I recorded a 20-min tutorial on how to read the footprint correctly 0:16 - passive/aggressive flow 1:37 - tick sizes 4:02 - clusters vs profiles 6:00 - positioning 11:30 - aggregated data 14:05 - example trade 15:20 - nuances 16:53 - highs/lows 18:52 - context

In this weeks notes on the principles of @Moneytaur_ we will be touching on likely the most important concept of all. ------- - RISK MANAGEMENT - - The Risk From Within The biggest risk to any trader isn’t the market, it’s themselves. Critical thinking, emotional awareness, patience, discipline, and strong risk management are what separate consistently profitable traders from the rest. Yet this truth is rarely preached in the space, and that is by design. “In school, no one teaches you about money. At work, almost everyone has an employee mindset. In this space, almost no one teaches risk management. And that’s exactly why almost no one is winning.” x.com/Moneytaur_/status/1897… The first rule your potential future is built on is managing your risk. Losing is a certainty, the only thing you can control is how much you lose. Cultivating strict risk management rules is paramount and forms the backbone of a disciplined trader. Practice does not make perfect, it makes permanent. “You need to develop a great risk management strategy. You can’t be greedy. You must be disciplined. Don’t chase quick gains. Play it right over several weeks to months to years, and you win.” - Risk per Account & Cumulative Risk When I refer to risk, I’m talking about the relative risk to a specific trading account, not total portfolio exposure. You likely have separate accounts for spot, futures, etc. If you hold $100K in total, but your futures account has $10K, then 1% risk on a trade from that account = $100, not $1,000. Technically, your total risk is all open correlated positions, whether spot or leveraged. How tightly correlated they are is up to your judgment, and how you split your allocation is your choice. But remember: more exposure = more risk. ------- - Assessing Risk - HTF Trend The first thing we should be paying attention to is the overall market structure. Are we in an uptrend or a downtrend? To keep it simple, if we are printing HHs & HLs on a daily TF we are in an uptrend. HTF Uptrend: Longs - Be more patient and let your trade run longer Shorts - Be more defensive and only play key levels HTF Downtrend: Longs - Be more defensive and only play key levels Shorts - Be more patient and let your trade run longer 🔺Trends are timeframe dependent. If you are taking a LTF trade targeting a range low in an overall uptrend, the HTF market structure is still relevant, but less so than if you are trying to take a higher TF swing trade against the trend. - Key Levels & Exhaustion When price is nearing key levels, we can consider counter trend swing trades. These levels can produce strong reactions, and with proper risk management, the worst outcome is a small % account drawdown, the best, catching a macro top or bottom. As I will cover in my notes on "Patterns", we can use market structure and price action to spot signs of exhaustion. These phases often take time to develop, giving us space to identify levels and plan entries. The more signals, the more counter trend trades become attractive. - Level Appropriate Risk Higher timeframe levels carry a greater probability of having the desired reaction. The criteria for defining optimal levels is detailed in the write up on order blocks. x.com/hoodstock_80/status/19… A key part of risk assessment is reading market dynamics accurately. Even the best levels need the broader market to “play along”, especially with altcoins. Smaller fish follow larger ones. "HTF plays: up to 3% of trading account (max 5% if optimal) MTF plays: up to 2% of trading account LTF plays: up to 1% of trading account" x.com/Moneytaur_/status/1686… MT states that there are exceptions. Small trading accounts can increase their risk exposure to a maximum of 10%. However, this should only be considered after consistently outperforming the market. “Stick to your initial trading budget, even if you’ve doubled or tripled your capital. Doubling your capital doesn’t mean you’ve mastered the game yet. Don’t chase the money. Focus on continuously improving your skills. If you stay disciplined and keep refining your approach, the money will come to you naturally. Success is a byproduct of consistent growth, not reckless ambition.” ------- Risk to Reward (RR) The next step is assessing the risk to reward potential of a setup (how much you stand to gain compared to how much you’re willing to lose). We aim for nothing under 3RR. If our risk is $100, a 3RR trade offers $300 potential reward. “Anything < 3 is not worth it when there’s plenty of 10R opportunities. I’ve shared many this year. Anything < 2 is absolutely amateur and no trader is profitable with it as their average R:R ------ Do you set a minimum RR? ------ I can just refine any opportunity into maximizing the R:R. I don’t really play anything < 4 and many are > 10 with some > 