Is the shrinking volume stepping back on the 10-day line an opportunity to buy low?

A shrinking volume as price touches the 10-day line may signal weakening sell pressure and a potential trend continuation or reversal in crypto trading.

Jun 17, 2025 at 09:36 am

Understanding the 10-Day Line in Cryptocurrency Trading

The 10-day moving average, often referred to as the 10-day line, is a popular technical indicator used by traders to assess short-term trends in cryptocurrency prices. It calculates the average closing price of an asset over the last ten days and updates daily. Traders use this line to identify potential support or resistance levels. When the price approaches or touches the 10-day line, it can signal a possible reversal or continuation of a trend.

In volatile markets like cryptocurrencies, the 10-day line helps filter out noise from temporary price spikes. It acts as a dynamic benchmark for evaluating whether an asset is overbought or oversold within a short time frame. A key observation occurs when the price touches the 10-day line while volume shrinks significantly compared to recent averages.

Shrinking volume during such a touch may indicate reduced selling pressure and could suggest that the downward movement is losing momentum.

What Does Shrinking Volume Indicate?

Volume is a critical component in confirming price movements. In the context of cryptocurrency trading, shrinking volume during a pullback toward the 10-day line suggests that fewer traders are willing to sell at current price levels. This could mean that the market is consolidating rather than entering a new bearish phase.

• Low volume during a decline indicates weak conviction among sellers.
• Price approaching the 10-day line with low volume may imply that buyers are beginning to step in cautiously.
• Market sentiment might be stabilizing if the price holds above the 10-day moving average despite declining volume.

It’s important to note that shrinking volume alone is not enough to make a trade decision. It must be interpreted in the context of broader market conditions and other technical indicators.

Historical Patterns Around the 10-Day Line

Historically, many cryptocurrencies have shown a tendency to bounce off the 10-day line during uptrends. When the price pulls back to this level with decreasing volume, it has often marked a favorable entry point for traders who recognize the underlying strength of the trend.

• During strong bullish phases, the 10-day line frequently serves as a support level where buyers re-enter the market.
• In sideways or consolidation phases, the 10-day line can act as both support and resistance, depending on how price interacts with it.
• Volume contraction near this line often precedes a breakout in either direction, making it a key zone for monitoring order flow.

Traders should look for candlestick patterns or momentum indicators (like RSI or MACD) that confirm a potential reversal before considering entry.

How to Evaluate This Setup Before Entering a Trade

Before jumping into a trade based on a price touching the 10-day line with shrinking volume, it's essential to perform a multi-layered analysis:

• Check the overall trend using higher timeframes (e.g., daily or weekly charts).
• Confirm that the price hasn’t broken below the 20-day moving average, which might indicate a deeper correction.
• Look for positive divergence on oscillators like the RSI or Stochastic.
• Ensure that volume isn’t just low but contracting progressively, indicating less aggressive selling.

A trader might also wait for a candlestick reversal pattern, such as a hammer, engulfing bar, or morning star, to appear before initiating a position.

Risks Involved in This Strategy

While the combination of shrinking volume and proximity to the 10-day line can present a compelling opportunity, it is not without risk. Crypto markets are highly speculative and prone to sudden shifts in sentiment.

• The price may continue to fall even after touching the 10-day line, especially if macroeconomic factors turn negative.
• Volume can remain low for extended periods, leading to sideways drift rather than a sharp reversal.
• False breakouts are common in crypto, so entering too early without confirmation can result in losses.

To mitigate these risks, traders should always set stop-loss orders and avoid allocating too much capital to a single setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I rely solely on the 10-day line and volume to make trades?

No, while these two elements provide useful insights, they should be combined with other tools like trendlines, candlestick patterns, and momentum indicators to increase accuracy.

Q: How do I know if the shrinking volume is significant enough to act on?

Compare the current volume to the average volume over the past 5–10 days. If it's consistently lower and coincides with a price move toward the 10-day line, it could be meaningful.

Q: What timeframes work best for this strategy?

This approach tends to be more reliable on shorter timeframes like 1-hour or 4-hour charts for active traders. However, confirmation from daily charts adds robustness to the trade idea.

Q: Should I enter immediately when the price hits the 10-day line with low volume?

It’s generally safer to wait for a confirmation candlestick or a shift in momentum before entering. Patience can help avoid premature entries during false signals.