they work best when combined with momentum indicators like RSI or MACD, volume analysis, and price action signals. Context is key: a signal that works well in a ranging market may fail during high momentum trends. Ultimately, Bollinger Bands help traders make more informed, disciplined decisions by clarifying where price stands relative to recent history. When paired with sound risk management and broader market awareness, they become a powerful ally in navigating market uncertainty.

🗓 The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) is one of the most popular momentum indicators in technical analysis. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced trader, understanding how the MACD works can significantly enhance your trading decisions. 📚 Introduction: What Is MACD and Why It Matters The MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence) is one of the most powerful and widely used momentum indicators in technical analysis. It was developed by Gerald Appel in the late 1970s and has since become a staple in the toolkit of traders and investors across markets — from stocks and forex to cryptocurrencies. At its core, MACD helps traders understand the relationship between two moving averages of an asset’s price, providing insight into both trend direction and momentum strength. By analyzing how these averages converge and diverge, the indicator offers valuable signals for entries, exits, and trend reversals. What makes MACD especially popular is its versatility — it works well in trending markets, can be used across all timeframes, and combines both leading and lagging components. Whether you're a day trader or a long-term investor, understanding how MACD works gives you an edge in making timely and informed trading decisions. 📚 How the MACD Is Calculated: The Components Explained The MACD is built from three core components: MACD line, Signal line and MACD histogram. 🔹 Calculating the MACD Line: The MACD line is the difference between two Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs), typically 12-period EMA (fast) and 26-period EMA (slow). The formula is: MACD Line = EMA(12) − EMA(26) This line captures momentum by tracking how the shorter-term average diverges from the longer-term average. When the MACD line rises, the short-term momentum is increasing faster than the longer-term trend — a sign of bullish acceleration. The reverse implies bearish momentum. 🔹 Calculating the Signal Line: ​ To reduce noise and provide clearer signals, a 9-period EMA of the MACD line is plotted on top. This is the Signal Line, and it acts as a trigger: When the MACD line crosses above the signal line → bullish signal (buy) When the MACD line crosses below the signal line → bearish signal (sell) Signal Line = EMA(9)(MACD Line) 🔹 Calculating the MACD Histogram: ​ The Histogram shows the difference between the MACD Line and the Signal Line: Histogram = MACD Line − Signal Line It provides a visual representation of momentum strength. The histogram bars expand when momentum strengthens and contract as it fades. It helps you spot shifts in momentum earlier than a basic crossover. 📚 How to Use MACD in Trading Strategies ⚡️MACD Signal Line Crossover Buy Signal: MACD Line crosses above the Signal Line from below (bullish crossover) Preferably when both lines are below the zero line (early in the trend) Price closes above the long-term trend approximation, in our case we use 200-period EMA Sell Signal: MACD Line crosses below the Signal Line from above (bearish crossover) Preferably when both lines are above the zero line (early in the trend) Price closes below the long-term trend approximation, in our case we use 200-period EMA 📈Long Trading Strategy Example 1. Wait until MACD line crosses over the Signal line from down to up. In our example we use 1D time frame for BTCUSDT.P . Open long trade if point 2 will be completed. 2. Price candle shall be closed above the 200-period EMA. This is long-term trend filter to increase the probability that trades will be open only in the direction of the main trend. 3. Close the long trade when the MACD line crosses under the Signal line. This is an approximation that short-term impulse is over and correction is about to start. In our case we have +20% return on this long trade, but, please, notice that we have not used initial stop-loss in this strategy. Trade was closed according to the technical condition, this approach can violate the risk management rules, but also can be applicable if you trade the amount ready to lose using this strategy. We will talk about stop-loss later. 📉Short trading strategy example 1. Wait until MACD line crosses under the Signal line from up to down. In our example we use 1D time frame for ETHUSDT . Open short trade if point 2 will be completed. 2. Price candle shall be closed below the 200-period EMA. This is long-term trend filter to increase the probability that trades will be open only in the direction of the main trend. 3. Close the short trade when the MACD line crosses over the Signal line. This is an approximation that short-term impulse is over and correction is about to start. In this case we have +15% return on the short trade. Again, strategy used the technical condition to close the trade and now let's cover how to place the stop-loss. There is no right answer how to use stop-losses. The first and the most obvious way to place stop-loss is using recent swing low/high, but the problem is that all traders are seeing them and do the same. Price tends to reach such levels to collect liquidity. Another one way to place stop-loss is using the signal candle's high/low. This is so-called 1 candle stop-loss. Usually it's very tight and can allow to have the fantastic risk to reward ratio, but we are now recommend to use it if you are not a professional trader because win rate of such strategy decreases. Third approach in placing stop-loss which we often use in our algorithmic strategies is the Average True Range (ATR). ATR is the volatility measurement, it allows to take into account the current volatility. Sometimes it helps to avoid the stop-loss hit when trade finally goes in your direction. You can just simply subtract (in case of long trade) or add (in case of short trade) ATR value to the entry price and obtain the dynamic stop loss based on current market condition. Also multiplier can be used for ATR. You shall choose the approach which is more comfortable for you, backtest all these approached to make your choice. 