30” x.com/Moneytaur_/status/1741… If you only take 4RR setups, anything above 25% win rate is enough to be profitable. But keep in mind the psychological aspect of losing 75% of your trades. Another reason to favour quality over quantity. “I know very rich traders who have <40% success rate on LTF plays. Imagine traders who have higher success rate than that…” Trading is a game of probabilities, and risk-to-reward goes far beyond the number you on the long tool in TV. An optimal long near a macro top is not the same as the same level in extreme discount. Position matters. We’re after optimal levels with optimal potential, the kind that can fuel multi week/month moves into major liquidity zones and beyond. - Thinking in Terms of RR When managing a position, always consider where your trade currently stands. Thinking in terms of RR from CMP makes decision making much clearer. Market signals are augmented by how much reward is left in the trade. A momentum shift near target matters more because the potential reward for holding has mostly dried up. This is also known as “Dynamic R multiple” ------- - Calculating Risk Once we have our level, know our targets and have assigned the appropriate risk, we need to calculate what that means in $ terms. Max risk = Account balance × Risk % Example: Account balance: 10000 Level: Optimal = 3% Risk 10000 × 0.03 = 300 Now that we have defined what the maximum is that we stand to lose, we need to calculate how big our position size can be. This is defined by the size of our stop loss. Position size = Account balance × Risk ÷ Stop loss Example: Account balance: 10000 Level: Optimal = 3% Risk Stop Loss = 4% (10000 × 0.03) ÷ 0.04 = 7500 We’ll explore MT’s refined approach further down. 📝To accurately calculate risk for multiple positions, you will need to find the weighted average of all your entries. - Using Leverage Some people confuse leverage and risk. Risk defines how much capital you stand to lose in the worst case scenario Leverage defines how large of a position you can control with your capital Leverage does not change the actual dollar value of your risk allocated to a trade. It only affects the amount of margin needed to have the same position size. In the previously mentioned example a position size of 7500 on 10x leverage would only require 750 in margin. Margin = Position size ÷ Leverage Leverage is a powerful tool, and when used correctly, it can help level the playing field in favour of smaller traders. There’s an ongoing narrative that portrays leverage trading as “gambling.” When applied with discipline and strategy, leverage becomes a tactical advantage, not a risk. “It looks like another orchestrated effort to convince the ignorant that leverage equals gambling. A narrative designed to keep the herd hodling indefinitely, while whales maintain the illusion of safety and long-term promise.” x.com/Moneytaur_/status/1926… Taking trades with no plan and poor risk management is gambling. But the powers that be don’t want an educated herd that enters and exits markets with purpose, they want blind holders who buy the narrative. “High leverage isn’t dangerous; what’s dangerous is a lack of knowledge and wide stops.” x.com/Moneytaur_/status/1714… - Margin Types There are two types of margin: Isolated Margin → Only the margin assigned to the position is at risk. Cross Margin → Your entire account balance backs the position. Only use isolated margin! With cross, if a flash move skips your stop, your whole account is at risk. In volatile markets like crypto, the downsides of cross can be disastrous. - MT’s Margin Logic MT always adjusts his margin based on the trade. There is no one size fits all approach. The defining variable is the stop loss. Wider stop → Lower leverage Tighter stop → Higher leverage His positions range from 0 leverage spot trades to 100x on highly refined setups. “The leverage I use is never fixed. It will depend on the SL. If I find an opportunity with a very tight stop (such as 0.4%) I can use 50X and still risk losing up to -20% of my position ( fees). If SL is 2% I will likely choose between 10 to 20X leverage. If SL is 5% I will likely choose < 10X leverage. If my SL is 10% I will likely play Spot only.” x.com/Moneytaur_/status/1711… ------- - MT’s Risk Allocation System Once MT has done all the groundwork, identified his levels, planned TP/SL, and mentally mapped different scenarios, he decides on the total risk allocation based on how optimal the setup is. From there: - The stop loss defines the leverage. He calculates the maximum leverage to ensure he does not exceed ~35% of the allocated risk if his stop is hit - This number can vary, and for scalp trades MT may use up to 50% -The setup quality defines the risk, and the SL defines the leverage. This means: His maximum risk is fixed (e.g., $100) Flash crash = full $100 lost His actual loss if SL triggers is smaller (e.g., $35) SL respected = ~$35 loss -------

Gm ☕️ The price action’s been so brutal, it’s no surprise I’m out here writing airdrop guides to help small portfolios reach 100k.

