Crypto Basics

What Indicators Should I Use for Technical Crypto Analysis?

Discover the top indicators for crypto technical analysis—RSI, MACD, moving averages, and more. Learn how Token Metrics uses AI to combine indicators for smarter trading.
Token Metrics Team
8 min
MIN

If you’re serious about trading cryptocurrency, technical analysis (TA) is an essential skill. It helps you understand price movements, predict trends, and identify high-probability entry and exit points.

But with hundreds of technical indicators available, one common question is: “Which indicators should I use for technical analysis?”

In this guide, we’ll break down the most effective indicators for crypto trading, explain how they work, and show you how Token Metrics combines them with AI-driven insights to help you trade smarter.

Why Use Technical Indicators in Crypto?

Unlike traditional stocks, cryptocurrency markets trade 24/7, are more volatile, and are largely driven by sentiment and speculation.

Technical indicators help you:

  • Identify trends (bullish or bearish).

  • Pinpoint support and resistance levels.

  • Detect overbought or oversold conditions.

  • Find entry and exit points with better timing.

The key is not using one indicator in isolation but combining multiple tools for confirmation—which is exactly what Token Metrics does with its AI-driven trading signals.

The Most Important Indicators for Technical Analysis

Here are the must-know indicators for crypto traders:

1. Moving Averages (MA & EMA)

What they do:
Moving averages smooth out price data to help you identify overall market direction.

  • Simple Moving Average (SMA): Calculates the average closing price over a set period (e.g., 50-day, 200-day).

  • Exponential Moving Average (EMA): Gives more weight to recent prices, making it more responsive.

How to use them:

  • Golden Cross: When the 50-day MA crosses above the 200-day MA → bullish signal.

  • Death Cross: When the 50-day MA crosses below the 200-day MA → bearish signal.

Best for:
Spotting long-term trends and momentum.

2. Relative Strength Index (RSI)

What it does:
RSI measures price momentum and identifies overbought (70+) or oversold (30-) conditions.

How to use it:

  • Above 70: Asset may be overbought → possible pullback.

  • Below 30: Asset may be oversold → potential bounce.

Best for:
Finding reversal points and confirming trend strength.

3. Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD)

What it does:
MACD measures the relationship between two EMAs (usually 12-day and 26-day) and generates buy/sell signals based on crossovers.

How to use it:

  • Bullish crossover: MACD line crosses above the signal line.

  • Bearish crossover: MACD line crosses below the signal line.

Best for:
Spotting trend changes early.

4. Bollinger Bands

What they do:
Bollinger Bands create a price channel around an asset using a moving average plus/minus two standard deviations.

How to use them:

  • Price near upper band: Potential overbought condition.

  • Price near lower band: Potential oversold condition.

  • Band squeeze: Indicates upcoming volatility.

Best for:
Predicting volatility and identifying breakout opportunities.

5. Volume Indicators (OBV & VWAP)

What they do:
Volume indicators confirm price movements and help spot trend strength.

  • On-Balance Volume (OBV): Tracks buying/selling pressure.

  • VWAP (Volume-Weighted Average Price): Shows average price relative to volume.

Best for:
Confirming whether a trend is supported by strong trading volume.

6. Fibonacci Retracement

What it does:
Identifies key support and resistance levels based on Fibonacci ratios (23.6%, 38.2%, 50%, 61.8%, etc.).

How to use it:

  • Place retracement levels between swing highs and lows to find potential pullback or breakout zones.

Best for:
Setting targets and identifying price zones for entries/exits.

7. Stochastic Oscillator

What it does:
Measures price momentum by comparing closing prices to recent price ranges.

How to use it:

  • Above 80: Overbought.

  • Below 20: Oversold.

  • Use crossovers for potential buy/sell signals.

Best for:
Short-term traders looking for momentum shifts.

8. Ichimoku Cloud

What it does:
Provides a complete view of trend, momentum, and support/resistance levels in one indicator.

How to use it:

  • Price above cloud: Bullish.

  • Price below cloud: Bearish.

  • Cloud crossovers: Signal trend reversals.

Best for:
Swing traders who need multi-factor confirmation in one tool.

How Token Metrics Combines Indicators with AI

Instead of manually tracking dozens of indicators, Token Metrics uses AI to analyze 80+ technical, fundamental, and sentiment-based data points for each asset—giving you actionable insights without the guesswork.

Here’s how:

1. AI-Powered Bullish & Bearish Signals

Our system combines RSI, MACD, MAs, and more to generate real-time buy/sell signals.

2. Trader & Investor Grades

  • Trader Grade: Helps short-term traders focus on cryptos with strong technical setups.

  • Investor Grade: Identifies long-term investment opportunities with strong fundamentals.

3. Narrative Detection

Token Metrics tracks emerging narratives (AI tokens, DeFi, etc.) so you can spot trends before they explode.

4. AI-Managed Indices

Don’t want to analyze charts? Our AI-driven indices automatically rebalance portfolios using technical indicators and market conditions.

How to Combine Indicators Effectively

The most successful traders don’t rely on one indicator. Instead, they combine them for confirmation.

