What is Trading Volume?

Introduction

Cryptocurrency trading is a complex game, a high-stakes jigsaw puzzle where every piece of information holds the key to potential profits. Among these puzzle pieces, trading volume is an indispensable, yet often overlooked, metric that can provide a deeper understanding of market dynamics. This article aims to elucidate the concept of trading volume, explain how to interpret this key trading indicator, and reveal the underlying market psychology it represents.

What is Trading Volume?

In the world of trading cryptocurrencies, “volume” refers to the total number of coins traded for a certain cryptocurrency in a certain amount of time. This could be every hour, every day, every week, or any other time frame that fits your trading strategy.

Trading volume is a key sign of how active and liquid a market is. The high trading volume shows that traders are interested and that there is a lot of money in the market, which makes it easier to enter or leave trades. On the other hand, low trading volume may show a lack of interest and possibly less liquidity, which makes it harder to trade.

Trading Volume and Market Efficiency

Market efficiency is a measure of how well prices reflect available information. It’s the cornerstone of the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH), which states that at any given time, asset prices fully reflect all available information. The role of trading volume in market efficiency is substantial. High trading volume can contribute to a more efficient market in several ways.

First, it reflects a greater number of transactions, meaning more information is being incorporated into asset prices. This is because each transaction represents an instance where a trader acted on information they believed was relevant to the asset’s value.

Second, high trading volume signifies a high level of liquidity. A liquid market allows for the rapid buying or selling of assets without significantly affecting the price, enabling more efficient price discovery. However, it’s essential to note that high trading volume doesn’t always equate to market efficiency. Factors like market manipulation, information asymmetry, and market sentiment can distort prices despite high trading volumes.

Relative Volume

Relative Volume, often abbreviated as RVOL, is a volume indicator traders use to compare current trading volume with average trading volume over a specific period. It measures the trading activity for a particular day or time relative to the average trading activity. The value of the relative volume is a ratio. For example, an RVOL of 2 would mean the current volume is twice the average volume for the same time of day, indicating unusually high trading activity. This can provide valuable insights into market dynamics and investor sentiment.

High RVOL values can signal significant market events such as earnings announcements, product launches, or news releases that could impact an asset’s price. Similarly, lower RVOL values could suggest that the market is quiet, with fewer participants actively trading.

Using relative volume in conjunction with other volume indicators can help traders better understand the market’s dynamics, predict potential price movements, and make more informed trading decisions.

The Psychology Behind Trading Volume

Trading volume is more than just a number; it represents collective market sentiment and trader psychology. High volume typically signifies a high consensus among traders about the current price, indicating a strong trend. When high volume coincides with price increases, it signifies bullish sentiment as more traders buy the asset. Conversely, high volume with falling prices suggests bearish sentiment, with more traders selling off their assets.

Low volume, on the other hand, may suggest uncertainty or disinterest among traders. For instance, a low-volume price increase may imply that the trend lacks conviction and could be easily reversed.

Interpreting Trading Volume

The true power of trading volume lies in its ability to enhance our understanding of other market indicators, particularly price movements. Here are key ways to interpret trading volume:

• Volume and Trends: The amount of volume can give you an idea of how strong a price trend is. When the price is going up and volume is going up, this is usually a good sign because it shows that the trend is supported by a lot of trading. On the other hand, if the price is going up but the volume is going down, the trend may end.
• Volume and Breakouts: A breakout is a big event when the price moves above a resistance level or below a support level. If a breakout is accompanied by a lot of trading, it means that the move is strong and likely to keep going. Low-volume breakouts could be false, which could mean a price change.
• Volume and Market Turnarounds: Volume can also help find possible market turnarounds. A sudden jump in volume can show the top or bottom of the market, followed by a turn.

Interpreting Trading Volume with Volume Indicators

Several volume-based indicators further enhance the interpretation of trading volume. Each of these indicators leverages the core concept of trading volume, yet provides a unique perspective, helping traders make more informed decisions:

On-Balance Volume (OBV): The OBV is a momentum indicator that uses volume flow to predict changes in the price. It measures buying and selling pressure as a cumulative indicator, adding volume on up days and subtracting it on down days. When the OBV rises, buyers are willing to step in and push the price higher. Conversely, a falling OBV reflects sellers’ dominance, indicating a potential decline in price.

Volume Weighted Average Price (VWAP): This indicator provides a benchmark that strips out volume noise to identify average price trends. The VWAP displays the volume-weighted average price of an asset. If an asset is trading above its VWAP, buyers have control of the market. When it’s trading below the VWAP, sellers dominate.

A range of time when the price is above the VWAP line (Blue in the chart above).

Volume Rate of Change (VROC): The VROC measures the rate of change in volume over a specific period. It provides insights into volume momentum, allowing traders to gauge the strength of a trend. An increasing VROC suggests a growing interest in the asset, often implying an impending bullish trend. On the other hand, a decreasing VROC might be a warning sign of waning momentum, possibly hinting at an upcoming bearish trend.

Right after the indicator turned green, a price increase was seen.

