Markets and analysis
Last reviewed November 1, 2026
Crypto prices swing far more than anything in a typical stock portfolio. Knowing a few metrics makes it easier to ignore the noise.
Nobody predicts prices reliably, and we don't try. You won't find price targets here. What we can do is explain what a price is made of and which data actually tells you something.
The core metrics
Market cap is price times circulating supply. Volume shows how much is trading, but it's easy to inflate on poorly run exchanges. Dominance is bitcoin's share of the whole market.
On-chain analysis
Because blockchains are public, you can track active addresses, coins held on exchanges, or how long coins have sat unmoved. These show trends, not buy signals. One address might belong to an exchange with millions of customers.
Dollar-cost averaging
Buying a fixed amount on a schedule, whatever the price, takes timing out of it and smooths your entry price. It doesn't protect you from a long decline. See how an average cost builds up in our calculator.
Leverage and derivatives
Many platforms offer leveraged futures. At 10x leverage, a 10% move against you wipes out your stake; at 100x, 1% is enough. In the UK, crypto derivatives are banned for retail customers, and in the US they are limited to regulated venues. Offshore "100x" offers usually come from unlicensed firms.