XRP - Bulls Preparing to Push Towards $2.50XRP has maintained a bullish tone after completing a significant gap fill, currently consolidating around $2.18. The previous impulsive move left behind an unmitigated imbalance below, suggesting that the market could be preparing for a controlled retracement. The overall structure remains bullish, but a corrective dip into key demand zones would align with healthy price development before the next leg higher.
Imbalance Structure and Retest Expectation
During the rally from the sub-$2.00 range, XRP formed a sharp move that created an inefficiency between approximately $2.05 and $2.12. This gap between buyers and sellers indicates that liquidity was left behind, often acting as a magnet for price.
Currently, XRP appears to be positioning itself to retest this imbalance, refilling orders and potentially gathering the momentum needed for a stronger continuation. I expect price to sweep into this zone, likely finding responsive buyers as it rebalances the inefficiency and revisits previous structural points of interest.
Reaction Zone and Bullish Confirmation
The primary area of interest lies firmly within the $2.05 to $2.12 range. A reaction from this zone, confirmed by strong bullish price action such as a higher low formation or a bullish engulfing candle, would validate the setup for further upside.
Following the retracement and bounce, the immediate objective will be a clean break above the $2.30 resistance. This level has acted as a cap on recent price action and represents a key liquidity threshold. A decisive move through this resistance would open the path toward higher targets, confirming the strength of the new impulsive phase.
Upside Target Projection
My upside target for this trade idea is located at $2.47. This level coincides with a previous high and clusters near the upper boundary of visible supply zones on the higher timeframes. Reaching this target would represent a continuation of the broader bullish structure while also completing a logical expansion leg relative to the recent price range.
Risk Management and Invalidation
The bullish bias remains valid as long as XRP holds above the lower boundary of the imbalance zone, around $2.05. A sustained breakdown below this level, particularly if accompanied by strong bearish momentum, would invalidate the idea, signaling that a deeper retracement is unfolding.
Until such invalidation occurs, the approach remains to monitor the retracement into the key demand zone and assess the strength of the subsequent reaction for potential long entries.
Conclusion
XRP is showing strong structural signs of bullish continuation but may first revisit the unfilled imbalance below. A clean reaction from this zone, followed by a break above $2.30, would likely set the stage for a rally into the $2.47 target. Patience is key in awaiting the retest and confirming bullish intent before execution.
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Fvg
Bitcoin - Trap the Breakouts, Ride the PullbackBitcoin has been trading in a clearly impulsive structure, showing bullish intent after reclaiming previous consolidation zones. Recently, price action has driven into a significant area of interest, approaching the highs set on the 4-hour timeframe. These highs have not yet been swept, making them a likely target for liquidity grabs. Given the market's recent strength, it's reasonable to anticipate that market makers and larger participants may aim to run these stops to fuel a deeper retracement or set the stage for further upside.
The higher timeframes continue to favor bullish structure overall, with price making higher highs and higher lows. However, within this bullish context, the market has left behind notable inefficiencies, particularly an untapped imbalance zone just below current price levels. These inefficiencies typically act as magnets, especially when preceded by strong directional moves, making them key zones of interest for potential pullbacks.
Consolidation Structure and Key Zones
After bottoming out near the $77,000 to $78,000 area in early April, Bitcoin has steadily climbed, forming intermediate accumulation structures and minor consolidations before each breakout leg. During the recent surge, price left behind a unified imbalance zone roughly between $89,000 and $91,000, which remains untouched. This area is highly relevant, as price has not yet returned to rebalance it.
Just below that sits a previous strong support zone in the $82,000 to $84,000 region, which provided a solid base for the current leg higher. An additional lower imbalance zone lies slightly above $80,000, offering a potential secondary demand area in case the primary zone fails.
Liquidity and Imbalance Zone
The current expectation is for Bitcoin to complete a sweep of the 4H swing high, tapping into the resting buy stops above. These types of moves often serve as traps for breakout buyers, allowing institutions to offload positions into demand and prepare for a retracement. Once the liquidity is taken, the next logical move would be a return toward the unfilled imbalance zone highlighted on the chart.
This zone not only represents technical inefficiency, but also aligns with the concept of fair value. Price often returns to these areas to find willing buyers, rebalance supply-demand discrepancies, and establish a base before continuing in the prevailing direction. Given the strength of the previous rally, a healthy retracement into this zone would still maintain overall bullish market structure.
Bullish Scenario
If the price sweeps the high and retraces into the $89,000 to $91,000 zone, we want to see signs of absorption and bullish structure forming within this region. Confirmation may come in the form of bullish order blocks, internal BOS (break of structure), or a clear rejection wick indicating buyers are stepping in. Should these conditions be met, this zone provides a compelling long opportunity, with upside targets set toward previous highs and potential extension levels above $96,000.
Bearish Contingency Plan
In the event that the unified imbalance fails to hold, attention shifts to the next key zones. The first is the minor imbalance closer to $85,000, which could offer a short-term bounce. Failing that, the broader support zone at $83,000 highlighted on the chart, becomes a more significant area to watch. This zone previously acted as the springboard for the current rally and may provide the structural support necessary for a larger bullish continuation.
Conclusion
This setup reflects a classic smart money concept, liquidity engineering followed by a return to inefficiency. The trade idea rests on the premise that markets rarely move in a straight line and often seek to rebalance themselves after aggressive trends. By allowing price to sweep the highs, fill the imbalance, and re-establish support, we can position ourselves with the trend in a favorable risk-reward context. The bias remains bullish, but execution depends on price reaction at key levels and confirmation of intent.
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"XAUUSD Double Setup After Massive Manipulation! 200+ Pips"🚨 Gold (XAUUSD) Smart Money Play Unfolding!
Here's a clean breakdown of the current structure and why this could be a high probability setup:
🔥 First, notice the manipulation zone — classic Smart Money move where liquidity was grabbed aggressively before a shift in market structure. This sets the stage for a bigger play.
