How to spot a fake breakout on the Bitcoincoin chart

A breakout in crypto trading, like with Dogecoin, happens when price moves past key support/resistance levels, but traders must watch volume, price action, and indicators to avoid fakeouts.

Jul 07, 2025 at 05:35 am

Understanding What a Breakout Is

In the world of cryptocurrency trading, especially when analyzing charts like Dogecoin (DOGE), a breakout refers to the moment when the price moves beyond a previously established resistance or support level. This movement is often seen as a potential signal for a new trend in the market. However, not all breakouts are legitimate. Some are fake breakouts, also known as false breakouts, where the price briefly surpasses a key level only to reverse and move back into the previous range.

It’s crucial for traders to distinguish between genuine and fake breakouts because acting on a false breakout can lead to losses. The first step in identifying a fake breakout is understanding how real breakouts behave and what technical indicators can help confirm them.

Volume: The First Indicator to Check

One of the most reliable tools for confirming whether a breakout is real or fake is volume. In a legitimate breakout, you should see a noticeable increase in trading volume. When the price breaks above a resistance level with strong volume, it indicates that many traders are participating in the move, which increases the likelihood of the breakout being valid.

Conversely, if Dogecoin's price jumps above a resistance zone but the volume remains low or average, this suggests that there isn’t enough buying pressure to sustain the move. Such scenarios often result in the price retracing back into the original consolidation area.

• Look at the volume bars beneath the price chart.
• Compare current volume levels to the average volume over the past 10–20 periods.
• A real breakout typically shows volume that is significantly higher than the average.

If volume doesn’t confirm the breakout, it may be a trap set by larger players in the market aiming to trigger stop-loss orders or manipulate retail traders.

Price Action Confirmation

Another essential factor in identifying fake breakouts is price action confirmation. Simply crossing a resistance or support level isn’t enough; the price must show strength by closing above or below these levels convincingly. Many novice traders get caught in fakeouts because they act too quickly on intrabar movements without waiting for proper candlestick closure.

For example, if Dogecoin breaks above $0.085, but then pulls back and closes below that level, this could indicate that the breakout lacked conviction. Traders should wait for the candle to close outside the key level before considering it a valid breakout.

• Wait for the candlestick to fully close beyond the resistance/support.
• Avoid entering trades based on wicks or shadows that poke through levels.
• Use multiple timeframes to confirm the breakout on both short-term and long-term charts.

Using these techniques helps filter out false signals and improves decision-making accuracy.

Wick Behavior and Market Sentiment

The behavior of candlestick wicks during a breakout attempt can offer valuable insight into whether the move is likely to continue or reverse. If the price surges upward but forms a long upper wick, it suggests rejection at that level. This kind of pattern is common during fake breakouts, especially when institutional traders or bots test the market to provoke emotional reactions from retail investors.

In Dogecoin trading, pay attention to:

• Long upper or lower wicks that appear after a breakout attempt.
• Candles that reverse strongly after touching key levels.
• Patterns like shooting stars, hammers, or engulfing candles near resistance zones.

These patterns often serve as early warnings that the breakout lacks follow-through and may soon reverse.

Additionally, monitoring market sentiment around Dogecoin via social media, news outlets, and trading forums can provide context. Sometimes, fake breakouts occur when hype pushes the price up temporarily, only for the market to realize there’s no fundamental reason behind the move.

Using Technical Indicators for Validation

Beyond volume and price action, several technical indicators can assist in determining the legitimacy of a breakout. The Relative Strength Index (RSI), Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), and Bollinger Bands are particularly useful in confirming whether a breakout has momentum behind it.

• RSI: If RSI breaks above 70 during an uptrend, it might suggest overbought conditions. However, if it fails to maintain momentum shortly after, the breakout may be unsustainable.
• MACD: A bullish crossover following a breakout can confirm strength, while divergences may signal weakness.
• Bollinger Bands: A breakout that occurs alongside a contraction or expansion of the bands can offer clues about volatility and sustainability.

Combining these tools with price analysis allows traders to make more informed decisions and avoid falling into fake breakout traps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can fake breakouts happen on any timeframe?

Yes, fake breakouts can occur on any timeframe, from 1-minute charts to weekly charts. However, higher timeframes like the 4-hour or daily chart tend to provide more reliable signals due to reduced noise and manipulation.

Q: How do I differentiate between a pullback and a fake breakout?

A pullback typically happens after a confirmed breakout and represents a temporary retracement before the trend resumes. A fake breakout, on the other hand, never establishes a sustainable move beyond the key level and quickly reverses.

Q: Are fake breakouts more common in altcoins like Dogecoin compared to Bitcoin?

Fake breakouts can occur in any asset, but they are more prevalent in smaller-cap cryptocurrencies like Dogecoin due to lower liquidity and higher susceptibility to manipulation.

Q: Should I always wait for candlestick closure before acting on a breakout?

Yes, waiting for the candle to close beyond a key level reduces the chances of entering a fake breakout. Acting prematurely based on wicks or partial moves increases risk and often leads to losses.