The initial idea and inspiration behind the creation of the Heads Up indicator came as a direct response to the current state of the crypto market. It’s a newly developed product that was born out of a market where BTC doesn’t just dominate and influence the market but also often leaves many smaller market cap coins behind while it drains liquidity when many traders have all of their chips in the one ( BTC ) basket so to speak. The current 2024-2025 bull market has a lot to answer for compared to the 2020-2021 season where liquidity was at an all time high for all Cryptocurrencies accross the board. In todays market liquidity is far more concentrated on the top largest Altcoins ETH and BTC itself. “Altseason” is no where to be seen and when some signs of it do appear it’s limited to a few lucky new narratives and coins which attract most of the attention so it can be hard to know when and where to trade with the most liquidity and volume. Even when the right narratives are in play you can see evidently that not many Altcoins outside the top 15-20 actually run until BTC has stabilised and is moving sideways. You might also see that even the coins that do normally swing trade and move with BTC movements randomly lose momentum and bleed badly all of a sudden when BTC is fragile or even when BTC moves up regaining it’s dominance leaving some altcoins dead in the water, this can be frustrating and makes it a very difficult confusing market to trade.
The Heads Up Indicator’s first really useful appliance is to use it as a strength gauge when flicking through your watchlist looking at different coins, whether a particular coin is in a WAIT, WATCH or ARMED state you can instantly see whether this coin has been recently under-performing or out-performing vs BTC which is a really good first step in focusing on a pair that has strength, you’ll notice this by whether the Live Ratio line has been above the EMA 50 for the majority of time or whether it has been living underneath it for the past while perhaps on a downtrend with random upward spikes. It will show you the under-lying strength the coin has had against BTC and whether BTC’s dominance has affected its ability to trade positively independent of BTC. When the Altcoin Ratio Line has gone above the EMA 50 it has essentially outperformed BTC for a period of time, if it’s been above the EMA 50 more than below then it’s obviously a healthy strong asset in the current market.
Once you have found a good strong coin thats performing well, you can use Heads Up to see whether the coin is looking close to being ready to trade by using it to evaluate whether the Live Ratio line has started making its way back up towards the EMA 50, and also whether the price level on your USD chart is sitting near or above your VWAP session line. Heads Up determines whether this coin is showing positive strength and stability for a long trade setup by meeting the two requirements of 1: the Live Ratio line crossing above the EMA 50 line and 2: the USD price level sitting above the VWAP session line. If you look at any chart with the Indicator below you’ll see a strong correlation between the Ratio Line crossing above the EMA 50 and a positive increase in price and many times a continued breakout while the Ratio Line is above the EMA 50. You will also often see after a breakout or pump has peaked and the price level comes back down and breaks below the session VWAP line the Live Ratio line will also then go back down and either retest the EMA 50 for another continued bounce (most usually if it’s on an uptrend), or it will break below the EMA 50 line. So from a trading point of view it can be useful to exit a swing type trade or vertical pump once the price breaks below the session VWAP line without waiting for the Ratio Line to go back and break below or test the EMA 50.
Heads-Up surfaces coins showing relative strength vs BTC on your chart timeframe. With Optional 4H confirmation which filters noise.
Add Heads-Up to any altcoin chart.
Watch the badge: WAIT → WATCH → ARMED
WAIT: No conditions met
WATCH: one condition met.
ARMED: Both conditions met.
Live ratio Above the EMA50 and USD price Above the VWAP Session Line (your USD chart’s VWAP).
Execute your plan (entry/stop/size). Heads-Up is the context layer.
Use 4H Confirm = Live if you want responsive quick signal and Closed if you prefer stricter swing confirmation.
When the ALT/BTC ratio is above its EMA50 on your chart timeframe, that alt is outperforming BTC in the moment. This often coincides with positive USD price behavior until the ratio retests or falls back under the EMA50.
