Fundamental and technical analysis: How do they work, and why do they matter in crypto?
The investing landscape is based on predictions: whether you buy bonds and stocks, real estate or crypto, you’re aiming to buy at a low price and sell at a higher price later on in hopes of earning a profit. Technical analysis and fundamental analysis are two methods that investors use when predicting cryptocurrency prices and whether they will go up or down at a specific moment. However, these two approaches are very different in the sense that they consider entirely different factors when assessing a project’s potential.
What factors does fundamental analysis take into account?
As mentioned already, fundamental analysis is different than technical analysis in the sense that it focuses on specific elements, such as:
- White paper assessment. White papers offer a description of the application cases, technology, and roadmap of crypto projects. Fundamental analysis examines the inventiveness of the technology, its practical use, and its scalability using white papers.
- Tokenomics analysis. Fundamental analysis looks at a cryptocurrency’s tokenomics, including its circulation, overall supply, and utility within the project’s ecosystem. It assesses elements that may impact the token’s value in the long run, including its role in governance and transactions and its scarcity.
- Team and development evaluation. The competencies and experience of the development team and its leaders are very important, which is why investors evaluate these aspects to determine a project’s potential.
- Social and community sentiment monitoring. Fundamental analysis takes into account community activity on social media, forums, and development communities, measuring sentiment to understand the support and enthusiasm surrounding the project, which can impact its demand in the market.
- Security assessment. Fundamental analysts assess the security aspects of the blockchain network, focusing in particular on the consensus mechanism and its resistance to potential attacks. They also assess the network’s reliability and trustworthiness, which are two essential factors for investor confidence.
What are the elements of technical analysis?
Compared to fundamental analysis, technical analysis concentrates on elements related to the price of a project mainly:
- Candlestick patterns and chart analysis. To spot reversals and trends, technical analysis relies on candlestick patterns. Head, shoulders, and doji, as well as bottom patterns and double tops, among other patterns, offer insights into the potential price direction of a crypto project under consideration.
- Indicators. Moving averages, the moving average convergence divergence, and the relative strength index are some of the most important indicators that technical analysts use to assess trend strength, oversold or overbought circumstances, and potential turning points.
- Support and resistance levels. Support levels refer to a price point at which the project has struggled to fall below from a historical perspective, while resistance levels signify a price point at which an asset had trouble rising above. Technical analysts rely on these levels to predict price moves.
- Volume analysis. It is essential to assess trade activity alongside price changes. The volume indicates how active the market truly is, and unexpected price changes accompanied by significant volumes are often seen as more meaningful than those accompanied by low volume. The reason behind this is that, in the latter case, a stronger market sentiment is implied.
What are the benefits of fundamental analysis?
Fundamental analysis offers valuable insights that create the basis for well-informed choices when it comes to crypto investing. It is worth it because it can assess the project’s tech innovations, practical applications, and scalability. If an investor is aware of the team behind the project, their vision, and background, this can give them more confidence in the project’s ability to be well-executed.
Furthermore, it provides essential information on a crypto project’s viability because it examines supply, demand, and usefulness. At the same time, it makes it possible to evaluate alliances, legal compliance, and market demand, offering a detailed view of the project’s ecosystem. By employing fundamental analysis, investors may discover crypto projects with robust fundamentals that can withstand market volatility and thrive in the long run.
What are the benefits of technical analysis?
Technical analysis provides investors with the necessary tools to navigate the complex world of digital assets. Its main benefit is the capacity to evaluate past pricing data and trends and offer information about where the asset could be headed. Furthermore, it can help traders make better entry and exit decisions by identifying support and resistance levels and patterns and using indicators such as RSI and moving averages.
One of the greatest benefits of technical analysis is that it allows traders to create an efficient risk management strategy and strategically place stop-loss orders. In the turbulent and quick-moving crypto market, technical analysis provides traders with a structured approach to understanding the market’s attitude and making decisions based on facts.
Which of these two approaches is better?
Both fundamental and technical analysis have an important role in the crypto landscape and provide investors with useful insights, but as seen above, they are different from one another. While technical research essentially translates an asset’s language, fundamental analysis searches for the asset’s intrinsic value.
One isn’t necessarily better than the other, as it ultimately depends on the investors’ needs, strategy, and time horizon. An investor with a long-term horizon may benefit more from fundamental analysis, while a trader with a short-term horizon may find technical analysis to be more accurate in their journey. However, savvy investors often use a mix of these two approaches because it allows them to create a detailed, data-driven strategy and utilize the strengths of each.
The bottom line
Fundamental and technical analysis are two important concepts in the crypto landscape because they help investors make better decisions and improve their financial outcomes. When it comes to which one you should use, your investment horizon, trading style, and financial goals all play a role in your decision. Many investors decide to take a blended approach, because this allows them to learn more about what they are buying, as well as when it’s the right time to buy or sell. Ultimately, you should take the time to consider your own circumstances and choose the approach that works best for you.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as financial advice. Always do your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies.