₿itcoinIQ₿itcoinIQ
Transparency

Our Methodology

A transparent explanation of how BitcoinIQ works, our data sources, and the principles behind our multi-indicator approach to cycle analysis.

₿itcoinIQOur Philosophy

BitcoinIQ is built on a simple premise: no single indicator tells the whole story. We track 20 macro, on-chain, and sentiment indicators and distill them into one clear signal each month — so you act on the full picture, not whichever metric is loudest today.

How it comes together

20Indicators
The BitcoinIQ Distilleryour signal engine
1Cycle Factor0x – 2x

The Distillery is a proprietary engine. We name every ingredient we track — see all 20 indicators — but the recipe that turns them into your Cycle Factor stays ours.

Your Cycle Factor is a simple multiplier on your regular buy — higher when conditions are historically depressed (typically near cycle lows), lower when risk indicators run hot (typically near highs). In practice: $100 × 2.0 = $200.

We don't predict specific prices or dates. Instead, we help you understand the current environment and adjust your DCA accordingly. Never stop stacking — just stack smarter.

Reading Context, Not Price

The hardest part of stacking isn't the math — it's holding your nerve when sentiment turns. So beyond the monthly signal, BitcoinIQ is built to remove emotion from the decision.

Think of the macro backdrop — Global Liquidity, Fed policy, the business cycle — as the tide. When the Fear & Greed Index screams sell and the price is falling, the disciplined question isn't “how scared is everyone?” — it's “which way is the tide running?”

1 · The tide

The macro backdrop is rising — the deeper current still supports prices.

2 · The read

Sentiment drops, so you read context, not price.

3 · The response

A dip in fear becomes a buying opportunity, not a threat.

March 2020. COVID crash — Fear & Greed pinned in extreme fear, Bitcoin collapsing, retail capitulating. But the Fed's liquidity flood meant the macro tide was rising. Context, not price, is what kept disciplined investors buying through the fear — and the recovery that followed rewarded them.

Data Sources

We use only reputable, verifiable data sources. All data is fetched server-side and pre-calculated for fast page loads:

Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)

Fed balance sheet, Treasury General Account, Reverse Repo, M2 money supply, FX rates

Bank for International Settlements (BIS)

Cross-border bank credit totals (interpolated to monthly from quarterly)

BGeometrics

MVRV Z-Score and SOPR on-chain metrics

Alternative.me

Crypto Fear & Greed Index (daily sentiment data)

CoinGecko

Bitcoin price, market cap, and dominance data

Institute for Supply Management (ISM)

ISM Manufacturing PMI for business cycle analysis

Update Frequency

Daily Updates

  • • Bitcoin Price
  • • Fear & Greed Index
  • • Bitcoin Dominance
  • • MVRV Z-Score
  • • SOPR

Monthly Updates

  • • Global Liquidity
  • • Fed Liquidity
  • • Fed Policy Regime
  • • ISM Manufacturing PMI

Note: Monthly macro indicators are released with a lag (typically 2-4 weeks after month end). This is normal for economic data and doesn't affect the indicator's usefulness for cycle analysis.

Key Calculations

Global Liquidity

GL = Fed Liquidity + Central Bank Balance Sheets + Global M2 + Cross-Border Credit

Aggregates liquidity across 16 economies including Fed, ECB, BOJ, and PBOC, converted to USD using historical FX rates.

Fed Liquidity

Fed Liquidity = Fed Balance Sheet - Reverse Repo - Treasury General Account

Measures actual liquidity available in the financial system after accounting for drains.

Rate of Change (RoC)

3-Month RoC = Linear regression slope × 100 (% per month)

Uses linear regression over 3 months to calculate trend momentum, matching the ~75-day lag between GL and Bitcoin.

What stays proprietary: The formulas above are open. How we normalize the on-chain and sentiment indicators, and the BitcoinIQ Distillery engine that distills all 20 into your monthly Cycle Factor, are proprietary to BitcoinIQ.

Understanding the Bitcoin Macro Cycle

Explore the macro forces that drive Bitcoin cycles — from liquidity conditions to business cycle timing

#Macro IndicatorDescription
1Global LiquidityMacro backdropMacro backdrop
2Fed PolicyUS monetary policyUS monetary policy
3ISMBusiness cycleBusiness cycle
4Macro Cycle IndexCombines all three → direction for BitcoinCombines all three → direction for Bitcoin
📚EducationFull cycle analysis guideFull cycle analysis guideHERE

Limitations & Disclaimers

  • •Not Financial Advice: BitcoinIQ is for educational purposes only. We don't recommend specific trades or investments.
  • •Historical Correlation ≠ Future Prediction: Past indicator performance doesn't guarantee future results.
  • •Data Limitations: Our Global Liquidity calculation may differ from professional estimates due to data source limitations (shadow banking, eurodollar markets).
  • •Timing Uncertainty: Indicators identify favorable/unfavorable conditions but don't predict exact tops or bottoms.
  • •Black Swan Events: Unexpected events (regulatory changes, hacks, macro crises) can override indicator signals.

Research Credits

Our methodology is inspired by and builds upon the work of respected researchers:

  • Michael Howell (CrossBorder Capital) - Global Liquidity framework and Bitcoin correlation research
  • Raoul Pal (Real Vision) - Macro-crypto thesis and liquidity-driven investment framework
  • Glassnode - Pioneering on-chain analytics methodology (MVRV, SOPR concepts)

Explore Our Indicators

© 2026 BitcoinIQ. All rights reserved. Raise your BitcoinIQ - use Cycle Intelligence to your advantage

NOT INVESTMENT ADVICE

BitcoinIQ provides educational content and analysis tools for informational purposes only. This is not investment, financial, or trading advice. Cryptocurrency investments are highly volatile and risky. Always do your own research and consult with qualified financial advisors before making investment decisions. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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