Tractor beams is in essence range trading, learned this technique from @CJ900X. You anchor a Gann Box (name of the tool) at a range low and range high as per example. Generally price stays in the range, however, on a breakout or breakdown it is likely to react from the 0.25 and 0.5 breakout levels. I have tested this on several trades in the past and has lead to amazing gains and consistency. These breakout levels are called “tractor beams” not sure why took that over from CJ. In essence it comes down to rangebound trading 🫡 Please also find my settings of the tool in one of the attached photos.

Everyone’s panicking about the market. Meanwhile, the Gulag’s calm. The Circle’s already positioned. No signals. No noise. Just understanding the game before it plays out. If you’re still reacting, you’re late. Step 1: partner.blofin.com/d/Wyckoff… Step 2: partner.blofin.com/bot/Wycko… We don’t follow trends. We are the liquidity.

There’s a moment in life where you feel it that spark. The sublime. You’re chasing something real, something that makes your heart beat again. Most people never feel that. They never try. They’re scrolling, watching, comparing, trapped in an algorithm not a life. Guys, you won’t find magic lying in bed. You won’t find purpose in distractions. You find it when you go for something. Try. Fail. Get up. Build again. That’s where the sublime lives. And remember, your “friends” who only call when you’re up aren’t your friends. When you hit rock bottom, you’ll see who’s real. Be a good person. Go to the gym. Focus. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. It’s not that hard. The world isn’t against you you’re just not focused yet. Start today. Because once you feel that spark… you’ll never settle for ordinary again.

