The tech industry is home to countless intriguing job titles – from Space Architect to Digital Prophet. And now, Crypto Astrologers are introducing a starry new way to predict the future of cryptocurrency returns.
Astrology is a system based on the belief that events and personalities within human societies are linked to (or even determined by) astronomical phenomena. Recognised as a pseudoscience since the 18th century, astrology has probably been around since humans first began to observe activity in the stars – and for a long time, it was considered an academic discipline.
In a recent interview with Wired, Marsilio Musing (Financial Forecaster) explained that his technical analysis system for cryptocurrency is based on astrological principles; and he himself bought his first crypto ETH in response to ‘astro patterns’ that he had observed at the time.
How does it work?
Musing isn’t the only one consulting the stars to figure out what cryptocurrencies will do next. Their methods are hard to pin down, without a clear link between astronomical events and crypto events – but crypto astrologers are gaining a following nonetheless, with a growing number of crypto trading decisions made based on their insights.
Frameworks include connecting the upward and downward trajectory of cryptocurrencies to the waxing and waning of the moon; and using advanced machine learning techniques for cryptocurrency symbols to forecast daily price trends based on the planet cycles of Mercury, Venus, the Sun, and more.
Data gathered by crypto astrologers appears to suggest that ‘Mars in Aries’ is a good sign for Bitcoin performance, and ‘Saturn transits’ point to a Bitcoin slump.
Are cryptocurrency traders really turning to astrology?
While the majority of traders use technical analysis, a growing number are turning to astrology. Crypto astrologer Maren Altman has over 1.4 million followers on TikTok, while Marsilio Musing has 10,000 followers on X. The reasons why traders are turning to the stars for crypto advice are difficult to pin down – but word of mouth is likely to be at the heart of it: when one trader makes a series of good decisions based on astrological advice, word gets around.
Is it ethical?
One astrologer who goes by the name of Crypto Damus posts his predictions to his 38k+ followers on X, and offers private consultations for a fee, along with a weekly newsletter for around 400 paid subscribers on Patreon. In his public messaging, he includes a disclaimer that points out he’s not a financial advisor, and ‘probability’ is the basis for his advice.
In a nutshell, that’s what gives crypto astrologers the freedom to do what they do: they’re (mostly) not claiming to be qualified or certified in the realm of financial advice, and it’s up to their followers and clients to decide whether to act on their predictions or not.
The ethics of it are open to debate – but there’s nothing to stop them from doing this work, or to stop traders from trusting their forecasts.
The promise of psychological certainty is alluring
To understand the interest in crypto astrology, perhaps we need to look more broadly at why people seek any kind of financial advice at all. It comes down to reassurance; a sense that there is some deeper meaning behind the movement of your money, and a strategy behind the moves that you make.
Humans want somewhere to put their trust. Cryptocurrencies remain highly volatile, creating a state of psychological uncertainty for even the most confident of traders. And those who aren’t comfortable with that uncertainty are seeking assurances – even if those assurances come from surprising sources.