📉 Change of Character (ChoCh) confirmed after the sweep, showing clear intent for price to reverse. This is the first signal that buyers are losing control and sellers are stepping in.
📍 First Key Area: Fair Value Gap (FVG)
Price is now retracing into the FVG.
This is our 1st Entry Setup opportunity.
High R/R setup if rejection happens around this level.
📍 Second Key Area: Order Block (OB)
A stronger zone for deeper mitigation.
If price pushes through the FVG, this OB becomes a prime entry spot.
This is the 2nd Setup for another potential short entry.
🏹 Targets and Pip Count:
Immediate target zone offers around 211 pips from the first setup.
Deeper target from second setup offers up to 253 pips move.
🧠 Market Structure & Psychology:
After manipulation, Smart Money always seeks to rebalance inefficiencies (FVG) and mitigate institutional orders (OB).
Weak lows created will likely be swept to fuel the bigger move down.
Multiple liquidity pools above and below current price hint at another round of liquidity hunting.
⚡ Game Plan:
Monitor price action reaction around FVG for short triggers.
If broken, reposition entries at the OB zone.
🚀 Risk Management Reminder:
Always use calculated risk per trade.
Don't chase; let price come to your zone.
Protect capital first, then maximize profits.
✍️ In summary:
This setup shows classic Smart Money Concepts in action: manipulation, structure shift, FVG, OB mitigation — all aligning for a clean bearish move. If executed with patience, this could be one of the smoothest setups of the week!
➡️ Comment "GOLD READY" if you’re stalking this setup with me!
➡️ Tag your trading buddy who needs to see this!
BITCOIN BUY SIGNALI just bought bitcoin here.
My stop loss is 91,800.
Take profit: 104,000.
Reason for the trade;
Extremely bullish on monthly and weekly time frame.
Bullish break of structure on daily time frame, with a small retracement into an imbalance.
I believe Bitcoin is about to move high to 110k.
Make sure you risk only what you can afford to lose.
For more details, mentorship or partnership, send me a DM here on tradingview.
What is ICT FVG ? – ICT Fair Value Gap Explained Step by Step !ICT FVG knowns as Fair Value Gap, is a three-candle formation having an un-retraced area between the high and low of 1st and 3rd candlestick.
A fair value gap is indicated by an imbalance and it acts as a level of support and resistance in the price chart.
This blog post will teach you all about the ICT FVG from their formation to identification and their use in trading.
You can jump to the section you are most interested in from below or can continue reading the whole article for better understanding.
Table of Contents
What is ICT FVG (Fair Value Gap)?
How to Identify an ICT Fair Value Gap?
Types of ICT FVG
(I) Bullish Fair Value Gap
(II) Bearish Fair Value Gap
ICT FVG Trading Strategy
Best Time Frame for ICT FVG Identification
Best Pair for ICT FVG Trading
Final Thoughts
What is ICT FVG (Fair Value Gap)?
ICT fair value gap is a three-candle structure indicating a gap between the high and low of 1st and 3rd candlestick.
The gap between three candles is created because price does not retrace in that area and leaves it open.
You can see the example of ICT FVG in the picture below :
ICT FVG acts as a magnet for price and price retrace back to the fair value gap to balance the price delivery.
After retracing to the FVG price then reverses and continues its trend .
How to Identify an ICT Fair Value Gap ?
To identify an ICT FVG, you need to look for a large candlestick with most body range.
After identifying the large candlestick, mark the high of candlestick prior to the large candle and low of the subsequent candlestick .
There will be a visible gap between the high and low of the two candlesticks which indicate the ICT fair value gap .
Types of ICT FVG
On the basis of price move the ICT FVG has two types which are explained below :
(I) Bullish Fair Value Gap
A bullish fair value gap in ICT terms appears during an uptrend with a three-candle pattern.
It happens when the middle candle has a large body , leaving a gap between the high of the first candle and the low of the third candle .
In an uptrend , a fair value gap can serve as strong support, with the price often retracing to fill the gap before moving higher .
You can see the example of bullish fair value gap in the picture below :
(II) Bearish Fair Value Gap
A bearish fair value gap appears in a downtrend within a three-candle pattern.
It forms when the middle candle has a large body, creating a gap between the low of the first candle and the high of the third candle .
In bearish trend a fair value gap can act as a good resistance and mostly price tends to fill this gap before moving lower .
You can see the example of bearish fair value gap in the picture below .
ICT FVG Trading Strategy
To trade using an ICT fair value gap, you need to go through below steps.
Step 1 – Determine Market Trend: First of all we need to identify the market trend of any asset whether it is bullish or bearish.
You can use ICT Daily Bias to anticipate the direction of price move.
In bullish trend price makes higher highs and higher lows, while in bearish trend price makes lower lows and lower highs
Step 2 – Identify Premium and Discount Zone: You would be looking for the premium fair value gap in bearish trend, while in bullish trend you would be looking for discount FVG.
Step 3 – Identify Large Candle:Once you have determined the trend, next step is to find a large candle with large body & small wicks.
If market is in bullish trend, we look for strong bullish candle with most body range while in bearish trend we look for large bearish candle with most body range.
Step 4 – Study Preceding & Proceeding Candles: Once you have identified one large candle, now study the one candle before it & the one candle after it.
Both of these candles should have such a structure that their bodies should not overlap the body of middle candle thus confirming a fair value gap between the wicks of first & third candle.
Step 4 – Mark Fair Value Gap: In bullish trend the gap between the high of first candle and the low of third candle.
While in bearish trend the gap between the low of first candle and the high of third candle will be marked as your fair value gap.
Step 6 – Execute the Trade: If the price is in bullish trend, we will wait for price to retrace and test the discount fair value gap to balance the move.
When price tests the discount fair value gap you can execute a buy trade with other technical confirmations like rejection or structure shift in lower time frame.
