How to judge the probability of filling after the gap appears?

Cryptocurrency gaps, caused by sudden price jumps during low liquidity or major news events, can signal trend strength or reversals, with breakaway and runaway gaps less likely to be filled than common or exhaustion gaps.

Jun 17, 2025 at 06:28 am

Understanding Gaps in the Cryptocurrency Market

In the cryptocurrency market, gaps refer to price areas where no trading has occurred. These occur when the price of an asset jumps from one level to another without any trades happening in between. Gaps are often caused by significant news events, regulatory changes, or sudden shifts in market sentiment. Unlike traditional markets that operate during specific hours, crypto markets never close, yet gaps still appear due to low liquidity periods or abrupt price movements.

The phenomenon of a gap filling is when the price returns to its previous level before the gap occurred. Understanding whether a gap will be filled involves analyzing several factors including volume, trend strength, and overall market psychology.

Types of Gaps and Their Relevance

Not all gaps are created equal. Recognizing the type of gap can help traders determine the likelihood of it being filled:

• Common gaps: These occur frequently and usually don't carry much significance. They tend to get filled relatively quickly because they lack strong momentum.
• Breakaway gaps: These signal the beginning of a new trend. When prices break out of a consolidation phase with a gap, it's often followed by sustained movement in that direction, making it less likely to be filled.
• Runaway gaps: Also known as measuring gaps, these occur midway through a trend and indicate strong momentum. The probability of these being filled is quite low.
• Exhaustion gaps: These appear near the end of a trend and often precede a reversal. They are more likely to be filled shortly after forming.

Identifying which category your observed gap falls into is crucial for determining whether to expect a fill.

Volume Analysis Around the Gap

One of the most reliable indicators of whether a gap will be filled lies in volume analysis. High volume at the time of the gap suggests strong conviction behind the move, increasing the chances that the gap will not be filled. Conversely, if the gap occurs on low volume, it typically signals weak participation and a higher probability of a fill.

Traders should compare the volume during the gap formation with the average volume over the past 20 sessions. If the gap appears with significantly lower than average volume, it may represent a false breakout or temporary imbalance rather than a sustainable shift.

Additionally, monitoring the volume in the days following the gap helps confirm whether institutional players or retail traders are stepping in to support the new price level.

Support and Resistance Levels Around the Gap

Analyzing the proximity of key support and resistance levels around the gap area provides insight into potential future price behavior. If a gap forms just above a strong support zone, the chances of the price returning to test that support (and thus filling the gap) increase.

Similarly, if the gap breaks through a major resistance level and is followed by continued buying pressure, the odds of a fill decrease dramatically. Traders often draw horizontal lines at recent swing highs/lows or use Fibonacci retracement levels to identify these zones.

Another technique includes using moving averages. If the price continues to trade above a critical moving average like the 50-day or 200-day SMA post-gap, the trend remains intact and the gap is less likely to be revisited.

Timeframe Considerations and Historical Behavior

The timeframe on which the gap appears plays a vital role in assessing the probability of a fill. On shorter timeframes like 1-hour or 4-hour charts, gaps are more common and often filled within a few candlesticks. However, on daily or weekly charts, gaps tend to have more significance and are less likely to be filled quickly.

Examining historical data for similar gaps in the same cryptocurrency can also provide clues. For example, if Bitcoin has historically shown a tendency to fill gaps formed during bearish phases but not those formed during bullish surges, this pattern can guide expectations.

Backtesting strategies that involve gap fills can help quantify probabilities based on past occurrences. Tools like TradingView allow users to mark historical gaps and analyze how often they were filled under various conditions.

Practical Steps to Evaluate a Gap Fill Probability

Here’s a step-by-step approach to evaluate whether a gap is likely to be filled:

• Identify the type of gap: Determine whether it’s a common, breakaway, runaway, or exhaustion gap.
• Analyze volume at the time of the gap: Compare the volume to the average volume over the last 20 periods.
• Check nearby support and resistance levels: See if there are strong technical zones near the gap.
• Evaluate the trend and momentum: Use indicators like RSI, MACD, or moving averages to assess the strength of the current trend.
• Review historical patterns: Look at past gaps in the same asset and note how often they were filled.
• Monitor price action post-gap: Watch how price behaves in the next few candles—does it show signs of retracing or continuing the move?

Each of these steps contributes to a comprehensive view of the situation and increases the accuracy of predicting a potential gap fill.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can gaps in cryptocurrencies behave differently compared to traditional assets?

Yes, due to the 24/7 nature of crypto markets, gaps may behave differently. However, gaps still occur during low liquidity periods or after major announcements, and their behavior aligns closely with traditional technical analysis principles.

Q: Is it safe to assume that all gaps will eventually be filled?

No, many gaps—especially breakaway and runaway gaps—are never filled. Exhaustion and common gaps are more likely to see a fill. It's essential to evaluate each gap individually based on context.

Q: How can I use candlestick patterns to assess gap fill probability?

Candlestick patterns such as engulfing patterns, hammers, or shooting stars near the gap zone can offer clues about potential reversals or continuations, helping you gauge whether the price might return to fill the gap.

Q: Do gaps matter on tick-based charts or only on time-based charts?

Gaps are primarily relevant on time-based charts like hourly or daily. Tick-based or range charts may not display gaps in the same way since they focus on price movement rather than time intervals.