The candlestick chart at midnight jumps on the screen, resembling the never-ending neon lights of the crypto market. As an old trader who has been in the crypto world for seven years, I have seen too many people fail because they fixated on a single cycle—some were washed out in daily fluctuations, while others lost direction chasing up and down in the 5-minute trades. Today, I want to share a set of survival rules validated through bull and bear markets: use the 4-Hour Chart to anchor direction, lock the battlefield with the 1-Hour Chart, and execute tactics with the 15-Minute Chart.
Chapter 1: 4-Hour Cycle - The North Star in the Dark
When you open the 4-Hour Candlestick Chart, imagine you are standing at an altitude of 3000 meters overlooking the battlefield. There is no noise of the 5-Minute level, only the breathing and rhythm of the trend:
An upward trend is like the warming spring river, where prices continuously break through previous highs, and the low points keep rising; at this time, every deep pullback is a gift from heaven.
A downward trend is like autumn leaves falling, with highs gradually lowering and lows continuously probing downwards; at this moment, the wisest choice is to hold cash and wait for the winter.
Sideways fluctuations are like the calm before a storm, where the 20-day and 60-day moving averages weave into a web; at this time, one needs to lie in wait like a cheetah.
Remember: if the direction is wrong, no matter how exquisite the tactics, they will be a futile effort. Last year, how many people were caught up in the 15-minute level rebounds during Bitcoin's correction from $60,000, ultimately falling before the dawn of the main upward wave?
Chapter 2: 1-Hour Cycle - Tactical Map on the Battlefield
After the 4-Hour Cycle indicates the direction, the 1-Hour Chart becomes your operational sandbox. Here lie three key codes:
Support and resistance levels: previous highs and lows are like ancient battlefield passes, and the golden cross and death cross of the 20-day and 60-day moving averages often signal the shift of bullish and bearish forces.
Pattern confirmation: 'Bullish engulfing' in an upward trend is the charge signal, while 'dark cloud cover' in a downward trend requires a decisive exit.
Volume and price coordination: a breakout with volume is the signal for a general to draw his sword, while a volume contraction during a pullback is the posture of an archer drawing back his bow.
Last year, when Ethereum broke through the $2,000 mark, the 4-Hour Chart had already given the signal of an upward trend, while the 1-Hour Chart formed a triple bottom at $1,950, along with a MACD golden cross; this was the 'safe entry point' in the eyes of professional traders.
Chapter 3: 15-Minute Cycle - Dance on the Edge of a Knife
When the big direction is clear and the battlefield range is locked, the 15-Minute Chart is the sharp knife for executing precise operations. Here, one needs to cultivate the skill of 'seeing in all directions':
Observe whether the RSI has entered the overbought or oversold zone
Pay attention to the rhythm of the Bollinger Bands opening and closing
Capture the moment when the candlestick touches the moving average closely
But please remember: the 15-Minute Chart is a tactical tool, not a strategic guide. Just like in military operations, one cannot focus solely on the sharpness of the bayonet; trading also requires an understanding of 'what to do and what not to do.'
Final Chapter: Trading is a Pursuit of Enlightenment
In the 24-hour sleepless battlefield of the crypto market, we must strategize like generals and wait like Zen masters for the flowers to bloom. When you learn to feel the pulse of the trend in the 4-Hour Chart, draw up battle plans in the 1-Hour Chart, and grasp entry and exit opportunities in the 15-Minute Chart, you will find that the so-called Holy Grail of trading is merely a heart that respects the market and reveres the trend.
May every trader find their own way to survive in the rise and fall of candlesticks. Remember: the market is never short of opportunities; what is lacking is the ability to maintain clarity in fluctuations and the courage to act decisively when a trend arrives.