🧪Important: we used the long signals only below the zero-line and short signals above it in the attempt to catch the beginning of a trend and have large potential move. On the picture below you can see the same BTCUSDT.P , but what will happen if we open long on the lines crossover above zero line? This trade will not be profitable because of restricted potential. ⚡️MACD Zero Line Crossover Buy Signal: MACD Histogram crosses above the zero line (momentum shifts from bearish to bullish) Price closes above the long-term trend approximation, in our case we use 200-period EMA Sell Signal: MACD Histogram crosses below the zero line (momentum shifts from bullish to bearish) Price closes below the long-term trend approximation, in our case we use 200-period EMA 📈Long Trading Strategy Example 1. Wait until MACD Histogram crosses over zero line. Open long trade if point 2 will be completed. 2. Price candle shall be closed above 200-period EMA. This is long-term trend filter to increase the probability that trades will be open only in the direction of the main trend. 3. Take profit when price reaches 3:1 risk to reward ratio according to the stop-loss from point 4. 4. Stop-loss shall be placed below recent swing low. This point can be discussed, you can use any stop-loss technique described earlier in this article. We demonstrate the simplest one, the key here is using at least 3:1 RR. 📉Short trading strategy example 1. Wait until MACD Histogram crosses under zero line. Open short trade if point 2 will be completed. 2. Price candle shall be closed below 200-period EMA. This is long-term trend filter to increase the probability that trades will be open only in the direction of the main trend. 3. Take profit when price reaches 3:1 risk to reward ratio according to the stop-loss from point 4. 4. Stop-loss shall be placed above recent swing high. This point can be discussed, you can use any stop-loss technique described earlier in this article. We demonstrate the simplest one, the key here is using at least 3:1 RR. ⚡️MACD Divergence Strategy MACD Divergence is a strategy that helps traders identify potential reversals in market direction before they become obvious on the price chart. This makes it a favorite tool among swing traders and crypto enthusiasts looking to catch major moves early. But what exactly is a divergence? In simple terms, divergence occurs when price and momentum (MACD) are moving in opposite directions — signaling that the current trend may be losing strength and preparing for a reversal. There are two main types of divergence. 🐂 Bullish Divergence Price makes a lower low MACD Histogram makes a higher low This suggests that while price is still falling, downward momentum is weakening. The bears are losing control, and a bullish reversal may be near. Trading signal is very simple, when bullish divergence happens wait for the first increasing column on MACD histogram and open long trade. Place stop-loss under recent swing low and take profit at 3:1 RR. 🐻Bearish Divergence Price makes a higher high MACD makes a lower high This suggests that while price is still falling, downward momentum is weakening. The bears are losing control, and a bullish reversal may be near. Trading signal is very simple, when bearish divergence happens wait for the first decreasing column on MACD histogram and open short trade. Place stop-loss above recent swing high and take profit at 3:1 RR. 🧪 Important hint: MACD histogram shall cross the zero line between two lows/high to create the most reliable divergence signals. We are not recommend to use it without zero-line crossover to decrease number of false signals. 📈Long Trading Strategy Example 1. MACD Histogram shall create higher low. 2. Price shall create lower low. 3. MACD Histogram shall cross the zero line between lows. 4. MACD Histogram shall show the first increasing column. 5. Put stop-loss under the recent swing low. 6. Put take profit at 3:1. 🧪 You can enhance the long signal with the MACD Line divergence. In our case we have both divergences: with MACD Histogram and MACD Line. 📉Short trading strategy example 1. MACD Histogram shall create lower high. 2. Price shall create higher high. 3. MACD Histogram shall cross the zero line between lows. 4. MACD Histogram shall show the first decreasing column. 5. Put stop-loss above the recent swing high. 6. Put take profit at 3:1. 🧪Divergence is extremely strong signal, but when price continue it's move in the direction of a trend and it's not reversing it can also be the signal for the trend continuation. This situation is called "Baskerville Hound" signal, this name was given by famous trader Alexander Elder. We don't recommend to use it for novice traders, but it's useful to know about it. 📚 Conclusion The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) is more than just a crossover tool — it's a powerful momentum indicator that offers deep insight into the strength, direction, and timing of market trends. By understanding how the MACD line, Signal line, and Histogram interact, traders can uncover early trend shifts, spot momentum divergences, and time entries and exits with greater confidence. Whether you're a short-term trader using fast crossovers for scalping or a long-term investor watching for weekly divergences, MACD can adapt to your style when used thoughtfully. Like all indicators, it works best when combined with price action, support/resistance levels, and other indicators — not in isolation. Ultimately, mastering MACD is not about memorizing patterns, but about learning to read the story of momentum that unfolds beneath the surface of price. With disciplined application and practice, MACD can become a reliable compass in your trading strategy.

