Whale — TradingView Indicator
Script name on TradingView: "Coin-Sniffer — Whale"
Detects stealth large-player activity — abnormally high volume in a 5m window with minimal price impact — then classifies the direction as Accumulation (bullish) or Distribution (bearish) based on the 15m trend and momentum indicators.
WARNING
Must be applied to a 1-minute chart.
Signal logic
Step 1 — Whale anomaly detection
The indicator compares the current 5-minute volume against the recent hourly baseline. If the volume spike is significant enough and the price barely moved during that window, a whale anomaly is flagged. A minimum absolute volume floor ensures only liquid markets qualify.
The core idea: large players spread orders to avoid moving the price. High volume + low price impact = stealth activity.
Step 2 — Direction classification
Once the anomaly passes, direction is determined by the 15m trend and momentum indicators:
- Accumulation (bullish): 15m trend is positive, or trend is flat but momentum indicators lean bullish.
- Distribution (bearish): 15m trend is negative, or trend is flat but momentum indicators lean bearish.
Input parameters
Volume Spike group
| Input | Description |
|---|---|
| Spike Ratio (× hourly avg) | How many times the current 5m volume must exceed the recent hourly average 5m volume |
| Max 5m Price Impact (%) | Maximum allowable price change during the anomalous candle — keeps only stealth activity |
| 5m Volume Floor (USDT) | Minimum absolute 5m volume to qualify |
| 1h Volume Floor (USDT) | Minimum 1h volume — ensures the pair is sufficiently liquid |
Context group
| Input | Description |
|---|---|
| RSI Period | Period for the RSI used in direction classification |
Display group
| Input | Default |
|---|---|
| Accumulation Color | Teal |
| Distribution Color | Red |
| Show RSI Line | Off |
Tuning the Spike Ratio
The spike ratio is the primary sensitivity control.
- Lower the ratio: More signals. Some may be normal volume spikes rather than genuine whale activity.
- Raise the ratio: Rarer, higher-conviction signals — only truly anomalous volume events qualify.
For high-volume pairs (BTCUSDT, ETHUSDT), raising the ratio helps since their baseline volume is already elevated. For lower-cap coins, a lower ratio is often appropriate.
Understanding the signal
When a whale accumulates quietly, they absorb sell pressure without moving price — the result is high volume with a flat candle. When they distribute quietly, they sell into buy orders. This indicator surfaces those events in real time.
TIP
Whale signals are most powerful as confluence alongside Surge or Scout. A Whale Accumulation followed by a Scout Bull suggests large players positioned first, then retail momentum began building.