How to Spot a "Pump" in an Altcoin (and Why You Should Be Carefu

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Imagine a group of people deciding to buy a cheap, unknown stock or cryptocurrency at the same time. This sudden burst of buying makes the price go way up, which gets other people excited and makes them want to buy too. This is called a "pump." The original group then sells their coins at the new, higher price, making a big profit. After they sell, the price crashes, and everyone who bought in late loses money. This is called a "pump and dump," and it's a common scam.

You can't really "predict" a pump, but you can look for clues that a coin might be about to get a lot of attention. Here's how you can use tools like Gemini to help you, but remember, there are no guarantees.

#### **1. Be a Detective**

Think of Gemini as your personal research assistant. Instead of just asking, "Will this coin pump?", ask it to help you gather clues.

* **Ask about the coin's purpose:** "What is [Coin Name] for? Does it actually do anything useful?" If the answer is "not much," that's a red flag. Scammers often use coins with no real purpose.
* **Check the team:** "Who is the team behind [Coin Name]? Are they well-known and trustworthy?" If the team is anonymous, it's a major warning sign.
* **Listen to the chatter:** "What are people saying about [Coin Name] on social media? Is there a sudden lot of hype and excitement?" Gemini can't see live social media, but it can give you a summary of recent news and buzz. A sudden burst of hype without any real news is often a sign of a pump and dump.

#### **2. Look for Real News, Not Just Hype**

A pump is often fake and driven by rumors. A real, lasting increase in price is usually caused by good news. Use Gemini to find out if there's any real reason for a coin's price to go up.

* **Upcoming events:** "Are there any big events coming up for [Coin Name], like a new partnership or a major update to their project?" Real news like this can cause a coin to grow, and it's not a scam.
* **Major exchange listings:** "Is [Coin Name] going to be listed on a big, well-known exchange?" Getting listed on a big exchange brings the coin to a much wider audience, which can cause a real price increase.

#### **3. The Golden Rule of Crypto Trading**

No matter what Gemini or anyone else tells you, remember this one rule: **Never invest money you cannot afford to lose.**

The crypto market is very risky, especially with smaller, lesser-known coins. Many of these projects are just designed for a quick pump and dump. Use Gemini to do your homework, but always look at other real-time charts and data from sites like CoinGecko to see what's actually happening with the coin's price and trading activity.

Using AI is a great way to do faster research, but it's just a tool. The final decision is yours, and the key to success is to be careful, do your own research, and be smart about where you put your money.

Disclaimer

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