Big candles don’t mean you can push size. See how your order size, spreads and depth silently tax your trades —
and why planning the exit matters as much as the entry.
Educational content only. No trading signals. Crypto assets are high-risk.
RESOURCES
Independent research & daily context
We encourage reading beyond any single site. Markets change fast; regulatory nuance and microstructure
details matter. Below is a neutral, non-promotional resource we regularly check for context across
finance, investment, business and crypto.
Why external context matters
Liquidity isn’t just a number on a chart. Headlines, policy shifts and macro tone all shape
the book you meet when you press “Buy”. Reading widely helps you understand when depth tends
to be real — and when it’s just a mirage.
Education only. We do not provide trading signals or guarantee accuracy of third-party sources.
PRICE IMPACT
Price impact — your order never fills at one price
Big charts don’t equal real liquidity. The simulator shows how your order walks the book: from the best bid/ask into deeper,
thinner levels — turning the mid price into a more expensive reality (for buys) or a cheaper one (for sells).
Order book walk
Depth per level Filled Mid / VWAP
VWAP price
$—
Impact vs mid
—%
All-in (fees incl.)
$—
Qty filled
—
Unfilled
—
Levels used
—
Impact is shown as a disadvantage vs the ideal mid price: for buys it’s (VWAP−mid)/mid,
for sells it’s (mid−VWAP)/mid. “All-in” adds fees to VWAP.
DEPTH
Depth Explorer — when the book is thick, thin, or just an illusion
Volume isn’t the same as usable depth. This heatmap shows how liquidity changes by hour and level:
thick books invite market orders; thin books punish size. Find your windows before you trade.
Plan for your size, not the chart
Choose a pair type and a time-of-day profile. We model a synthetic order book where each level is thinner
than the previous one. The heatmap highlights where the top levels can absorb more of your order.
Tip: thicker stripes near the top-left mean friendlier fills; thin rows mean you’ll walk the book.
Top-of-book depth by hour × level
ThinnerThicker
Capacity (top N)
$—
Best hour
—
At selected hour
—
Capacity approximates how much the first 12 levels can absorb (notional).
It’s not a forecast; it’s a sanity check to avoid thin books and awkward hours.
EXECUTION
Slicing Coach — why splitting orders often pays
A single market order drinks through thin levels and lifts your price. Slicing lets liquidity recover
and keeps fills near the top of book. Use the coach to compare “All-at-once” vs “Split into parts”.
All-at-once vs Sliced
All-at-once · VWAP
$—
Sliced · VWAP
$—
Saving vs one-shot
—
All-in price (fees)
$—
All-in price (sliced)
$—
Levels touched (avg)
—
“Saving” is the dollar difference of impact vs mid: for buys (VWAP−mid)×qty and for sells (mid−VWAP)×qty,
compared between strategies. Slicing reduces impact if top levels refill enough between executions.
FAQ — straight answers, no promises
A calm, plain-English companion to the chart above. No forecasts, no hype — just how to read the lines and make repeatable decisions.
Is this financial advice?
No. This page is educational and general in nature. It doesn’t know your goals, constraints, taxes or local rules.
Use it as a thinking tool and consider professional advice where appropriate.
How should I read the four lines on the chart?
Salary usually rises, peaks, then fades. Spending moves in waves as life changes.
The gap between them feeds the savings balance. Investment income starts tiny, then
matters more as compounding works over years.
Stop saving line: contributions pause; process should run on rails (fees, rebalancing).
Begin spending line: withdrawals become scheduled, not improvised.
Why don’t you predict prices?
Because prediction is fragile and rarely repeatable. Process beats prediction: contributions, sizing, fees, rebalancing,
and review cadence are controllable — headlines are not.
DCA or lump-sum — which is better?
There’s no single winner. DCA reduces regret and is easy to automate; lump-sum has
higher immediate market exposure. Choose the one you can repeat through different markets, then stick to it.
How often should I rebalance?
Use a calendar (e.g., quarterly/bi-annual) or bands (±5–10%). Decide once, write it down, and let the rule act as your throttle.
I’m starting late. Is it over?
No. Start with what you control: simplify accounts, reduce fees, automate contributions, build a cash buffer.
Helpful lens: less drama, more rhythm. Small, regular actions compound in your favor.
What position sizing keeps risk tolerable?
Size positions so a 20% adverse move still lets you sleep and stick to the plan. Curiosity is fine; concentration risk is optional.
Which fees matter the most?
Trading and spread (slippage in thin books).
Management/custody/platform fees.
Network/withdrawal fees and tax friction.
Fees compound against you. Surface them annually and keep them predictable.
Hot vs cold wallet — which one should I use?
Hot wallets are convenient but more exposed; cold wallets improve security for long-term storage. Many investors use both:
hot for small, frequent needs; cold for meaningful balances. Always protect seed phrases and enable 2FA.
Are stablecoins “safe”?
Stablecoins differ by design (reserves, over-collateralization, algorithms). Each has its own risks (counterparty, de-pegs, rules).
Treat them as tools, not guarantees; diversify your operational exposure.
What about taxes and compliance?
Tax rules vary widely. Typical taxable events include sales, swaps, staking rewards. Keep records and consult local guidance
or a professional — this site doesn’t provide tax advice.
What should I do during big drawdowns?
React less, decide more. Let your written rules drive actions (rebalancing cadence, contribution schedule, cash buffers).
Checklist: Is this action part of my plan? What fees/taxes will it trigger? What’s the smallest repeatable step?
Should NFTs or high-volatility assets have a place?
If used, keep sizing small and pre-decided. Treat it as optional “exploration budget,” separate from core goals.
Process and risk limits first; headlines second.
How often should I update my plan?
Review on a schedule (e.g., quarterly) or after life events (job change, relocation, major costs). Document changes briefly —
clarity beats length.