Chaikin Money Flow: The Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) is a technical analysis tool that combines volume and price to quantify the money flow in and out of a market over a specified period. Rising CMF values indicate growing buying pressure, signaling a potential price increase. Conversely, falling CMF values indicate increased selling pressure, suggesting a potential price drop.

Spotting Patterns with Trading Volume

Skilled traders develop pattern recognition skills to spot repeatable volume patterns. Understanding these common volume patterns can offer valuable insights into market sentiment and future price movements:

• Climactic Volume: This pattern appears when there is a heavy turnover following an extended price move, leading to a trend reversal. It’s often seen at the end of a prolonged uptrend or downtrend and can indicate market exhaustion.
• Shakeout Volume: A shakeout volume pattern is characterized by a high volume drop that triggers premature exits before a price reversal. This often results in trapping weak hands, i.e., traders who succumb to market pressure.
• Pullback/Retracement Volume: This pattern emerges when the volume recedes during counter-trend retracements within a larger trend. It signals market consolidation before the trend continues.
• Volume Breakouts: A volume breakout pattern occurs when there is a sudden surge in volume as the price reaches new highs or lows. This confirms the breakout’s conviction and shows market acceptance above or below key barriers.
• Declining Volume in a Trend: If the volume is falling while in an uptrend, it can signify waning interest and a potential trend reversal. The opposite applies to downtrends. A decrease in volume during a downtrend may signal a bottoming process, with the trend potentially reversing to the upside.

Incorporating Volume into Your Trading Plan

Understanding trading volume and its implications is one thing, but applying it to your personal trading strategy effectively is another. Here are some tips to help you integrate volume analysis into your overall trading strategy:

• Compare the number of calls on up and down days: When the price goes up, more trades happen than when the price goes down. This shows that there is more buying pressure than selling pressure, which is bullish. This could mean that the current trend of going up will continue.
• Pay Attention to Volume During Retests of Support and Resistance: When the price is retesting support or resistance levels, it is common to keep an eye on volume. If the volume increases a lot during these retests, these prices are stable and may stay at these levels.
• Look for Volume Divergences: Usually, volume and price should move in the same direction. If it doesn’t, it could be a sign that something is wrong. For example, if the price is going up but the volume is going down, it could mean that the price trend is about to change.

• Choose Volume Metrics that Fit Your Trading Timeframe: How important volume data is depends on how long you plan to trade for. If you are a swing trader who holds positions for several days or weeks, daily volume data would be more useful. Intraday traders, on the other hand, may find hourly or even minute-by-minute data on volume more useful.
• Be wary of one-time spikes in volume: A sudden, unexplained rise in volume can be misleading, so it is important to look for confirmation from other indicators or later trading sessions.
• Use volume increases to find institutional activity: Big investors, or “whales,” can have a big effect on the market. On high-time-frame charts, a sudden rise in volume could mean that institutional traders are buying or selling a certain coin.

Remember, no single indicator, including volume, is a ‘magic bullet’ for successful trading. Analyzing volume should be part of a multifaceted strategy, used in conjunction with other metrics, indicators, and analysis tools. As the old adage goes, “Volume precedes price.” Incorporating volume analysis into your trading plan can give you a deeper insight into market dynamics, helping you make more informed trading decisions and potentially gain an edge in the market.

Limitations of Volume Analysis

While volume analysis is a powerful tool in a trader’s arsenal, it’s essential to be aware of its limitations. Here are some challenges you may encounter:

• Market Manipulation: In some cases, market players, particularly those with substantial capital, can manipulate volume levels to create false signals, misleading other traders.
• Lagging Signals: Sometimes, volume changes might lag behind price changes, which means that a significant volume increase or decrease might not immediately follow a substantial price move.
• False Spikes: Volume analysis can occasionally produce false spikes, where a sudden surge in volume doesn’t result in a significant price move.
• Low Float Distortions: In assets with low liquidity or ‘float,’ volume changes can be distorted, making it challenging to interpret the data accurately.

To mitigate these challenges, it’s prudent to combine volume analysis with other indicators and technical analysis tools. The confluence of multiple signals can enhance the reliability of your trading strategy and reduce the likelihood of falling prey to misleading signals.

Conclusion

Trading volume offers a window into the intensity of market activity and the psychological dynamics among traders. By understanding what trading volume is and how it influences price movements, you can integrate it into your trading strategy to gain a deeper insight into market sentiment.

Leveraging volume indicators like OBV, VWAP, VROC, and Chaikin Money Flow, as well as understanding common volume patterns, can significantly enhance your trading acumen. Incorporating these tools into your trading plan can provide a more nuanced understanding of market dynamics and help you anticipate price movements more accurately.

However, remember that volume analysis, like any trading tool, has its limitations and should be used in conjunction with other indicators and strategies. By maintaining a comprehensive and versatile trading approach, you can navigate the crypto trading world more confidently and effectively.

In the dynamic and exciting world of cryptocurrency trading, learning is an ongoing journey. Every bit of knowledge brings you one step closer to trading proficiency. Happy trading!