Market Watcher I’m 31, still young in many ways. I’ve built my own wealth and even retired my family, but I still feel a strong inner drive to teach, to build something, and to keep following my passion for trading. If I can combine all of that, trading and teaching, travelling the world, pursuing adventures and my athletic ambitions, I create a happy, fulfilling life I genuinely love living. I can’t imagine life without the financial markets. Interacting here on X helps me organize my thoughts and routines, because with friends and family there’s far less to talk about in this area. This account has become my outlet, my way to share ideas openly. So what’s the purpose of this account? What’s it here for? Q4 2025: - I will continue to put a lot of work into threads, charts, and daily updates. - Trying to prioritize quality over quantity. - Working behind the scenes on rolling out regular, precise, and easy-to-digest morning market updates. - Dialing in on clean charts, solid setups, and simple, effective strategies. Entry SL TP - Sharing more about my strategies, routines, and mindset, always learning, always open for good discussions. Just writing down my thoughts and posting my trades, always: In general, I always update under the main post and write threads in real time, sharing exactly what I’m thinking and doing as I trade. There’s no hidden agenda behind it. I just want to share my routines and thoughts, to learn in public and maybe inspire others along the way. I’ll never run groups, read DMs, or have deeper “insider” contacts in the scene. I’ll never take promo, token or other deals. My main focus is my trading routine, sharing most of it here unfiltered (whatever I’m trading or find interesting at the moment), and the life around it: sports, travel, my girlfriend, family and friends. Everything else is just a distraction and doesn’t add value to my life. I’m comfortable this way. At the end of the day, I’m just a regular guy who’s learned to read the markets and understand the dynamics over the years, enough to trade full-time. But I still have a lot to learn, and this account is part of that process, growing together with my mindset. It all comes down to having a solid routine and the right mindset. The idea is to keep refining that over time, learning, sharing, and getting sharper together. My trading basics: Trading rules: x.com/watchingmarkets/status… Trading Chart Patterns Cheat Sheet: x.com/watchingmarkets/status… Trading Books: x.com/watchingmarkets/status… Trading principles: x.com/watchingmarkets/status… How to simply trade 5 basic TA patterns: x.com/watchingmarkets/status… Recommended Trade Sizes (memes): x.com/watchingmarkets/status… Capital-building phase: Q4 will be a capital-building phase for many, make the most of it. Earn airdrops by trading, interacting, and exploring. Add some more with meme coin trades on Solana. $SOL remains a great core asset from here, your foundation. Rotate profits regularly back into cash and send them to your bank account. It might feel unnecessary or boring, but especially for Europeans: start tracking your trades early with @blockpit_io or similar tools. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later. More than 100k: Moving beyond the capital-building phase, adding selective stock and altcoin trades (spot or low leverage), focused on clean HTF setups and refined LTF swing and scalp strategies. Whenever I take an HTF altcoin trade, I’ll post it clearly and simply, with all key variables to track. I’ll keep the thread updated as it plays out. Stocks: I’ll occasionally sprinkle in some HTF stock market trades, usually just 3–5 a year. The last ones were HOOD, COIN, AMD, and NVDA back in April. It’s a solid way to grow your capital explosively without having to watch the charts every day. However, you should have enough capital and market experience, ideally around $20–30k per trade. Otherwise, I’d always recommend broad market exposure through something like an ETF All-World. Select your products based on proven experience and personal testing: The platforms, products, and tools I use are the ones I genuinely believe in, they simply work and fit perfectly into my trading routine. A few basics are charts on @tradingview, wallets @phantom (payments soon?) and @jup_mobile, fiat on/off ramp via @binance, perps through Hyperliquid on Axiom, Solana trading on @AxiomExchange, and quick coin checks on @CoinMarketCap. Nothing that was ever pushed on me, just what I’ve personally tested and found to be the best. Regarding ref links: I won’t accept payments for newsletters, promotions, or partnerships. My sole focus is sharing consistent morning updates, charts, and insights. The only thing I use are a few referral links, primarily for Axiom and occasionally others (mainly to optimize airdrop farming for everyone). It’s a simple win-win: others save on fees, and I can access higher trading tiers and better discounts for the everyone. Everything is fully optional, use them if you want. I only recommend tools/platforms I genuinely use and believe in. When someone uses my ref link, it’s not about the referral; it’s a small sign that my work provides value, and that alone keeps me going. It’s also a small form of support, a way to back the daily work I’ll keep doing honestly and without hidden motives for years to come. Appreciate everyone who’s part of it. Please never feel obligated to trade where I trade. Develop your own rhythm, preferences, and strategies. My goal is simply to share my journey as openly and authentically as possible. Simple daily routines for Q4: Still farming XP points by doing my dailies on @AbstractChain Thread: x.com/watchingmarkets/status… Farming XP points by providing liquidity and trading on @avantisfi Thread: x.com/watchingmarkets/status… Farming points by trading on @Lighter_xyz and @Aster_DEX Thread: x.com/watchingmarkets/status… Trading everything around Solana and perps (via hyperliquid) on @AxiomExchange farming points? Thread: x.com/watchingmarkets/status… Next decades: I truly believe crypto is still in its early stages. When it comes to adoption, payments, and applications, especially within DeFi and the ability to manage your own assets directly from a wallet anywhere in the world, the potential ahead is enormous. We’re entering an era where certain apps and products will emerge as leaders and gain mainstream traction, particularly in payments, wealth management, and financial infrastructure. Stay engaged. Crypto is just getting started. Blockchain technology is built to optimize, secure, and democratize wealth and value transfer for the decades to come, empowering individuals and creating transparency on a global scale. More airdrop opportunties? Trading on Jupiter? Trading on Opensea? Trading on...? There’s still so much to explore in DeFi, get out there, interact, experiment, and trade small. Maybe you will find some airdrop/farming opportunities posted by other accounts. Never go all in on one basket. Develop a passion for crypto and trading, don’t get obsessed with getting rich too fast. That rush will eat you alive from the inside. Final thoughts: Compound slowly, step by step. The snowball picks up speed faster than you think, at some point it rolls over the hill, grows bigger, and becomes unstoppable. In summary, I discovered my market edge by repeatedly trading simple, high-probability patterns. But why do I share all of this? I sometimes think it’s because I left behind my biggest passion, teaching, to pursue trading full time. Over time, staying in that profession stopped making sense financially and logistically. In a way, I’m now trying to reconnect with that part of myself by "teaching" here on X , sharing knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned. It allows me to stay close to what I once studied and loved. Ultimately, it all comes down to passion. I genuinely enjoy what I do, and I give it everything I have. My profitable journey began on Solana, where I built my initial capital through meme coin trading, before moving into higher timeframe altcoin and stock market setups, and later diversifying into the broader equity market via ETFs. The most important takeaway: consistency beats novelty. Profitability and compounding only come from trading your edge relentlessly, staying disciplined even when it feels repetitive or when distractions and “new shiny things” appear. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is everything. Deep inside, I want everyone, especially those starting small or struggling financially, to build the mindset, discipline, and strategies to gradually break free. It takes persistence, inner drive, and consistency: staying engaged with the market, exploring new opportunities, finding your edge, and trading it relentlessly. I truly believe anyone who stays committed for years, keeps learning, and applies solid principles will succeed. Don’t give up. You can make it. You will make it.

