Mastering the Death cross and Golden cross - How to use it!In this guide I will discuss the Death crosses and Golden crosses. The next subjects will be described:
- What SMA to use?
- What is a Death cross?
- What is a Golden cross
- Is a Death cross always bearish and a Golden cross always bullish?
- How did the Death crosses and Golden crosses play out this cycle?
What SMA to use for Deathcross and Golden cross on the daily timeframe
In technical analysis, when identifying Golden Crosses and Death Crosses on the daily timeframe, the most commonly used moving averages are the 50-day and the 200-day simple moving averages (SMA). The 50-day moving average represents the average closing price of an asset over the past 50 trading days and reflects medium-term market trends. The 200-day moving average, on the other hand, represents the average over a longer period and is used to gauge the broader, long-term trend.
What is a Deatch cross?
A death cross is a bearish technical analysis signal that occurs when a short-term moving average crosses below a long-term moving average. Most commonly, it refers to the 50-day simple moving average crossing below the 200-day simple moving average on a daily price chart. This crossover suggests that recent price momentum is weakening relative to the longer-term trend, which can be an early indication of a potential downtrend or extended period of market weakness.
The death cross is often interpreted as a sign of increasing selling pressure and a shift in investor sentiment toward caution or pessimism. While it does not predict immediate declines, it is closely watched because it has historically preceded some significant market downturns. However, like all technical indicators, it is not infallible. Since it is based on past price data, the death cross is a lagging indicator, meaning it often appears after a downward trend has already begun.
What is a Golden cross?
A golden cross is a bullish technical analysis pattern that signals the potential beginning of a long-term uptrend. It occurs when a short-term moving average, typically the 50-day simple moving average (SMA), crosses above a long-term moving average, most commonly the 200-day SMA, on a daily price chart. This crossover suggests that recent price momentum is strengthening in relation to the longer-term trend, indicating growing investor confidence and increasing buying interest.
The golden cross is widely viewed as a positive signal by traders and investors, often marking a shift from a downtrend or consolidation phase to a more sustained upward movement. It reflects a change in market sentiment where shorter-term gains begin to outweigh longer-term losses.
Is a Death cross always bearish and a Golden cross always bullish?
The death cross is not always a purely bearish signal. While it reflects that price momentum has shifted to the downside, it's important to remember that moving averages are lagging indicators. By the time the crossover occurs, much of the downward move may already be priced in. As a result, it's common to see a relief rally shortly after the signal appears. This bounce can catch traders off guard, especially those who enter short positions expecting immediate continued weakness.
On the other hand, the golden cross often sparks a wave of bullish sentiment. Many traders see it as confirmation of a strong uptrend, leading to increased buying pressure. However, just like with the death cross, the lagging nature of the signal means that much of the initial move may have already happened. It's not unusual for the price to stall or even retrace shortly after the crossover, especially if the market has become overextended. In both cases, the market often reacts in a counterintuitive way in the short term, which is why these signals are best used alongside other tools and indicators.
How did the Death crosses and Golden crosses play out this cycle?
In this cycle, we’ve seen three death crosses and three golden crosses on the daily timeframe, with a fourth golden cross currently in the making. Interestingly, all three of the previous death crosses have not led to sustained downside as many might expect. Instead, each one has marked a local bottom, followed by strong upward movement in the weeks and months that followed. These signals, rather than being a reason for bearishness, turned out to be contrarian indicators. The most recent death cross occurred when Bitcoin was trading around 80k. From there, it managed to rebound impressively, climbing back above 111k, a clear reminder that death crosses, especially in this cycle, have not been reliable signals for further downside.
The golden crosses, on the other hand, have behaved a bit differently than usual in this cycle. The first golden cross actually marked a local top, with Bitcoin facing rejection shortly after. During the second golden cross, price action was more neutral, BTC moved sideways for a period before eventually continuing its upward trend. The third golden cross was followed by only a shallow pullback, after which Bitcoin pushed to new all-time highs.
Now, we are approaching the formation of the fourth Golden cross. Based on the pattern of past crosses and current market sentiment, a minor pullback could be on the horizon. It’s not guaranteed, but given the level of euphoria in the market right now, some cooling off would not be surprising. Even if a pullback does occur, the larger trend remains intact, and this golden cross may end up reinforcing that momentum.
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