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Intermediate guides
You know the basics and want to understand how things really work.
193 guides

All intermediate guides
Newest first · page 4 of 7.
Taxes & RegulationIntermediateHow crypto capital gains are calculated in the USCrypto capital gains are cost basis subtracted from fair market value at disposal. Holding period decides whether the gain is short-term or long-term.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Trading & InvestingIntermediateCrypto vs gold: how their risks differCrypto and gold differ most in custody, volatility, and backing. Crypto risks are lost keys and failed exchanges; gold brings storage and dealer risk.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Trading & InvestingIntermediateCrypto vs stocks: how the markets differCrypto trades around the clock on global venues, while US stocks keep weekday hours; ownership, oversight and tax timing also differ in important ways.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Trading & InvestingIntermediateLump sum vs dollar cost averaging in cryptoLump sum buys crypto at once; DCA spreads buys over time. Each DCA buy usually creates its own tax lot, while a lump sum creates one record.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateWhat data can confirm a crypto market trendNo metric confirms a trend alone; read spot volume, exchange netflows, open interest and active addresses together. Each shows one part of the market.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateProtocol revenue: what it means and how to read itProtocol revenue is the share of fees a protocol itself collects from network activity, not the total users pay. Read it with market value and the trend.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateWhat makes on-chain data hard to interpret?Raw on-chain data records actions, not identity or intent, so labels, bridges and failed transactions can mislead you when you read a metric.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateNet exchange flow: what it means and how to read itNet exchange flow is the crypto sent to exchange wallets minus the crypto sent out. It tracks labeled exchange wallets on public blockchains only.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateWhat are the limits of on-chain analytics?On-chain analytics has limits: it reads public blockchains, so it misses trades inside exchanges, private deals, and identity. Labels come from heuristics.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateWhat a crypto correlation coefficient showsA crypto correlation coefficient shows how closely two assets' returns move together, from minus one to plus one, with the sign showing direction.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateWhat is volume weighted average price in crypto?VWAP is the average crypto price weighted by trading volume at each price. It reflects one exchange and time window, so it summarizes past trades.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateOn-chain activity: what it is and how to read itOn-chain activity is the transactions and actions recorded on a public blockchain ledger. It covers transfers, smart contract calls, staking and minting.2 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateCrypto volume profile: what it is and how to read itA crypto volume profile charts how much crypto traded at each price. It is built from exchange data and highlights the point of control and value area.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateBitcoin hash rate: what it measures and how to read itBitcoin hash rate estimates the total computing power miners spend securing the network, based on difficulty and block time. It is not a price signal.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateStablecoin supply growth: what it measures and missesStablecoin supply growth is the change in tokens outstanding over a period. It comes from net minting and redemptions, not demand or reserve safety.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateMVRV in Bitcoin analysis: what the metric measuresMVRV compares Bitcoin's market value with the value at which coins last moved. It divides market cap by realized cap to flag profit or loss.2 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateWhat is total value locked in DeFi?Total value locked (TVL) is the dollar value of crypto assets deposited in DeFi smart contracts. It sums each token's amount times its current price.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateWhy active address counts can be misleadingActive address counts can be misleading because they count addresses, not people. Providers define active differently, and bots can distort the number.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateWhy total value locked can mislead youTVL can mislead because it counts deposited tokens at current prices, not unique money, and the same asset can easily be counted more than once.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateExchange outflow: what the metric measuresExchange outflow measures crypto withdrawn from exchange wallets to outside wallets. Netflow, deposits minus withdrawals, shows the net direction.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateWhat active addresses measure in cryptoActive addresses measure unique addresses that send or receive crypto in a set period, not people. One user or exchange can control many wallets.2 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateBitcoin dominance: what it measures and how to read itBitcoin dominance shows Bitcoin's share of the whole crypto market's value, worked out from market caps rather than money invested or trading volume.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateWhat is maximum supply in cryptocurrency?Maximum supply is the total coins a cryptocurrency's rules allow to ever exist. It sets a ceiling, while circulating supply counts coins available now.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateTotal supply: what it counts and what it leaves outTotal supply is every coin that exists, including locked reserves, minus burned coins. It differs from circulating and max supply; check the contract.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateWhat is circulating supply in crypto?Circulating supply is the number of a crypto's coins or tokens the public can trade. It drives market cap, but not liquidity or real demand.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateFully diluted valuation in crypto: what it measuresFully diluted valuation estimates a token's total value if every possible coin circulated. The figure uses maximum supply and often runs above market cap.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateWhy crypto market cap can mislead investorsCrypto market cap is price times circulating supply, not true value. It can hide locked tokens, thin liquidity and supply counts that differ by site.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateWhat exchange inflow measures and how to read itExchange inflow measures crypto sent to exchange wallets over a chosen period. It shows potential selling pressure, not proof of sales for the asset.2 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Market DataIntermediateWhy do token unlocks matter?Token unlocks add tradable supply and can create sell pressure, but a price drop is not guaranteed. Supply size and recipient type shape the effect.2 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
Trading & InvestingIntermediateHow weekend trading affects crypto liquidityWeekend crypto liquidity is usually thinner, so spreads widen and slippage grows. Check the bid-ask spread and order-book depth before any weekend trade.3 min read · Updated Oct 6, 2026