In the picture given below you can see price is in bullish trend making higher highs and higher lows.
It retraces back to test the fair value gaps and rejects from the fair value gaps, eventually going higher.
In a bearish trend, you would wait for the price to retrace up and test the premium fair value gap to balance the bearish price delivery.
When the price visits this gap, it can offer sell opportunities, especially when combined with additional confirmations like rejection or a shift in market structure.
In the image below, the market is in a downtrend, forming lower highs and lower lows.
It repeatedly tests bearish fair value gaps and rejects from these levels, leading to further price declines.
Best Time Frame for ICT FVG Identification
ICT FVG can serve different purpose, like it can be used as a tool to find the Daily Bias using higher timeframe like 1-Day.
But if you are using the fair value gap as a PD Array to find trade entry then you would be looking for a fair value gap in lower timeframes like 15-Minutes or lower than that.
Best Pair for ICT FVG Trading
Initially the ICT introduced the fair value gap using the index trading like Nasdaq and S&P-500 and it yielded best results in that market.
After that he demonstrated some examples of forex pairs using the FVG and it was equally good for that market too.
So, now a days ICT FVG serve as a key tool for traders in every market.
Final Thoughts
While trading using a fair value gap we should keep in mind that every fair value gap in the market is not tradeable , to trade using fair value gap, we should use it in conjugation with other strategies like demand & supply or support & resistance . At these levels fair value gaps can act as a more reliable tool to take a trade.
You can also check this article how traders use fair value gap to open the right trade.
Plus to mitigate your risks, you should always trade with stop loss in place as no strategy is foolproof in trading.
Trading EURUSD AUDUSD NZDUSD | Judas Swing Strategy 22/04/2025We've executed 4 trades so far this week using the Judas Swing Strategy and in this write up, we're breaking down exactly how each one played out. We didn't get any trading opportunities on Monday but Tuesday gave us textbook setups on both FX:EURUSD and OANDA:AUDUSD , and if you’ve been following this series, you know the Judas Swing Strategy thrives where liquidity lies and manipulation gives way to opportunity.
Tuesday’s price action on FX:EURUSD opened with familiar signs: ranging structure and liquidity building on both sides. By 09:05 EST, price made the typical fakeout a sharp move to the downside that swept the lows and trapped breakout sellers.
This gave us confirmation to look for the real move, the reversal.
Price broke structure to the upside, creating a Fair Value Gap. As expected, price retraced into that imbalance, and we executed the buy.
Entry: 1.14677
SL: 1.14559
TP: 1.14913
Take profit was cleanly hit with minimal drawdown. No stress. No second-guessing
OANDA:AUDUSD printed a similar setup. The fake move to the downside swept liquidity below an earlier low and shifted structure to the upside. We entered buy once price returned to fill the Fair Value Gap
The trade nearly hit TP but reversed just shy of it, eventually stopping us out.
Entry: 0.63868
SL: 0.63770
TP: 0.64064
It stung a little, but here's where our data-driven edge comes in. We follow a set-and-forget execution model because our backtesting shows that this approach works more in our favor than not. Situations like this will happen. Sometimes price dances around your TP before flipping. It’s part of trading
The next day was a solid one using the Judas Swing strategy, this time across both OANDA:AUDUSD and $NZDUSD. Let’s walk through how the setups unfolded on Wednesday and why both trades played out almost identically in terms of narrative and structure.
The session kicked off with a consolidation forming, setting up a clean range to be targeted. Liquidity had built up nicely above the highs and lows of the pre-market structure. Classic.
As expected, once our session started, price punched higher, sweeping the buy-side liquidity above the early session range. This was our Judas move a strategic fakeout to trigger breakout longs and inject liquidity.
But the key here is what came next.
Price immediately stalled after the sweep and printed a clean break of structure to the downside. That shift was our clue that the buy-side move was done and the real selloff was likely on deck for OANDA:AUDUSD and $NZDUSD.
Price pulled back into the Fair Value Gap (FVG) formed during displacement, giving us a clean entry setup:
Entry: 0.64130
SL: 0.64360
TP: 0.63669
As soon as we entered, the trade moved with conviction minimal drawdown and a smooth ride into target but the OANDA:NZDUSD couldn't hit TP and the trade is still running
GBPUSD AnalysisGBP could potentially start its next bearish leg from the current level.
Price has reacted off a lower timeframe IFVG, which is currently acting as support.
If we get a clean close below this IFVG, along with proper short confirmation,
I'll be looking for bearish setups to target lower levels
GOLDMASTER1| BTCUSDT 15M ANALYSIS
" ANALYZING THE MARKET STRUCTURE ON THE 15-MINUTE CHART OF BTC/USDT :
The price action shows a Higher High (HH) followed by a Lower High (LH), indicating a potential shift in market trend.
A Break of Structure (BOS) is visible, confirming a change in the previous bullish trend.
We've identified a Fair Value Gap (FVG), which may act as a key level for price action.
The Bullish Orderblock suggests potential support for a possible reversal.
Stay cautious and manage your risk accordingly.
GOLDMASTERS1---
Ethereum Hits Critical Resistance — Is a Drop to $1400 Next?Introduction
Ethereum has been in a sustained downtrend over the past weeks, struggling to gain any real bullish traction. After a sharp decline last Sunday, the market remains under pressure, and although we’ve seen short-term attempts to recover, the broader trend still points downward. Technical indicators and price structure suggest this may not be over, with both Fibonacci levels and momentum oscillators hinting at further downside potential.
Resistance from the FVG and Fibonacci
Last Sunday, Ethereum dropped over 10% in a single move, forming a large 4-hour Fair Value Gap (FVG) in the process. This gap signaled a strong imbalance between buyers and sellers, with sellers clearly in control. Earlier this week, ETH managed to retrace up to the 50% level of that FVG but faced immediate rejection, highlighting the strength of the resistance. Currently, price is once again moving into the FVG zone and has reached the golden pocket Fibonacci level between $1650 and $1664. This area often acts as a key pivot for price direction. If bulls manage to break through, the next logical target would be the 0.786 Fibonacci retracement at $1724, potentially completing the fill of the FVG.
