Why Liquidity Matters More Than Indicators with examples

Example 1: Stop-Loss Clusters

BTC forms a clear resistance at $42,000. Many traders short there and place their stop-loss just above the high.

Price suddenly spikes to $42,300, stops everyone out, and then drops sharply.

That wasn’t a real breakout. Price moved up to collect liquidity before reversing.

Example 2: Equal Highs and Lows

ETH creates equal highs on a 1H chart.

Retail traders see it as resistance. Smart money sees it as liquidity. Price sweeps the equal highs, triggers buy orders, fills sell positions, then moves in the opposite direction.

Example 3: Indicator Trap

RSI shows oversold. Traders buy early. Price keeps dropping because liquidity below the recent low hasn’t been taken yet. Indicators reacted — liquidity dictated the move.