Example:

  • Use RSI to spot oversold conditions.

  • Confirm with MACD bullish crossover.

  • Check volume to ensure strong buying pressure.

When multiple indicators align, your trade has a higher probability of success—and Token Metrics does this automatically.

Advanced Tips for Using Indicators

  1. Don’t Overload: Use 3–5 indicators for clarity.

  2. Adjust for Volatility: Crypto is more volatile than stocks—shorten timeframes for faster signals.

  3. Combine With Fundamentals: Use Token Metrics Investor Grades to pair TA with project fundamentals.

  4. Practice Risk Management: Even the best indicators fail—always use stop-loss orders.

Final Thoughts

So, what indicators should you use for technical analysis?

Start with moving averages, RSI, MACD, Bollinger Bands, and Fibonacci levels—then add volume indicators and advanced tools like the Ichimoku Cloud as you gain experience.

But here’s the truth: indicators are only as good as the trader using them. That’s why Token Metrics simplifies the process by combining dozens of technical indicators with AI-powered analysis, giving you clear, actionable insights for smarter trades.

Whether you’re a day trader or a long-term investor, Token Metrics helps you use technical indicators strategically—not emotionally.

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Token Metrics Team
Token Metrics Team

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Trader vs. Investor Grade: How to Use Both for Smarter Crypto Bets

Token Metrics Team
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Crypto trading success often boils down to timing. But how do you know when to enter — and when to stay long? Token Metrics solves this dilemma with a dual-grade system: Trader Grade and Investor Grade. Each grade serves a different investment goal, and together, they help you make more confident decisions, whether you’re day trading or holding for the long run.

What is the Trader Grade?
The Trader Grade measures short-term momentum. It uses AI to analyze price action, volume trends, technical indicators, and recent sentiment shifts. Scores range from 0 to 100, and a score above 80 signals strong short-term potential.

Use Case:

  • Perfect for swing traders and short-term opportunists.
  • Look for tokens with Trader Grade > 80 for potential breakout trades.
  • Example: Launchcoin had a Trader Grade above 90 before its 35x rally began.

What is the Investor Grade?
The Investor Grade focuses on long-term fundamentals. It’s designed for those who want to hold tokens for months or even years. This grade considers tokenomics, development activity, ecosystem strength, narrative alignment, and long-term price structure.

Use Case:

  • Ideal for long-term portfolio builders.
  • A token with Investor Grade > 80 is a strong candidate for accumulation.
  • AI infrastructure tokens and modular blockchains often rank high here.

Why Use Both?
Most traders fail by only looking at hype or short-term charts. Token Metrics lets you blend data:

  • High Trader Grade + Low Investor Grade? Consider a short-term trade, not a long hold.
  • High Investor Grade + Low Trader Grade? Consider waiting for a better entry point.
  • Both High? Green light for confidence in both entry and long-term performance.

Case Study: Balancing Your Portfolio with Grades
Users can use the dual-grade approach for smarter allocation:

  • 30% of capital to high Trader Grade tokens (short-term plays)
  • 70% to high Investor Grade tokens (long-term holds)

This method helps mitigate risk and improve overall ROI.

Where to Find the Grades
Both grades are displayed prominently across:

  • Token Detail Pages – Real-time grade updates with historical data
  • Market Page Filters – Sort tokens by grade thresholds
  • Portfolio Builder Tool – Automatically selects tokens with strong grades

Tips for Grade-Based Trading

  1. Use Trader Grade for volatile markets or when prices are accelerating.
  2. Use Investor Grade when building positions in strong narratives like AI, DeFi, or infrastructure.
  3. Avoid tokens with both grades below 60 unless you’re making a speculative bet.

Conclusion
Trading without context is gambling. Token Metrics’ Trader and Investor Grades give you a proven framework for assessing both momentum and fundamentals. Whether you’re here for a quick flip or a long-term bet, using the dual-grade system can level up your crypto strategy.

Announcements

Inside the Dashboard: How to Monitor API Key Activity and Monthly Usage in Real Time

Token Metrics Team
5 min
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The power of any great API isn’t just in the data it provides — it’s also in the control, visibility, and accountability it gives developers. That’s why the Token Metrics API Dashboard is more than just a place to generate keys — it’s your real-time command center for monitoring API key usage, managing access, and optimizing performance.

In this article, we’ll explore how to use the Token Metrics API Dashboard to stay in control of your app’s data usage, track request history, and ensure your integrations remain secure and efficient.

📍 Where to Find It

To access the dashboard:

  1. Log in to your Token Metrics account.
  2. Go to: https://app.tokenmetrics.com/en/api
  3. Navigate to the API Keys and API Usage sections.

🔐 View and Manage API Keys

The API Keys section gives you a complete overview of every active key associated with your account. For each key, you’ll see:

  • Key Name: Descriptive labels like "Bot A" or "Staging Server"
  • Created Date: When the key was generated
  • Last Used: Timestamp of the most recent request
  • Status: Active or inactive toggle
  • Actions: Trash icon to instantly delete a key

💡 Why It Matters:

  • Spot unused or stale keys that may pose a security risk
  • Instantly disable or delete a key if it’s compromised
  • Monitor which app or environment is making the most requests

📊 Monitor API Usage in Real-Time

In the Usage Dashboard, Token Metrics gives you deep insights into how your API credits are being used.