Stochastic RSI weakening on the daily timeframe
While the short-term price action shows some bullish effort, the daily Stochastic RSI tells a different story. It has now almost entered the overbought zone, suggesting that Ethereum’s current upward move may be running out of steam. This indicator often precedes a shift in momentum, and if history repeats itself, we could soon see bears stepping back in. With ETH still unable to break recent highs, the setup favors a continuation of the downtrend. If selling pressure resumes, we could be looking at a move down to the $1400 level, or potentially even lower.
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Gold - Why a drop to 3250 could be the perfect buy!Gold has been in a strong and sustained uptrend, showing impressive momentum with minimal pullbacks along the way. At the moment, Gold is forming a rising wedge pattern, which could indicate potential short-term downside price action. If we see a retracement from current levels, I’ll be watching closely for a long opportunity.
A break below this rising wedge would suggest possible short-term downside movement. This would actually be healthy for the overall trend, as small pullbacks are a natural and necessary part of a strong uptrend. It helps shake out weak hands, reset indicators, and build stronger support for the next leg higher.
Why a drop to around 3250?
If the wedge breaks, there’s an imbalance zone (4h FVG) sitting just below the current price level that has yet to be filled. These imbalance zones are created when price moves sharply in one direction, leaving gaps in the market structure. These areas often act as magnets, drawing price back to fill them before the trend resumes.
This particular imbalance zone lines up perfectly with the golden pocket Fibonacci retracement, adding further significance to the level as a strong area of support for the bulls. When technical confluences align like this, they tend to become high-probability reaction zones.
It’s also worth noting that this was the last major high that was broken before Gold made its most recent move upward. That makes this level even more likely to be defended by buyers. Bulls who missed the initial breakout will be watching this level closely for entries.
What are we watching for?
If Gold fails to hold the structure of the rising wedge, it opens the door for a sharper pullback towards the 3250 zone. This level aligns with multiple key confluences: the support zone, the 4h FVG, and the golden pocket. All of these factors together make it a prime level to look for bullish setups.
Conclusion
Gold remains in a strong uptrend but is starting to show early signs of a potential short-term pullback if it loses the rising wedge structure. Should that happen, the primary target for downside would be the 3250 level. This is where I’ll be looking for long opportunities, as it aligns with major support, the 4h imbalance zone, and the golden pocket retracement.
While this pullback would be short-term in nature, the broader trend remains bullish. As long as key levels hold and market structure stays intact, the bigger picture favors further upside. A healthy retracement here could set the stage for a more sustainable and explosive next leg up.
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Bitcoin – Testing Major Resistance: 95k next target?Bitcoin is currently trading inside a significant resistance zone between $88,000 and $89,000. This area has acted as a strong supply zone in the past, evidenced by multiple rejections that led to notable sell-offs. The recent upward momentum that brought price back into this area was backed by a strong rally off the April lows, pushing through local structure and recovering critical levels. However, despite the strength of this move, price is now approaching a decision point where bulls need to prove continuation capacity or risk triggering another corrective leg.
Consolidation Structure
The current structure reflects a potential accumulation base forming below resistance, marked by a series of higher lows and a compression of volatility. This typically precedes a breakout, though it also heightens the risk of a sharp rejection should buyers fail to sustain pressure. The local trend remains bullish on the 4H timeframe, but the lack of follow-through above resistance so far suggests hesitation. Price is essentially coiling beneath a ceiling, building pressure for a breakout or breakdown move in the coming sessions.
Bullish Scenario
If Bitcoin is able to cleanly break above the $89,000 resistance level, the key confirmation will be a successful retest of this zone from above. This area, once flipped into support, would offer a strong launchpad for continuation toward the next key target at $95,000. This target aligns with the measured move projection from the recent range and also represents a psychological milestone that may attract momentum buyers. A confirmed breakout and retest would signal strength from bulls and invalidate the prior resistance structure, transitioning it into new support.
Bearish Scenario
Alternatively, if price fails to break above the resistance zone and prints another rejection, I expect a retracement to follow. The first major area of interest on the downside is the imbalance zone between approximately $84,000 and $85,500. This level also aligns with the 0.236 Fibonacci retracement, and given the inefficiency left behind from the recent rally, it serves as a logical short-term support area. A bounce here would not be surprising, particularly on the first touch. However, should price break below and close beneath this zone, it would indicate weakness and open the door for a deeper corrective move.
The next major downside target in that case would be the golden pocket between $79,500 and $80,500. This zone carries strong confluence: it’s formed by the 0.618–0.65 Fibonacci retracement, a previously unfilled price void (PVG), and the base of the recent rally. Price reaching this area would likely attract interest from both buyers looking for re-entry and shorts looking to cover. A reaction from this level could set the stage for a medium-term bounce or even a new accumulation phase.
Current Stance
At the moment, my stance is neutral-to-bullish while price remains within the resistance zone. I'm closely monitoring for a clean breakout and retest, which would trigger a long setup targeting the $95K area. Until that breakout occurs, caution is warranted due to the risk of rejection and retracement. If price breaks down from the current level, I will shift my focus to lower support zones, particularly the imbalance region and the golden pocket, for potential long opportunities or further confirmation of bearish momentum.
Conclusion
Bitcoin is at a pivotal point technically. The structure and momentum suggest the possibility of a bullish continuation, but confirmation through breakout and retest is essential. A failure to break and hold above resistance will likely initiate a retracement, with the imbalance zone serving as the first major test. If that zone fails, a trip toward the golden pocket at $80K becomes increasingly probable. This is a reactive zone-to-zone environment, and both breakout and breakdown scenarios offer actionable setups based on confirmation.
