The Crypto Base Scanner (CBS) is a powerful signal service rooted in the QFL (Quasi-Fractal Levels) trading methodology, designed to help traders identify high-probability reversal points in the cryptocurrency market. By detecting when asset prices break below established support zones—known as "bases"—CBS generates actionable trading signals that aim to capitalize on short-term rebounds driven by buying pressure. This guide explores how CBS works, its core mechanics, optimal bot settings, and how traders can use performance reports to refine their strategies.
Whether you're using automated bots or managing trades manually, understanding the nuances of CBS—from signal triggers to risk management—is key to maximizing returns while minimizing exposure.
What Is the Crypto Base Scanner?
The Crypto Base Scanner (CBS) identifies potential market reversals by analyzing historical price behavior. A "base" is formed when buyers step in after a significant price drop, creating a support level. When the price breaks below this base by a predefined threshold—typically tied to the pair’s median drop—a CBS signal is triggered.
The underlying theory suggests that such breakdowns, especially during panic sell-offs, are often short-lived due to strong latent demand. As a result, prices tend to bounce back quickly, offering profitable entry opportunities. This principle has been validated both by manual traders and through the consistently high success rate of CBS signals.
While automation via trading bots reduces active involvement, CBS isn’t fully hands-off. Occasionally, positions may fail to recover as expected, requiring manual intervention—such as adding extra DCA (Dollar-Cost Averaging) levels or cutting losses. The fewer interventions you make, the higher your potential drawdowns during adverse market events.
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Historical Background
Originally launched as a standalone tool at cryptobasescanner.com, CBS evolved alongside Altrady, a comprehensive multi-exchange trading platform built to empower retail traders. Altrady now integrates CBS signals directly into its ecosystem, allowing users to execute trades across multiple exchanges seamlessly.
Although CBS remains accessible independently, Altrady offers enhanced functionality, including customizable alert systems and advanced bot integrations. Additionally, Altrady features its own Base Scanner tool—based on the same algorithms—for traders who prefer manual or semi-automated approaches.
Subscription Models and Access
All Altrady subscription plans include access to CBS signals for use with integrated trading bots. These signals are also available through 3Commas Marketplace, though usage there requires a separate payment; an Altrady subscription does not grant access on 3Commas.
A signals-only plan is available for those who don’t need full platform access and can be purchased via Altrady or CryptoBaseScanner. If you already have a CryptoBaseScanner account and wish to log into Altrady, simply use the same email and reset your password through the “Forgot Password” option.
Understanding Signal Success Rate
CBS maintains transparency through monthly performance reports, published around the 10th of each month. These reports detail every signal sent during the prior month and track outcomes based on various metrics like win rate, volume, exchange, and algorithm type.
Reports are filterable by:
- Exchange
- Quote currency
- Algorithm
- 24-hour trading volume
These insights allow traders to evaluate performance trends and fine-tune their bot configurations accordingly.
How Are CBS Signals Triggered?
A CBS signal is generated when two conditions are met:
- The price drops below a defined base.
- The decline reaches or exceeds the median drop for that trading pair.
Additional filters ensure signal quality:
- Minimum 1,000 hours of historical data
- Success rate ≥ 50%
- Median drop > 3%
- Market volume ≥ 0.25 BTC over 24 hours
For deeper definitions of terms like median drop, QFL, and base formation, refer to the official Glossary for Base Trading.
Why Signal Frequency Varies
Signal frequency depends heavily on market conditions and quote currency behavior:
- USDx (stablecoin) pairs: Tend to drop when BTC/USD falls. Sharp BTC declines often trigger panic selling in altcoins, which rebound once BTC stabilizes.
- BTC pairs: Decline when BTC strengthens against USD (since fewer BTC are needed to buy alts) or during broad market sell-offs into stablecoins.
- Altcoin quote pairs (e.g., ETH, BNB): More complex dynamics due to partial correlation with BTC and sensitivity to project-specific news.
Bull markets often see delayed recoveries for altcoins, while bear markets may produce prolonged downtrends—factors that influence both signal frequency and recovery time.
Optimizing Bot Settings for CBS Signals
To maximize profitability and minimize risk, careful configuration of your trading bot is essential.
Position Size and Number of Concurrent Positions
Your choice of position size and maximum concurrent positions directly impacts risk exposure:
- Fewer positions mean larger allocations per trade, increasing potential returns—but also concentration risk.
- More positions spread risk but reduce per-trade gains.
For example:
- With a 5-position cap and one active signal, 80% of capital sits idle.
- If one large position crashes (e.g., due to delisting), it could wipe out months of gains.
Recommendation: Limit total exposure per position to ≤40%, maintain at least 20–50% reserve funds, and adjust based on historical signal frequency from monthly reports.
Percentage vs. Fixed Position Sizing
Using percentage-based sizing allows automatic scaling with account growth but can lead to oversized trades during rapid gains—especially problematic in low-liquidity markets.
