How to calculate the increase of the establishment of the three-river bottom pattern at the monthly level?

The three-river bottom pattern, a bullish reversal signal in crypto trading, suggests potential price increases when confirmed with volume and technical indicators on monthly charts.

Jun 19, 2025 at 03:42 pm

Understanding the Three-River Bottom Pattern in Cryptocurrency Trading

The three-river bottom pattern is a bullish reversal formation often observed in technical analysis. It typically appears at the end of a downtrend and signals a potential shift to an uptrend. This pattern consists of three consecutive candlesticks: a large bearish candle, followed by a smaller indecisive candle, and finally a large bullish candle that closes within the range of the first candle. In the context of cryptocurrency trading, especially on monthly charts, this pattern can offer significant insights into long-term market sentiment.

To calculate the increase following the establishment of this pattern at the monthly level, traders must combine pattern recognition, price action analysis, and volume confirmation.

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Identifying the Three-River Bottom Pattern on Monthly Charts

Before calculating any potential increase, it's essential to accurately identify the three-river bottom pattern on a monthly chart. Here are the key components:

• The first candle is a strong bearish candle, indicating continued selling pressure.
• The second candle shows hesitation in the market; it opens lower but closes near its opening price, often forming a spinning top or doji.
• The third candle opens with a gap down but then rallies strongly, closing above the midpoint of the first candle.

In the crypto space, where volatility is high and patterns may not always appear textbook perfect, confirming the pattern using volume is crucial. A noticeable spike in volume during the formation of the third candle increases the reliability of the pattern.

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Measuring Potential Price Increases After Confirmation

Once the three-river bottom pattern is confirmed on the monthly chart, traders can estimate the potential upside move using measured objectives. Here’s how to do it:

• Calculate the height of the pattern from the highest point of the first candle to the lowest point of the second candle.
• Add this distance to the closing price of the third candle to project a target price.

For example:
If the total height of the pattern is $1000 and the third candle closes at $20,000, the projected price target would be $21,000.

This projection assumes that the market will move at least the same distance as the pattern itself after the breakout. However, due to the unpredictable nature of cryptocurrencies, traders should use this as a guideline rather than a guaranteed outcome.

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Validating the Pattern Using Volume and Indicators

Volume plays a critical role in validating the authenticity of the three-river bottom pattern. During the formation of the third candle, a surge in trading volume suggests institutional or smart money involvement, which increases the likelihood of a successful reversal.

Additionally, incorporating technical indicators like the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) can help confirm the reversal:

• RSI should move out of oversold territory (below 30) and start trending upwards.
• MACD line should cross above the signal line, indicating bullish momentum.

These tools provide additional layers of confirmation, especially when analyzing monthly timeframes where fewer data points make each candle more significant.

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Applying the Strategy to Real Cryptocurrency Charts

Let’s take a real-world example using Bitcoin’s monthly chart:

• Suppose the first candle forms during a strong sell-off, closing at $25,000.
• The second candle consolidates, closing around $24,500 with low volatility.
• The third candle opens at $24,000 but rallies to close at $26,000 with increased volume.

Using the measured objective method:
Pattern height = $25,000 (high of first candle) - $24,000 (low of second candle) = $1,000

Projected target = $26,000 (close of third candle) + $1,000 = $27,000

Traders can set profit targets around this level while placing stop losses below the lowest point of the pattern for risk management.

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Managing Risk When Trading the Three-River Bottom Pattern

Trading based on candlestick patterns carries inherent risks, especially in highly volatile markets like cryptocurrency. To manage these risks effectively:

• Always place a stop loss below the lowest point of the pattern.
• Use position sizing to ensure no single trade jeopardizes a large portion of your portfolio.
• Consider combining the pattern with other forms of analysis, such as support and resistance levels or Fibonacci retracements, to improve accuracy.

By adhering to strict risk parameters, traders can safely capitalize on the potential upside without exposing themselves to excessive downside.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What timeframe is best for identifying the three-river bottom pattern?

While the pattern can appear on any timeframe, the monthly chart provides stronger signals due to its longer duration and reduced noise compared to shorter timeframes.

Can the three-river bottom pattern appear in altcoins as well?

Yes, the pattern is applicable across all cryptocurrencies. However, higher market capitalization coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum tend to produce more reliable patterns due to greater liquidity and clearer price action.

How accurate is the three-river bottom pattern in predicting reversals?

No pattern is 100% accurate, but the three-river bottom has a relatively high success rate when confirmed with volume and other technical indicators. Its accuracy improves significantly on higher timeframes like the monthly chart.

Should I enter immediately after the third candle closes?

It’s generally advisable to wait for additional confirmation, such as a follow-through candle closing above the third candle’s high or a positive divergence in momentum indicators, before entering a trade.