First used by Japanese rice merchants in the 18th century, candlesticks have since become a popular tool for traders to analyse price movements and market sentiment for an asset.
Each candlestick represents the price activity within a certain time period and consists of two main parts: the body (the thicker section), which indicates the opening and closing prices; and the wick (the thinner part, located at either the top or the bottom), which shows the highest- and lowest-traded price within that time period.
They are further categorised into green or red ones: A green candlestick represents a period when the closing price is higher than the opening price, and a red candlestick represents a period when the closing price is lower than the opening price.
Typically, a series of green candles indicates a bullish move or a price increase, while a series of red candles indicates a bearish move or a price decline. For a deeper look into candlesticks, see How to Read Candlesticks on a Crypto Chart: A Beginner’s Guide.
Candlesticks can also be used to interpret trading patterns, such as descending triangles, cups and handles, wedge patterns, symmetrical triangles, trend reversal patterns, double tops, and double bottoms. For a more detailed look into candlestick chart patterns and how cryptocurrency traders use them, read our in-depth article How to Read Crypto Charts — A Beginner’s Guide.