Fixed amounts offer more control but require periodic rebalancing. Whichever method you choose, regularly review:
- Minimum order size
- Liquidity thresholds
- Tick size constraints
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Minimum Order Size Considerations
Exchanges enforce minimum order values (e.g., $10 for USDT pairs on Binance). However, tick size limitations mean even compliant amounts may fall short after rounding.
For instance:
- At $321.33 BNB price, $10 buys ~0.0311 BNB → rounded down to 0.03 BNB = $9.64 (below minimum)
- Safe minimum: 0.04 BNB = $12.85
Always set your bot’s minimum slightly above exchange thresholds to avoid rejected orders.
Minimum Volume Requirements
Two key reasons to set volume filters:
Avoid illiquid traps: Ensure you can exit positions without slippage.
- Aim for 100x position size in hourly volume, or 200x–500x daily volume.
- Filter false signals: Micro-cap pairs may spike temporarily due to pumps.
However, overly strict volume limits reduce signal count—especially for volatile small-cap pairs where median drops are deeper and more frequent.
Choosing the Right Quote Currency
Factors influencing quote currency selection:
- Accumulation goals: Do you want more BTC, ETH, or stablecoins?
- Signal frequency: BTC pairs generate more signals during strong BTC rallies.
- Profit valuation: Gains in BTC during bull runs compound when priced in USD/EUR.
Stablecoin pairs react faster to BTC dips but recover quickly—ideal for fast-turnaround bots.
Managing Base Currencies and Blacklists
Certain markets should be excluded:
- Leveraged tokens: Automatically filtered out by CBS.
Low-sat pairs (<100 sats): Prone to slow fills and queue delays.
- Use Altrady’s min/max price filters or entry time limits.
- Delisting risks: While Altrady blocks known delisted pairs, unexpected news can still trigger losses.
Mitigation strategies:
- Set deep stop-losses
- Monitor news actively
- Keep reserves for rescue trades
- Use small take-profit (TP) levels to lock in partial gains early
A/B Testing Strategies
Most bots support A/B testing, enabling side-by-side comparison of different configurations:
- Varying DCA levels (-4%, -8%, -12% vs. -5%, -10%, -15%)
- Different TP percentages
- Number of concurrent positions
Avoid overfitting: A strategy perfect for July 2020 might fail in a sideways market. Test across diverse conditions—bull, bear, and choppy—to build robustness.
"The perfect is the enemy of the good." — Focus on consistent performance over chasing ideal metrics.
Handling Failed Positions: The Rescue Process
No system achieves 100% success. When a trade fails to recover:
- Add an extra DCA at lower levels to reduce average cost.
- Time rescues carefully: If BTC is still rising, BTC pairs won’t rebound until either BTC retraces or alts regain strength.
- In extreme cases, sell part of the holding at a loss to fund a lower re-entry—gradually lowering break-even price.
Altrady’s Break Even Calculator helps track recovery targets in real time.
For visual guidance, check CryptoTradingDev’s YouTube channel, where real CBS trades and rescue tactics are analyzed weekly.
Dealing With Market Crashes
Major downturns—like the March 2020 "COVID crash" where BTC dropped from $8,000 to $3,780 in hours—test any strategy:
- Altcoins fall harder and recover slower.
- Multiple DCAs get triggered rapidly.
- Full automation may fail without manual oversight.
Prepare by:
- Keeping substantial reserves
- Using conservative position sizing
- Setting conditional exit rules
API Integration for Developers
Programmers can integrate CBS-like signals via Altrady’s public API, available with Trading Plan subscriptions and above for personal use. Commercial applications require special permission.
Documentation: CBS API Docs
Is CBS the Same as Altrady’s Base Scanner?
No—there’s an important distinction:
- CBS Signals: Fully managed signals sent by Altrady; usable with bots across supported exchanges.
- Altrady Base Scanner: A manual analysis tool using identical algorithms. Displays bases directly on charts (Uncracked/Cracked/Respected) and supports notifications for custom-defined breaches.
Both tools are independent: Settings in one do not affect the other.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the typical success rate of CBS signals?
CBS signals historically achieve a +3% win rate above 85% when DCAs are applied. Without DCAs, around 60–70% reach +3%. Performance varies monthly depending on market volatility and BTC trends.
Can I use CBS signals without a bot?
Yes. While bots streamline execution, Altrady’s Base Scanner allows manual monitoring of base breaks with customizable alerts—ideal for discretionary traders.
How often are new signals generated?
Signal frequency varies widely:
- On Binance USDT pairs: Average 5/day (range: 0–50)
- During high-volatility periods: Significantly more
Use monthly reports to analyze daily distribution for your chosen exchange and quote currency.
What happens if a signal doesn’t fill?
Fast-moving markets may prevent order fills. Some bots allow an entry time limit, canceling unfilled orders after X minutes—freeing capital for new opportunities.
Should I use stop-losses with CBS?
Not always necessary due to high recovery rates, but recommended during major news events or suspected delistings. Conservative traders often set SLs at -20% to -25%.
How do I minimize losses on failing trades?
Best practices include:
- Keeping 20–50% of funds reserved
- Using partial exits to fund lower re-buys
- Monitoring news feeds for red flags
- Blacklisting consistently underperforming pairs
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