Continuation Patterns: Marubozu

🔥 Introduction: When the Market Shows No Doubt

In crypto trading, some candlesticks leave no room for hesitation — they show conviction, control, and raw momentum. One of the clearest examples of this is the Marubozu candle.

A Marubozu isn't just a continuation signal. It's a statement — that bulls or bears are fully in charge. If you’re trend trading, recognizing a Marubozu can help you ride the wave and avoid hesitation.

In this article, you'll learn:

• What a Marubozu candle is
• How to spot bullish and bearish Marubozu patterns
• When they signal continuation
• How to avoid false breakouts

📘 What Is a Marubozu Candle?

✅ Definition:

A Marubozu (Japanese for “bald” or “shaved head”) is a single candlestick with no wicks (or extremely small ones). It has:

• No upper or lower shadow (or barely visible)
• A full body, showing strong momentum in one direction

There are two types:

• Bullish Marubozu: Open = low, Close = high
• Bearish Marubozu: Open = high, Close = low

🧠 Meaning:

A bullish Marubozu means buyers dominated from open to close.

A bearish Marubozu means sellers had full control all the way down.

These candles often confirm continuation when they appear during a trend.

📈 Bullish Marubozu

🔍 Characteristics:

• Appears during an uptrend
• Large green candle
• No wicks or shadows
• Closes at its high

🧠 Interpretation:

Buyers were in control from the first second of the candle until it closed — no interruptions, no pullbacks. If this follows a bullish breakout or support bounce, it suggests strong continuation.

📉 Bearish Marubozu

🔍 Characteristics:

• Appears during a downtrend
• Large red candle
• No wicks
• Closes at its low

🧠 Interpretation:

Sellers controlled the price from top to bottom. If this appears after a resistance rejection or breakdown, it’s often a signal of strong selling continuation.

📊 When Marubozu Signals Continuation

A Marubozu candle is most useful in trending conditions — either breaking out or resuming a trend.

✅ Bullish Continuation Example:

• Bitcoin breaks through $30,000 resistance
• A daily Marubozu candle closes at $31,500
• Volume confirms the move
• ➡️ High probability of continued upside

✅ Bearish Continuation Example:

• Ethereum breaks below $2,000 support
• 4-hour Marubozu candle closes at $1,930
• Momentum and volume both strong
• ➡️ Bearish continuation expected

📊 When NOT to Trust a Marubozu

Even though Marubozu candles show strength, context still matters.

❌ Don’t trust Marubozu when:

• The market is ranging or choppy
• It forms on low volume
• It appears after multiple strong candles (exhaustion likely)
• The candle is extremely large (potential for fakeout or stop hunt)

💡 Pro Tips for Crypto Traders

• Volume is key: A real Marubozu continuation should be supported by rising volume
• Timeframe matters: Use on 1H, 4H, or Daily for better signals (1m or 5m charts often fake out)
• Combine with RSI breakout, MACD cross, or moving average support

🧠 Marubozu vs. Full-Body Candle

A candle might look like a Marubozu, but if it has tiny wicks, it’s not pure. However, in crypto, a near-Marubozu (90%+ full body) can still be considered strong if volume supports it.

✅ Conclusion

A Marubozu candle is a symbol of dominance — either from buyers (bullish) or sellers (bearish). In crypto, where momentum drives massive moves, spotting a clean Marubozu at the right moment can offer powerful confirmation of trend continuation.

But like all candlestick patterns, it’s not a stand-alone signal. Pair it with volume, key levels, and supporting indicators to trade with confidence.