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Bitcoin - Who Will Take Control: Bulls or Bears?Bitcoin is currently exhibiting a prolonged phase of sideways movement, trading within a clearly defined consolidation range. After a sharp move to the upside earlier this month, price has stalled and started to range between the resistance zone near $86,000 and support around $82,000. This type of price action typically suggests indecision in the market, where neither buyers nor sellers are in full control.
The candles within this range are relatively choppy, with many wicks on both sides, further reinforcing the idea that this is a low-conviction environment. It reflects a battle between opposing market participants, and historically, such consolidations often precede strong directional moves. Until this range is broken, price is likely to continue moving sideways with potential for false breakouts and low-probability trade setups.
The Consolidation Range
The current consolidation is outlined with clear visual zones. The upper boundary acts as resistance and is highlighted in red, while the lower boundary, acting as support, is marked in green. The range itself is filled in blue, representing the broader area of indecision and price balance.
This consolidation is not minor—it has held for several days with multiple rejections from both the resistance and support levels. The more time price spends within a range like this, the more significant the breakout is likely to be. Liquidity builds up at the highs and lows of these ranges, and eventually one side will be taken out, leading to an expansion move.
Bullish Breakout Scenario
If Bitcoin manages to break and close decisively above the resistance zone, this would signal a potential shift in market sentiment toward the upside. A breakout above this level is likely to trigger stop-loss orders from short-sellers and attract breakout traders entering long positions.
The chart suggests that if this bullish breakout occurs, price will likely target the liquidity resting above recent swing highs, which are marked by the black horizontal lines. These levels represent areas where traders may have placed their stop orders, making them attractive targets for a price sweep. Following this, Bitcoin could enter a new trend phase, potentially setting up a continuation of the larger bullish structure that preceded the consolidation.
It is important, however, to wait for confirmation. A clean breakout followed by a retest or strong follow-through volume would provide greater confidence in a bullish continuation. Entering prematurely could result in being caught in a false breakout, especially in a ranging market like this.
Bearish Breakdown Scenario
Alternatively, if price breaks below the support zone with conviction, this would be a clear bearish signal. A move below the lower boundary of the range would imply that the buyers have been exhausted and that sellers have regained control.
In this scenario, the expectation is that price will seek out the inefficiencies and untested price action below, particularly the yellow zone marked on the chart. This area likely represents a previous gap or imbalance—zones where price moved rapidly in the past and did not spend much time. Such zones often act as magnets for price once a breakdown occurs, as the market seeks to fill in that inefficiency.
This bearish move could lead to a significant drop, potentially targeting levels as low as the upper $70,000s or even lower, depending on how strong the selling pressure becomes. Much like the bullish scenario, it's critical to watch for confirmation. A candle close below support with strong volume would be an ideal trigger for this bearish thesis.
No-Trade Zone and Strategy
Until Bitcoin breaks out of this range in either direction, there are no clear high-probability trades. Entering within the range is inherently risky due to the lack of momentum and high chance of reversals. Whipsawing price action can easily trigger stop-losses and create frustration for traders trying to anticipate moves before confirmation.
The most prudent approach in this situation is patience. Let the market show its hand. Once a breakout occurs, whether to the upside or downside, the path forward becomes more defined and trade setups with favorable risk-to-reward ratios will emerge. For now, this is a textbook no-trade zone—ideal for observing and planning, not for forcing entries.
Conclusion
Bitcoin is currently at a critical juncture. The ongoing consolidation is a precursor to a larger move, and while the direction is not yet confirmed, the zones of interest are clearly mapped out. A breakout above resistance will suggest a bullish continuation, targeting liquidity above recent highs. A breakdown below support will imply a bearish move toward the inefficiencies and untested price areas below.
In markets like this, discipline is key. The goal is to avoid getting chopped up in the range and instead position yourself on the right side once momentum returns. The next breakout will likely set the tone for the coming days or even weeks—so patience now could lead to greater reward later.
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Trading AUDUSD | Judas Swing Strategy 15/04/2025Tuesday's price action on FX:AUDUSD , we got a textbook Judas Swing play and for those still getting used to spotting these setups in real-time, let’s break this one down and talk through what happened and more importantly, why it happened.
Going into the session open, we had a relatively tight consolidation, with the 00:00 - 08:30est range acting as a container for liquidity. Price had built up liquidity at the high and low of the zone. Whichever side gets swept first will determine our directional bias for the session
Just after the session began, we saw price aggressively push up taking out the buy side liquidity resting above those early highs. This is what is called the "Judas move", a false breakout meant to trap breakout buyers and entice liquidity into the market. This move is not random. It’s designed to induce traders into the wrong side of the market before the real direction reveals itself
As soon as that liquidity grab was complete, we noticed price begin to stall and form a shift in market structure. This is critical. Once you see a break of structure to the downside, followed by a lower high into a FVG, that’s your confirmation that the real move, the sell-off is in play. We then saw clean displacement to the downside, confirming the manipulation phase was over
Now we wait for a retracement into the Fair Value Gap (FVG). We'll only look to execute a trade once a candle enters the FVG and closes. After a few minutes of waiting, price finally retraced into the FVG, giving us the green light to execute the trade.
Entry: 0.63749
Stop loss: 0.63849
Take profit: 0.63549
This FX:AUDUSD trade gave us a smooth ride with minimal drawdown. Right after entry price moved swiftly into profit. Although there was a brief retrace back to our entry point, it quickly corrected, and we were back in the green. With just a 1% risk, the trade delivered a solid 2% return all within 1 hour and 20 minutes
This setup is an excellent example of why you don’t want to chase early session breakouts blindly. The Judas Swing strategy teaches us to look for the trap, wait for confirmation, and then trade in alignment with the real intention behind price. Beginners often get caught up in the initial move, thinking it’s the real trend. But if you can slow down, understand the time of day, the draw on liquidity, and the reaction around key highs/lows, you’ll start to see how often price manipulates before delivering.