TOTAL3, altcoins and Q4 it's a beautiful weekend and i thought of penning down some stuff re; altcoins and the next few months while i am still waiting for dips to add to my existing spot bags unless we close above 117.5k (thats's when every bear thesis gets invalidated and time to go aggressive) currently we are seeing some nice pumps from doge to pengu to eth and when i look at this total3 chart, i think we are only about to get started ~ unless something out of the blue happens and everything dumps next week 👀 as i said early in the week, im gonna focus on selected altcoins with an active team, a cult behind them and start nibbling them this week's close would be important and if we close above 1.13T, coins would begin to shoot up (unless it's a fakeout) and we'll finally get to experience what the majority is waiting for ~ yes 🫶 so tl;dr close above 1.13T = bullish = max long close below 1.13T = neutral = patiently accumulate your fav coins goodluck, have fun and don't get liquidated

Rule. If you didn’t study, you’re not investing you’re donating. Markets don’t reward laziness, they harvest it. Keep your money in your pocket until you’re prepared.

📹 It is never too late to change. Watch below:

📹 Explaining how to find strong demand & supply zones Using the Fibonacci tool and market structure: When you have determined extreme discount and extreme premium, you can look for the right S&D zones. Inducement: Tapping into a HTF demand or supply zone is a great place to put in a tap 3 for a Wyckoff. D2S or S2D flip: When supply gets mitigated and turns into demand, or vice versa, that is a strong zone. Expect strong reaction. Volume profile alignment: Find zones of significance in the HTF volume profile. For details, watch the full video. This is a post you want to understand if you really want to become a trader.

Investor Timeframe: Long-term (months to years) Mindset: Focused on fundamentals, value, and long-term growth Goal: Accumulate wealth slowly through appreciation, dividends, or staking/yield Activity: Low frequency, buy and hold, rebalance occasionally Examples: Buying ETH or TSLA to hold for 5 years based on belief in tech or macro thesis Trader Timeframe: Short-term (minutes to weeks) Mindset: Opportunistic, focused on price action, volatility, timing Goal: Generate profit from price movements (long or short) Activity: High frequency, entries, exits, stops, technical setups Examples: Long/short SOL based on chart patterns or news, scalping memecoins, rotating narratives So, where does the line lie? The distinction lies primarily in intent, time horizon, and strategy. You stop being a “trader” and become an “investor” when your focus shifts from short-term price moves to long-term value creation and vice versa.

I only allocate a small portion of my total capital to active investments or trades. Around 65–80% stays in cash or stable assets, waiting for high-conviction phases, moments like Trump’s tariff drama, where strong one-off entries or stepped-up ETF accumulation make sense. On-chain memes? - Tiny size only. Never scale up out of greed. You have your system: your setups, your chart patterns. Stick to them. Let the trades play out. Don’t obsessively stare at the charts. Use limit orders and alerts to relieve pressure and keep your routine efficient. Want to trade more unemotionally? - Cut your position size, hard, and never look back. Don’t gamble. Be the trader who sidesteps greed and survives longer than the hype. That’s the real edge: discipline over dopamine.