Key metrics include:

  • API Calls Graph
    A daily call volume chart so you can identify peaks in usage, anomalies, or unexpected surges.

  • Total Monthly API Calls
    Example:
    8,750 / 20,000
    See how much of your monthly quota you’ve used — and when it resets.

  • Remaining API Credits
    Know exactly how many calls you have left in your current cycle.

  • API Call Statistics Table
    Each row includes:

    • Endpoint accessed (e.g., /trader-grade)
    • Timestamp of the request
    • Status code (200 = success, 401 = unauthorized, etc.)
    • Originating IP address
    • Success/failure response

🔄 Debugging & Insights Made Easy

This dashboard doesn’t just monitor—it helps you debug and optimize.

  • Quickly identify if your integration is repeatedly hitting 400 or 403 errors
  • Check whether a specific key is being overused or underused
  • Pinpoint spikes in usage that may indicate unauthorized access
  • See which endpoints are called most often — and consider caching results

⚠️ Avoid Rate Limit Surprises

If you’re on a Basic or Advanced plan, you’ll have a rate limit (e.g., 1 req/min for free users, up to 600 req/min for VIPs). The dashboard helps ensure you stay within your limits — and scale appropriately when needed.

🚀 Build Better with Transparency

In a production environment, visibility into API activity is critical. With Token Metrics, you’re never flying blind. You always know:

  • Which app is using which key
  • How many credits you’re using
  • When to optimize or upgrade

From security to scaling, the Token Metrics API Dashboard gives you the insight you need to build with clarity and control.

👉 Launch Your API Dashboard Now → tokenmetrics.com/api

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Is the Crypto Market Bullish or Bearish? Why 2025 Is the Year of Neutral Momentum

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The crypto market isn't clearly bullish or bearish in mid-2025 — it's neutral. This article explores why this 'in-between' momentum could signal a maturing market cycle, and what investors should watch for as signals normalize after a sharp $1T rebound in total market cap.

As we navigate through the midpoint of 2025, one question dominates trading desks and Telegram groups alike: Is the crypto market bullish or bearish? Surprisingly, the answer might be neither. Current indicators suggest that we are in a neutral zone — an ambiguous space where the market is no longer surging with euphoric gains but isn’t plunging into panic either.

From January through mid-May, the total crypto market cap has grown from $1 trillion to $2 trillion. This swift rebound signals recovery, but not full-blown optimism. Instead, many analysts — ourselves included — interpret this as a healthy correction and stabilization following intense early-year volatility.

This kind of environment often marks the early stages of a maturing cycle. Unlike the sharp swings we saw in previous bull and bear markets, 2025’s trend suggests more measured growth, driven by fundamentals rather than hype. In other words, the market might finally be learning from its past.

That doesn’t mean the space lacks activity. Sectors like DeFi lending and AI-related tokens continue to gain traction, with significant TVL inflows. Retail interest in meme coins also remains high in select regions. But overall, what we’re seeing is consolidation — not chaos.

In this neutral setting, strategy matters more than sentiment. It's no longer about jumping into trending narratives or panic-selling on dips. Instead, identifying projects with real use cases, sustainable economics, and strong communities has become the foundation of long-term success.

For traders and builders alike, the current landscape offers both challenges and opportunities. Risk-adjusted returns are key, and disciplined portfolio rebalancing could be one of the most underrated strategies right now.

As we continue monitoring market signals, we remain committed to surfacing actionable insights backed by real-time data, not just narratives. Whether the next breakout is weeks or months away, staying informed — and unemotional — may prove to be your best edge.

How Token Metrics Helps in a Neutral Market Environment:

In times of neutral momentum, making profitable crypto decisions becomes more complex — and that's where Token Metrics shines:

  1. Actionable AI Signals:
    Token Metrics scans thousands of tokens daily, using over 80 data points to identify bullish and bearish trends even when market sentiment is flat. This helps users cut through noise and act on real opportunities.
  2. Investor & Trader Grades:
    When hype fades, fundamentals matter. Our proprietary grades evaluate both short-term momentum and long-term viability, helping users discover tokens with staying power — not just temporary pumps.
  3. Smart Rebalancing Alerts:
    In a consolidating market, maintaining the right portfolio mix is crucial. Token Metrics' indices and alerts help users rebalance regularly to lock in gains and minimize downside risks.
  4. Sector-Based Insights:
    With DeFi, AI, and meme coins behaving differently, Token Metrics allows users to dive deep into sector-specific analytics — so you can position ahead of capital flows.
  5. Sentiment & Volume Monitoring:
    Our platform tracks shifts in on-chain activity, social sentiment, and volume trends to spot early signs of market reversals — especially useful when traditional signals stall.

In a market where being early beats being emotional, Token Metrics equips you with the clarity and tools to trade with confidence.

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