What Is a Balanced Price Range, and How Can You Use ItWhat Is a Balanced Price Range, and How Can You Use It in Trading?
Balanced Price Ranges (BPRs) offer traders insight into areas where market forces temporarily balance. Understanding how BPRs form and how to use them can help traders identify key zones of interest on the chart. This article explores the details of BPRs, their applications in trading, and how combining them with other tools can refine your market analysis.
What Is a Balanced Price Range (BPR)?
A Balanced Price Range (BPR) is an Inner Circle Trader (ICT) concept used to pinpoint areas on a price chart where market activity reflects a temporary equilibrium between buyers and sellers. These zones, often identified through overlapping Fair Value Gaps (FVGs), highlight price levels where buying and selling pressures have offset each other, creating a balance.
Here’s how it works in a bullish scenario: a rapid price move downward leaves a bearish Fair Value Gap—a price range the market skips over due to strong selling momentum. If the price rises with equal intensity shortly, creating a bullish Fair Value Gap in the opposite direction, the overlapping region between these gaps becomes the BPR. This overlap represents a zone of temporary balance, where the market has effectively “corrected” the earlier imbalance.
BPR zones are not random. They often form in areas of high market interest—perhaps near key support or resistance levels, or after significant news events that cause sharp price movements. Traders look at these ranges because they frequently act as reference points for future price reactions.
The boundaries of an ICT BPR—its high and low—serve as critical levels. These edges often function as dynamic support and resistance, helping traders gauge potential turning points. Furthermore, BPRs can appear across various timeframes, from minute-by-minute to weekly charts.
How Does a Balanced Price Range Form?
Now that we know the idea of the ICT Balanced Price Range, let’s look at how it forms step by step.
1. An Initial Price Imbalance
A BPR begins with a strong price movement in one direction—either up or down. For example, in an overall bearish scenario, buyers initially drive the price up rapidly and leave behind a bullish FVG. This gap reflects an area where the market didn’t fully engage, often skipping over price levels due to overwhelming demand.
2. A Counter-Move Creates an Opposing Gap
After the initial move, the market can shift in the opposite direction with equal momentum. In our example, sellers step in, pushing the price downward. This creates a bearish FVG that partially overlaps with the earlier bullish FVG. These rapid shifts often occur around key events, such as news releases or liquidity grabs, which ignite temporary market imbalances.
3. Overlapping Fair Value Gaps Define the Range
The overlapping portion of the bullish and bearish FVGs is what forms the BPR. This zone represents the price levels where buying and selling forces are temporarily balanced, neutralising the earlier imbalances.
4. Market Consolidation and Testing
Once the BPR is established, the price often consolidates near this range. This zone acts as a magnet for future price action because it’s seen as an area of high market interest, where traders may take note of previous balance. In the example given, a test may precede a bearish reaction.
Combining BPRs With Other ICT Concepts
Balanced Price Ranges in the ICT methodology become even more powerful when combined with other related concepts. By layering multiple tools, traders can refine their analysis and pinpoint high-probability areas for market activity. Here’s how BPRs work with key ICT concepts:
Fair Value Gaps
Since BPRs are defined by overlapping fair value gaps, understanding how to read these gaps adds depth to BPR analysis. FVGs outside the BPR can act as supplementary zones of interest.
Order Blocks
Traders often spot BPRs forming near significant order blocks. When these zones overlap, they highlight areas where institutional activity may have left a footprint, increasing their importance for analysis.
Liquidity Pools
BPRs often align with liquidity zones where stop orders are clustered. Price may gravitate toward these areas before reacting, offering traders insight into potential price reversals or continuations.
Market Structure Shifts
BPRs can reinforce insights gained from market structure shifts. For example, a BPR forming after a break in structure might signal consolidation before the next major move.
Higher Timeframe Confluence
When a BPR aligns with key levels on higher timeframes, it can provide added confidence in the zone’s relevance for price reactions.
How to Use a Balanced Price Range
The Balanced Price Range can provide traders with valuable insights into price behaviour, acting as a reference point for analysing potential market movements. By understanding how these zones function, traders often use them to refine their strategies and enhance their market analysis.
Identifying High-Interest Zones
As BPRs highlight areas where the market found an equilibrium between buyers and sellers, traders typically monitor how the price reacts when revisiting a BPR. For example, if the price approaches the upper or lower boundary of a BPR, it may indicate a potential turning point or a continuation, depending on the market context.
Support and Resistance Dynamics
One common approach is to view BPRs as dynamic support or resistance zones. When the price tests the range, traders often anticipate a reaction. For instance, a rejection from a BPR in a bearish trend may suggest continued downward momentum, while a breach might signal weakening selling pressure.
Contextualising Larger Market Structures
BPRs don’t exist in isolation; they often align with broader market structures. Traders may use them in combination with tools like liquidity zones or order blocks to build a more complete market picture. For instance, if a BPR forms near a major resistance level on a higher timeframe, this confluence could strengthen its importance as a reference point.
Adjusting for Timeframe and Strategy
The relevance of a BPR often depends on the timeframe being analysed. Day traders might focus on intraday BPRs to find potential trading opportunities, while swing traders could look for these zones on higher timeframes, considering them significant levels for long-term moves. Either trader can use lower and higher timeframe BPRs to inform their analysis and entries.
Managing Risk Around BPRs
Traders may incorporate BPRs into their risk management plans, such as by using the boundaries of the range to set stop-loss or take-profit levels. A breach of these levels can indicate a shift in market sentiment, helping traders refine their analysis.
Risks and Considerations When Using BPRs
While BPRs can be a useful tool for analysing price behaviour, they aren’t without limitations. Traders need to approach BPRs with a clear understanding of their potential pitfalls. Here are some key considerations:
- Not Predictive: BPRs don’t guarantee future price movement. While they highlight zones of interest, traders must combine them with broader market analysis to avoid over-reliance.