In the first half of 2025, I recognized so many opportunities early and traded them with precision. I’m fully committed to refining and executing this craft at a high level for the next decade and beyond. If you’re feeling down because you trusted the wrong plays in 2025 or chased too late, don’t let it break you. There will be even more early opportunities ahead. Even more setups to trade. Crypto is only getting bigger, more players, more markets, more chances. Stay active. Keep learning. The next rotation is always loading. Focus. Have a longer time horizon. You will make it. Zoom out.

Everyone wants to 10x in 10 days. But the people who actually win in crypto? They think in cycles, not candles. I’ve watched this market reward the patient and punish the greedy over and over again. The truth is, making money in crypto isn’t hard. Keeping it is. You don’t win by chasing green candles or yolo-ing into pumps. You win by playing the long game. By compounding skills, not just capital. By holding cash when it’s boring, and conviction when it’s loud. I’ve made more from not trading than from any one single play. I’ve survived when others blew up by doing one thing: following a system. I cut losers fast. Scale into winners. Take profits even when it hurts or I think we go higher. Because profits on paper mean nothing if they round-trip to zero. Crypto rewards those who show up every day, stay sharp, and execute with discipline. It doesn’t care how smart you are, it cares how consistent you are. Most people lose not because they’re bad traders… but because they let emotions run the show: greed, FOMO, ego, doubt. Want to win in this game? Here’s the secret: Think like a sniper, not a gambler. Respect the cycle. Take what the market gives you. Don’t chase: position early. Don’t pray: prepare. This is your chance to break free, but freedom doesn’t come from one lucky pump. It comes from stacking smart decisions over time. Survive. Stay liquid. And remember: in crypto, boring is often the most profitable strategy. Bookmark this if you’re serious about winning the long game.

If you make $10k in a week but lose it in the next week chasing the next pump, you didn’t win. You just borrowed from the market… and it came back to collect. Smart traders know when to step away and when to double down.

The Market Has Shifted – Trade Smart #TOTAL2 has broken out, and most altcoins are emerging from deep bottoms. $BTC.D broke down, money is rotating into alts. This is not the time to short, but also not the time to overinvest blindly. Take profits on the way up, momentum phases don’t last forever. For Experienced Traders: Focus on altcoin breakout pumps with low to mid leverage. Buy spot on clean retests, with swing TP targets. Run multiple setups, stay focused, and manage risk tightly. For Beginners: Keep main exposure in blue-chip alts: LINK, SOL, AAVE, etc. Avoid overtrading, test small. Your main goal now: learn, observe market dynamics, and experiment with different strategies in small size. Capital Building Phase: On-chain activity (especially on Solana) will heat up even more. Great opportunities ahead with meme coins, use platforms like Axiom (desktop/phone) to stay nimble. Trade CT narratives, bullish patterns, and clean momentum, with precision. You're on your own in the end, no one will click the button for you. I’ll keep posting setups and market structure notes to help guide you. Good luck. I want you to make it, without taking reckless risks. Build capital gradually. Don’t chase big PnLs before you’ve built consistent, tested strategies. Stay sharp. Be patient. Execute with intention.

If you're on CT every day, it means you want this more than most. I know the grind, starting out with little capital, zero experience, battling stress, emotions, and constant money worries. It’s brutal. But never give up. One day, that moment arrives: The year, or even just a single month, when consistent profits finally start to flow. From that moment, everything changes. Your experience evolves into structure, and you begin to build a truly profitable routine. Every trade, every hour spent staring at charts, every market dynamic you absorbed, and every opinion you read on CT, all of it becomes the solid foundation for your future success. But here's the truth: very few make it this far. Most quit before the foundation is even laid. Why? Because it demands a mindset most people can’t maintain for years. So keep going. That foundational phase? It was the hardest period of my life. But it was worth it. I post every day to share as much as possible of this journey, this mindset and the thoughts behind it. I used to read posts like this four years ago, not really knowing what to make of them, just staring at my account balance near zero. But as profits became more consistent and grew over time, I realized those posts had stayed with me. Subconsciously, they helped shape the mindset that eventually made trading profitable.

Daily non-negotiables • 8 to 9 hours of sleep • One solid workout • 3 to 4 liters of water • 1 to 2 grams of protein per kg bodyweight • 5 grams of creatine • No screens before bed Simple. Effective. Repeat.