Vibe trading: a formula for profit or a new illusion

How trading logic is transforming in the AI era

BTC/USD

Key zone: 66,000 - 68,500

Buy: 70,000 (on a confident breakout of the level) ; target 73,500-75,000; StopLoss 69,000

Sell: 67,000 (on a strong negative fundamental basis) ; target 63,500-60,000; StopLoss 68,000

Intuitive trading has always accompanied markets. On Wall Street in the 1980s, participants relied on “tape reading” and order flow dynamics. However, by 2020, 60–70% of U.S. equity trading volume was already generated by algorithmic systems. The space for impulsive decision-making in traditional finance has significantly narrowed.

Today, the term “vibe trading” most often describes a combination of emotional trading and following collective sentiment. In the AI era, this concept takes on a new interpretation: data and chart analysis are performed by algorithms, while humans interact with the market through a technological interface.

If in traditional finance investor sentiment is merely an additional variable, in the crypto market it often becomes the primary driver of price movement.

Vibe trading in traditional markets

The FX and equity markets represent a highly competitive and structurally liquid environment. Major participants — banks, hedge funds, and market makers — rely on mathematical models, quantitative methods, and high-frequency algorithms.

Within such a structure, “gut-feeling” decisions provide virtually no edge. The market is close to efficient, and room for subjective interpretation is minimal. There are strategies based on news analytics and market sentiment, but these are strictly formalized statistical models rather than intuitive actions of an individual trader. Therefore, in equities and derivatives, vibe trading most often reduces to emotional and generally ineffective trading.

What vibe trading means for cryptocurrencies

The crypto market operates under a different logic. Social media and communities play a substantial role here. In 2021, Dogecoin surged more than 12,000%, largely due to media resonance. Meme tokens on the Solana network in 2023–2024 demonstrated short-term price impulses primarily driven by viral trends on X and Telegram.

Recall:

The concept of “vibe” originated in digital culture and refers to atmosphere, mood, or the overall feeling of what is happening. In trading, it describes a decision made not according to a strict model but based on a subjective perception of market dynamics.

Vibe trading typically refers to strategies focused on analyzing collective emotions, narratives, and the dynamics of social capital surrounding an asset. Unlike a fundamental approach (protocol value, cash flow, adoption) or classical technical analysis, vibe trading relies on:

  • the speed of idea dissemination,
  • the level of audience engagement,
  • the reflexivity of market dynamics,
  • liquidity inflows within a specific narrative.

In a crypto environment, where fundamental valuation is often blurred and liquidity is fragmented, the “vibe” becomes an independent trading factor.

Vibe trading in cryptocurrencies involves working with impulses of collective sentiment that manifest through:

  • social media activity (X, Telegram, Discord),
  • growth in on-chain transactions,
  • acceleration of trading volumes,
  • shifts in narrative cycles (AI, RWA, meme coins, L2, etc.).

The key principle is that price rises not because of changes in fundamental value, but because of changes in participants’ beliefs.

Value becomes a reflection of the speed at which an idea spreads, rather than traditional financial metrics.

The nansen platform: a first experience

In 2026, Nansen, which analyzes activity across more than 500 million crypto addresses, introduced AI-agent-based trading on the Solana and Base networks. Analysis is performed by algorithms, while the user interacts with the system through a conversational interface.

Previously, a crypto trader had to simultaneously use an exchange, charts, social media, and news resources. Now, a significant portion of the process is consolidated into a single window. A trade can be initiated via dialogue — effectively turning a trading decision into a conversation with an algorithm.

And what Is the result?

Effective vibe trading is not about following intuition, but about systematically working with measurable indicators of market sentiment. Such signals include:

  • the dynamics of mentions in social media and media outlets;
  • movements of large on-chain wallets;
  • capital inflows and outflows on exchanges;
  • changes in liquidity;
  • correlations with macroeconomic factors.

An AI agent is not a “one-click profit button,” but rather an interface for accessing a vast array of statistical data. The trader formulates a hypothesis, the algorithm tests it, and proposes scenarios based on a specified risk level. The difference between these approaches is comparable to the difference between systematic trading and playing in a casino.

So we act wisely and avoid unnecessary risks.

Profits to y’all!