- Subjectivity: Identifying BPRs can sometimes be subjective. What one trader sees as a balanced range might not align with another’s interpretation, especially on different timeframes.
- Timeframe Sensitivity: A BPR on a lower timeframe may lose significance in the broader market context. Conversely, higher timeframe BPRs may lag behind fast-moving markets.
- False Breakouts: Price can move beyond a BPR briefly before reversing, creating potential traps for traders relying solely on breakout strategies.
- Market Context Matters: BPRs are analysed alongside market conditions like volatility, news events, or broader trends. Ignoring these factors can reduce their reliability.
The Bottom Line
Understanding Balanced Price Ranges can help traders interpret key market zones and improve their analysis. By combining BPRs with other tools and strategies, traders gain deeper insights into price movements.
FAQ
What Is the ICT Price Range?
The ICT price range refers to specific price levels or zones highlighted in the Inner Circle Trader (ICT) methodology. These ranges often represent areas of interest in the market, such as liquidity pools, fair value gaps, or balanced price ranges. Traders use ICT price ranges to analyse price movement, identify potential reaction points, and refine their trading strategies.
What Is the Meaning of a Balanced Price?
Balanced price describes a market state where buying and selling pressures are in equilibrium. It typically forms in areas where overlapping fair value gaps exist, reflecting zones where previous imbalances have corrected. These areas can act as key levels for future price reactions.
What Is an Optimal Trade Entry in a Balanced Price Range?
Optimal trade entry in a balanced price range refers to identifying high-probability entry points within or near a BPR. Traders often look for price reactions at the range’s boundaries, combining BPR analysis with other ICT tools, such as order blocks or liquidity zones, to refine their approach.
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.
EURUSD – Pullback before a new move?EURUSD has been consolidating for several sessions now after making a strong impulsive move to the upside earlier this month. Since breaking above the 1.1150 level, momentum has started to slow down and price is beginning to range near the recent highs. That alone isn’t surprising strong impulsive moves are almost always followed by periods of consolidation or retracement as the market pauses, takes profits, and reevaluates.
What catches my attention now is how weak the price action looks during this consolidation. The candles are getting smaller, wicks are getting longer, and there’s not much follow-through on the bullish side anymore. This kind of price behavior typically shows indecision or exhaustion buyers are no longer driving price with the same force and sellers are starting to creep back in.
So instead of chasing this move higher, I’m positioning myself for a pullback into a key demand zone that I think will offer a much higher probability long setup.
The Level I’m Watching – Golden Pocket with Imbalance Confluence
The zone I’m targeting for a potential entry sits in the 1.1070 to 1.1170 area. This range covers the golden pocket retracement zone, between the 61.8% and 65% Fibonacci levels measured from the recent impulse low to high, and overlaps with multiple technical factors that make it extremely attractive.
First off, this zone contains three separate unfilled imbalance areas (or fair value gaps), created by aggressive bullish candles on the way up. These are areas where price moved too quickly to fill all orders on both sides, which leaves inefficiencies in the market. The market tends to revisit these areas to rebalance before continuing in the prevailing direction. So from a pure price action perspective, the unfilled imbalances create a natural magnet for price to retrace into.
Second, we’ve got historical resistance right in this same zone. If you look back a few sessions, price rejected this level multiple times before finally breaking through. Now that we’re above it, there’s a strong chance this area flips into support. This concept resistance turning into support is a classic and reliable price action behavior, especially when it lines up with other tools like fibs and imbalances.
Trend Structure Still Intact
What’s crucial to me here is that a pullback into this zone will not break the overall bullish market structure. We’re still printing higher highs and higher lows, and a retracement into the golden pocket would simply be another higher low within the current uptrend.
There’s also a clean ascending trendline from early April that hasn’t been breached. If price respects that trendline again while dipping into this demand zone, that would add further confluence to the setup. It would mean the trendline, golden pocket, unfilled imbalances, and historical support are all lining up at the same point that’s a textbook area where I want to be a buyer.
Entry Triggers and Execution Plan
I’m not looking to blindly set a limit order in this zone. I want confirmation that buyers are stepping in and that we’re getting a shift in momentum. Ideally, I’ll drop to a lower timeframe like the 1H or even the 15M and wait for a clear change of character — something like:
A break of a local lower high
A bullish engulfing candle at the base
A sweep of liquidity below recent lows followed by a strong push back above structure
Once I see that kind of reaction, I’ll consider entering a long position. My stop will go just below the structure low or the lowest point of the zone, depending on the entry signal. I’ll give it enough room to avoid getting wicked out on a false break.
As for targets the first obvious one is the current range high around 1.1350. If we get a strong reaction, I’ll trail part of the position and look for continuation into new highs. This pullback could set the stage for the next leg of the broader bullish trend, especially if DXY starts showing weakness again.
Why I’m Not Shorting Here
Even though price looks weak and a retracement seems likely, I’m not interested in shorting this setup. We’re still firmly in bullish structure and shorting into a healthy uptrend just doesn’t make sense to me unless I’m scalping. The risk to reward just isn’t favorable on the short side right now I’d rather wait for price to come to my zone and then look for confirmation to go with the trend.
Final Thoughts
EURUSD is consolidating after a strong move up and I’m expecting a pullback. The golden pocket zone, stacked with unfilled imbalances and previous resistance, looks like the ideal place for a bullish reaction. As long as we stay above that zone, structure stays bullish and I’ll be looking for long opportunities once price confirms the bounce.
Patience is key here. I’m not rushing into anything, but if price gives me the reaction I’m looking for in that zone, I’ll be ready to execute. The setup aligns well with both technical structure and market behavior and I’ll continue to monitor price action closely over the next few sessions.
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GBPUSD: Buy Entry Win. HOW LOL
SO I was able to win this. idk how. but..
oh wait I know.
Here's what I did right.
