Moving averages are the most widely used indicator in all of trading.
They appear on the charts of beginners and hedge fund managers alike. They are used for trend identification, dynamic support and resistance, entry signals and exit triggers.
Used correctly — they form the backbone of a complete, rules-based trading strategy that works across all timeframes and all market conditions.
We covered moving averages and MA crossovers in the Technical Indicators subject.
In summary — a moving average smooths price data over a set period, removing short-term noise and revealing the underlying trend direction.
The two most important for this strategy:
Component 1 — Trend Filter.
Price above the 200 MA = bullish bias. Only look for long setups.
Price below the 200 MA = bearish bias. Only look for short setups.
This single filter eliminates a large percentage of losing trades by ensuring you never fight the dominant trend.
Component 2 — Entry Signal.
The 50 MA crossing above the 200 MA = Golden Cross. Bullish signal.
The 50 MA crossing below the 200 MA = Death Cross. Bearish signal.
These crossovers signal significant trend shifts — not every minor move.
Component 3 — Dynamic Support Entry.
In an established uptrend — price repeatedly pulls back to the 50 MA before continuing higher.
These pullbacks to the 50 MA in an uptrend are high probability long entries.
Wait for price to touch the 50 MA. Wait for a bullish confirmation candle. Enter.
Setup:
Bitcoin is above the 200 MA — bullish bias confirmed.
The 50 MA recently crossed above the 200 MA — Golden Cross in place.
Price has pulled back from recent highs down to the 50 MA.
A bullish engulfing candle forms at the 50 MA level.
Entry: Close of the bullish engulfing candle.
Stop loss: Below the 50 MA and below the engulfing candle low.
Target: Previous swing high. Minimum 2R.
Every element is defined. Every decision was made before the trade — not during it.
The MA strategy becomes stronger when RSI is added as a confirmation tool.
Enter long only when:
Four conditions. All must be met. This level of specificity dramatically reduces false signals.
Move stop to breakeven when price reaches 1R profit.
Risk is now eliminated. Worst case is a scratch trade.
Trail stop below the 50 MA as price continues higher.
Every time the 50 MA rises — move your stop up with it.
Hold until price closes convincingly below the 50 MA — signalling the trend may be ending.
This trailing approach allows capturing large trend moves — sometimes 5R, 8R or more — without predicting where the trend ends.
It works because it is built on three sound principles:
Trend alignment — you only trade in the direction the market is already moving.
Mean reversion entries — you buy after pullbacks, not at extended highs.
Defined risk — every trade has a clear stop. No hope. No guessing.
These principles have underpinned profitable trading strategies for decades — across stocks, forex and crypto alike.
In the next topic we will study the MACD strategy — using one of the most powerful momentum indicators as a complete trading approach.