How to read crypto signals
Crypto is scored on the 1h timeframe, but unlike forex it carries real volume - so momentum spikes are driven by actual buying and selling, not just price drift. Meme tokens (DOGE, SHIB, BONK, WIF, PEPE) move far harder than the majors, and the z-score engine reads that the same way it reads everything else: relative to the coin's own history.
Spot direction with momentum conviction
Every crypto signal is a direction (BUY / SELL / NEUTRAL) plus a strength (0-100). The direction tells you which way the pair is leaning right now; the strength tells you how hard the raw data agrees. Strength measures conviction - it is not a win rate.
The three engines
Signals are not repackaged from other indicators. They are computed from raw price closes on the 1h timeframe through three independent engines:
Momentum
Multi-horizon rate of change, standardized as a z-score against the pair's own recent history. A pair only fires when it is moving unusually hard for itself - not by a fixed percentage. That keeps low-volatility and high-volatility pairs on even footing.
Trend alignment
EMA slope plus where price sits relative to it. Momentum and trend must agree - a strong push against the prevailing trend is suppressed rather than chased.
Volatility regime
Pseudo-ATR ratio vs the pair's own recent baseline. Flags high(wider stops, more risk) and quiet (tight range) conditions so you know whether the setup is tradeable right now.
How to read a card
Take this example:
- momentum - human label for the z-score trend (accelerating / building / fading / drifting).
- trend - up / down / flat from EMA slope.
- volatility - regime + a warning when risk is elevated.
- atr - average true range as a % of price; your reference for stop distance.
- confluence - how many classic indicators (RSI / MACD / Bollinger) agree, as a fraction.
What makes crypto different
Crypto never closes - the 24/7 market means a signal at any hour carries the same weight, but weekend liquidity is thinner and wicks are longer. A HIGH volatility regime on a meme token is common, not alarming; the same regime on BTC is unusual and worth respecting. Treat high-strength signals on low-cap tokens as short-term momentum plays, not accumulation advice. The trend gate matters more here: a strong push against a firmly established downtrend is suppressed, so any BUY that survives is already aligned with the wider trend.