What to look for:
Fresh cross above EMA50 (first push of strength).
Hold above EMA50 (continuation).
Retest of EMA50 that holds (pullback entry context).
VWAP anchors price to the session’s volume-weighted average price, Price > VWAP suggests buyers in control this session.
We require price > VWAP to mark ARMED (with ratio strength).
Live: reacts during the forming 4H bar (more signals, faster).
Closed: waits for the 4H bar of the Ratio Line to close above the EMA 50 before changing to ARMED
Context: Badge shows ARMED (ratio>EMA50 & price>VWAP).
Idea: Enter on small intrabar pullback while ratio stays above EMA50.
In-trade: As long as ratio respects EMA50 and price holds VWAP, momentum bias intact.
Invalidate: Ratio closes back under EMA50 or price loses VWAP and fails to reclaim.
Context: Ratio Line broke above EMA50 earlier, then pulled back.
Idea: Look for touch or near-touch of the EMA50 line or just below with a bounce back above and badge back from WATCH→ARMED.
Invalidate: Clean break + hold under ratio EMA50.
Context: 4H Confirmation on with Closed Candles.
Idea: Only ARMED when fast ratio>EMA50 and 4H ratio Close >EMA50.
Benefit: Fewer fakeouts and false crosses.
Context: Extended run/breakout, ratio far above EMA50.
Idea: Scale out / Take Profit on first VWAP loss or ratio line flattening; consider reload if ratio retests & reclaims or bounces back from the EMA50 line.
(Not advice just a way to manage over extended breakout)
VWAP loss (session control / price flips below your VWAP line) this is a good early exit in normal circumstances.
Ratio closes under EMA50 relative strength fades and we are back to pre trade setup conditions.
Structure breaks from your own trend line or break of trend i.e new lower low / lower high.
Risk basics: position size so one invalidation = small % pre-define your stop loss before entry, usually below VWAP session line or just below the current support level where you entered when the Ratio Line crossed or retested the EMA 50 line.
Intraday (15–30m): good balance; many users run this as default it can be useful to spot early strength and cross of the EMA 50 before it happens on larger 1h and 4h TF.
Swing Trade (1–4H): slower signals—consider 4H Confirmation with closed confirm selected if you are looking for confirmation of momentum shift in healthy swing trade with upward trend.
BTC dominance up / Alt rotations: Heads-Up shines when strong alts pop above EMA 50 while weak ones lag and stay below.
Sideways Chop: Expect more WATCH states during BTC is ranging sideways 4H Confirm can reduce false starts, this is also where Heads Up can help you spot those alts that are about to pump or run while BTC is sideways this is exactly the main reason the indicator was designed.
Strong trend: Holds above ratio EMA50 and VWAP reclaims / retests are your friend, during breakouts and upward trends using the reclaim and retests on pullbacks can be valuable entry points.
Ratio Line above EMA50 on your chart TF ?
Price above session VWAP ?
4H Confirmation of Ratio Line above EMA 50 ?
Clear invalidation level + entry size set ?
Keeping these rules assure you have good confirmation of strength and breakout before trade.
Entering before both conditions (ratio + VWAP) align.
Ignoring the retest—healthy trends often check/retest the ratio EMA50 line before strong breakout.
Using Closed confirm but expecting Live responsiveness (or vice versa).
Treating the badge as decision to enter trade when it is context and trade setup, Volume expansion and restest of the EMA 50 are often stronger signs to help you make decision.
Q: Does ARMED guarantee follow-through?
A: No. It highlights favorable conditions (strength vs BTC + session support). Use defined risk.
Q: Which mode should I use for 4H confirm?
A: Live for responsiveness to detect pumps or fast movements, Closed for stricter swing trades and momentum breakouts. Try both; pick what matches your pace.
Q: Can I use my own exits?
A: Yes— Break below VWAP and or the EMA50 line are common, but you can use break of trend lines / trend as you normally would.