0. I checked the Levels (W>D>HR>KEY LEVELS) of the Forex Market pairs on Saturday.
-I plan to keep re-assessing this every week, as practice, and to see how price is moving.
1. I assessed day bias & market intention. I guess I hit the nail on the head here.
2. Saw price trending up, so I plotted my fib and frvp. Confluenced with FVG.
3. Instead of entering on the OTE Zone, I waited to see if it would be respected. It did.
4. Instead of putting a limit entry, I set an alarm on my intended entry zone. So when it got hit, I setup my buy limit.
-I think I can improve this by putting a buy stop limit on the OTE ZONE as entry trigger, and the actual buy stop at the intended entry zone. So, if OTE is HIT, then activate LIMIT ENTRY @ price breakout(the choch line)
5. I looked farther to the left to see what's a probable target. I found one, so I targeted it. It was the weekly & daily FVGs above.
It's more or less lucky that I hit it? Price really just had a strong momentum... and before the momentum, it hit a bullish fvg below.
What happens after price rebalances an FVG? It seeks liquidity on the opposite side. This is what happened. And I caught it right this time.
USD/JPY - What to expect as price consolidates above support?Introduction
The USD/JPY pair has been in a clear daily downtrend, marked by a bearish market structure and strong downside momentum. Sellers remain firmly in control, consistently driving prices lower as the pair respects the prevailing trend. Each failed recovery attempt only reinforces the bearish structure, suggesting that the path of least resistance continues to be to the downside.
FVG
Following the most recent drop, the pair is now consolidating just above a key support level. A short-term relief bounce toward the 4-hour Fair Value Gap (FVG) wouldn't be unexpected. This particular FVG, formed during the last leg down, remains unfilled — and such gaps are often revisited before the trend resumes.
Confluences
Notably, this FVG aligns with the Golden Pocket Fibonacci retracement zone (0.618–0.65), adding further confluence and making it a potentially strong resistance area. If price does retrace into this zone, it could face significant selling pressure and resume its move back toward the daily support zone.
Conclusion
While a bounce from daily support is possible, I expect USD/JPY to encounter resistance at the 4H FVG level. This could cap any recovery attempts and signal a continuation of the broader bearish trend.
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GOLDMASTERS1 | GOLD 15M OUTLOOK ---
GOLD 15M OUTLOOK — TRADE ACTIVATED
Price perfectly respected the Bearish Order Block around 3,235-3,236 and has now rejected from that zone, triggering short setups.
The move suggests sellers are in control below 3,231.668 — and price is now heading toward the Fair Value Gap (FVG) area around 3,216.942 for a potential reaction.
Key Levels:
Entry: Short position activated near 3,231-3,235 zone.
First Target: 3,216.942 (FVG) — price is approaching this now.
Final Target: If FVG breaks, price may seek deeper liquidity at the lower bullish zones near 3,210.
GOLDMASTERS1---
Bitcoin - Rejection at Resistance: Watching $80K and BelowBitcoin is currently trading within a tight range between $84,000 and $85,000, a region that has acted as a strong resistance multiple times in the recent past. Bulls have tried to break through this level, but we’re starting to see some clear signs of exhaustion. Price is struggling to create a new higher high, and unless we see a clean breakout above this resistance, this could be the early signs of a lower high formation.
A failure to break out here would indicate that bullish momentum is starting to fade, and that sellers are gaining control again in this zone. This could open the door for a short-term pullback before we see any renewed upside.
Major Resistance Holding Price Down
The red zone on the chart marks a key supply area, where sellers continue to step in aggressively. Multiple rejections have formed here, which gives this level more weight. Unless Bitcoin sees a strong breakout above $85,000 with volume, this area will likely hold price down.
What we want to watch now is whether price can push through this resistance or whether it will roll over and confirm the rejection.
Short-Term Bearish Bias – Eyes on Imbalance Zone
If Bitcoin fails to break above this resistance, the most logical target on the downside becomes the $80,000 range. This level is interesting for two reasons:
It lines up with an unfilled imbalance zone on the 4H chart.
There’s also the 0.5 Fibonacci retracement level in the same area.
This imbalance acts like a magnet for price, pulling price back into it to rebalance the inefficiency in the market. If momentum shifts to the downside, this is a very likely level for price to revisit. I’ll be watching this area closely for potential bullish reactions or continuation setups depending on how price behaves once we tap into it.
Strong Support and Golden Pocket Below
If the $80K zone doesn’t hold, I’ll be turning my attention towards the next major area of interest — the $78,500 level. This is where we have two very strong factors aligning:
The 0.618 Fibonacci retracement level (also known as the golden pocket).
A key historical support zone that has held well in previous pullbacks.
This level has a lot of confluence, which increases the chances of seeing a reaction or reversal from here if we drop that far. In my opinion, this is one of the strongest zones currently sitting below us. If price gets here, I’ll be watching closely for a solid long setup.
What Comes Next?
For now, I remain cautiously bearish in the short term. Price has been rejected at resistance and hasn’t shown the strength to break out just yet. If we start forming more lower highs and lose the support structure at $84K, I think we’ll make our way back down toward $80K.
What happens at that point will be key:
Bounce from $80K? We could get a short-term relief rally and retest the resistance.
Fail to hold $80K? Then I’m expecting price to dig deeper into the golden pocket and potentially find strong support at $78.5K.
At this stage, I’m not looking for longs unless price gives a clear reaction from one of the key levels below. The risk-to-reward on shorts looks more attractive while we remain under resistance.
Summary
Resistance at $85K–$84K is still holding strong.
If rejected here, I’m targeting $80K (imbalance zone).
Below that, $78.5K is a major support with golden pocket confluence.
Short-term bias is bearish unless we break above resistance with volume.
Watching for clean setups around these levels before taking action.
__________________________________________
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If you found this idea helpful or learned something new, drop a like 👍 and leave a comment, I’d love to hear your thoughts! 🚀
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