Hello, Skyrexians!I have been thinking what will happen next with BTCUSDT and it was obvious that correction has been started, you can easily find my recent update on Bitcoin and check it, but what will happen after. Today I decided that the first impulse has not been finessed yet and we need one more small leg up to complete this growth before significant correction.Let's take a look at the yellow Elliott waves cycle. Awesome Oscillator gave me an idea that only wave 3 has been finished above $110k. Now price is printing wave 4. Wave 4 has a target between 0.38 and 0.5 Fibonacci, but this time it will be definitely 0.38 at $101k. Here was the smaller degree wave's 4 bottom. Wave 5 will be shortened because wave 3 was extended, it's very logically. After $111k retest the major wave 2 will go to $90k approximately. Difficult times ahead for crypto, I think this period will be finished only at the end of June.Best regards,Ivan Skyrexio___________________________________________________________Please, boost this article and subscribe our page if you like analysis!

Hello, Skyrexians!Today I make an update on LDOUSDT which I hold on spot with average price at $0.8. First of all I will clarify how this bullish forecast can match with my yesterday's analysis about altcoins drop. Easily! There was the 2D time frame - mid term analysis. This is weekly chart. I can allow that some drop is possible for Lido Dao or other alts but global picture will be the same.On the chart some of you will see the accumulation. In fact this is very long wave 2 ABC shaped. It's not interesting to tell about waves A and B. The only one thing is important is that now wave C in 2 is finished with the divergence between waves 3 and 5. Next wave shall be insane and reach very high, above $6.Best regards,Ivan Skyrexio___________________________________________________________Please, boost this article and subscribe our page if you like analysis!

Hello, Skyrexians!Let's continue trying to guess when BTCUSDT will have a correction. This time it's very likely, but I am not recommend to short this correction because this is the trade against the major trend.Let's take a look ate 12 hours time frame. Wave 3 is likely to be finished with internal double divergence on Awesome Oscillator. Now it's finally time for the wave 4. 0.38 Fibonacci is the most likely target at $101k. After that wave 5 is expected and it's going to be only higher degree wave 1. Best regards,Ivan Skyrexio___________________________________________________________Please, boost this article and subscribe our page if you like analysis!

