Who’s Buying at the Top?

When an asset is peaking, someone is still buying. But who? Here are 5 common buyers at market tops:

1. FOMO-Driven Retail Traders

They chase after parabolic moves, driven by hype and emotion—not analysis.

🧠 Usually the last ones in, they provide exit liquidity for others.

2. Smart Money Disguising Distribution

Whales and institutions don’t dump all at once.

They:

* Use buy-sell orders to hold price

* Gradually offload to retail

🎯 The market "feels strong" as they quietly exit.

3. Bots & Market Makers

Automated systems continue buying to maintain spread or liquidity.

⚙️ Bots follow code, not common sense—sometimes fueling unsustainable rallies.

4. Institutions with Strategic Mandates

Big funds may buy regardless of price due to:

* ETF rebalancing

* Scheduled allocations

* Long-term investment horizons

📊 They’re not wrong—just operating on a different time frame.

5. Forced Buyers: Short Squeeze & Liquidations

When shorts are liquidated, exchanges buy back positions at market price.

🔥 This creates involuntary buying pressure, driving prices even higher.

✅ Bottom Line

Buying at the top isn’t always irrational—but it’s rarely safe.

Ask yourself:

Who’s buying now—and what’s their motive?

If the answer is FOMO, forced liquidation, or distribution—proceed with caution.