Hello, Skyrexians!It's time to update my previous AVAXUSDT analysis because when I told that correction is over as usual I have a lot of haters in comments. They told me how you can bet for one altcoin growth and other's dump - easy!This crypto has the clearest structure for me. Wave 1 was very impulsive and after that we have seen almost flat correction. Wave B finished slightly below wave's 1 top, wave C slightly below wave's A bottom. Divergence on Awesome oscillator and momentum growth is showing that correction is over and the next target is 1.61 Fibonacci above $100 in wave 3.Best regards,Ivan Skyrexio___________________________________________________________Please, boost this article and subscribe our page if you like analysis!

Hello, Skyrexians!Despite the negative comments that BTCUSDT will pump instead of my bearish prediction and Saylor's Bitcoin purchases I am going to follow my scenario - nothing has changed. Based on my experience price now is printing the most difficult shape of correction - irregular ABC.In recent analysis I explained why we shall use now 12 hours time frame. On this time frame Awesome Oscillator shall cross zero line to finish correction. Target for irregular correction usually at 0.38 Fibonacci at $97.5k, but also can touch $95k with the wick. Best regards,Ivan Skyrexio___________________________________________________________Please, boost this article and subscribe our page if you like analysis!

Hello, Skyrexians!Recently we told about potential correction on BTCUSDT and current pump did not change anything except targets for this correction.My mistake was that I counted wave 5 inside 3 as the wave 5, but warned you that I often have this mistake. Now looking at the awesome oscillator it's obviously that wave 4 has not been even started. Anyway wave 3 has been already pumped above the 1.61 Fibonacci it means that wave 5 will be not extended. Very soon corrective wave 4 will be started. The target now is between 0.38 and 0.5 Fibonacci retracement levels, approximately at $95k. Anyway, taking short against trend is bad idea. The only one way you can use this info is to define the zone where you can take long trade, but I will not take. I told in one of my analysis when Bitcoin was $76k two months ago that growth above $140k has been started, I don't like to anticipate small moves.This was my global forecastBest regards,Ivan Skyrexio___________________________________________________________Please, boost this article and subscribe our page if you like analysis!

Hello, Skyrexians!As you know I was not sure last couple of days if altseason started or not and finally decided that not. Bitcoin dominance will reach 67% and large altcoin like ATOMUSDT gives me the hint that altcoins can drop 50% in the upcoming 2-3 weeks!Let's take a look at the 2 days time frame. To measure the impulse this is valid now. We can see that after reaching the wave 3 target price bounced in the wave 4. Wave 4 has reached the 0.38 Fibonacci and started to go down after red dot on Bullish/Bearish Reversal Bar Indicator [Skyrexio]. Moreover Awesome Oscillator crossed the zero line signaling that wave 4 could be finished. Now price is in wave 5. The target is $2-3.5. I think it will reach slightly lower low at $3 in this bear market which is almost 50% crash from the current price.Best regards,Ivan Skyrexio___________________________________________________________Please, boost this article and subscribe our page if you like analysis!

Hello, Skyrexians!Yesterday we pointed out the great potential performance of Ethereum, but we have assets which depends on it but can perform much much better because of small cap. I personally have already bough ETHFIUSDT in February and March with average price $0.7, so now I have 2x, but this growth is not finished.After listing pump this crypto retraced that much in the global wave 2 ABC shaped. Bullish/Bearish Reversal Bar Indicator [Skyrexio] has printed the first green dot only on the very bottom, as a result asset entered into bull market. The next target is 1.61 Fibonacci at $14. This is going to be wave 3 and that's all!Best regards,Ivan Skyrexio___________________________________________________________Please, boost this article and subscribe our page if you like analysis!