Cryptomarkets and superstitions: why traders seek answers in astrology when logic fails

The Anxiety of Endless Uncertainty

In traditional trading, there is a well-known secret: many of the Wall Street analysts who seem more rationally grounded believe in esoteric rituals. W.D. Gann predicted market movements through astrology; Soros evaluated trend reversals based on his back pain. But no one publicly admitted it.

The crypto world broke that silent taboo. Here, where markets operate nonstop 365 days a year, where a single tweet can wipe out billions in market capitalization, where founders disappear overnight, traders desperately need an illusion of certainty.

Economist Frank Knight explained it in 1921: risk is something measurable (by rolling a die), but uncertainty is incalculable (Will a war break out tomorrow?). Humans naturally fear the unknown. And when technical analysis and macroeconomic indicators don’t provide clear answers, esotericism enters as a psychological solution.

When Retrograde Saturn Explains What Bitcoin Cannot

Unlike traditional finance, esotericism in crypto has shifted from private whispers to public conversation. Influencers with tens of thousands of followers now offer “Bitcoin natal charts” based on the genesis block of January 3, 2009, linking planetary cycles to market phases.

The logic is simple: Retrograde Saturn = bear market; Jupiter = bullish peaks. When Mercury goes retrograde, traders simply don’t open positions. The full moon will bring corrections; a favorable natal chart promises gains next year.

This method provides what fundamental analysis cannot: a clear answer without needing to read whitepapers. No need to understand interest rates or macroeconomic cycles. Just believe in destiny.

The Social Proof That Validates the False

Why does esotericism always “work”? Because the human brain is wired to confirm its beliefs.

Confirmation bias: If you believe “the full moon brings drops,” you will remember every full moon followed by a correction and ignore those with stability. If your crypto horoscope shows an upward trend this year, you will attribute every small rise to “tarot validation” and explain drops as “temporary corrections that don’t alter the larger cycle.”

Social media amplifies this effect to absurd levels. Traders who win following astrological predictions constantly post their victories; those who lose remain silent. The feed is filled with esoteric successes and filters out failures. Thus, the community lives in a bubble of perpetual confirmation.

Moreover, esotericism has a lethal characteristic: it is irrefutable. If the astrologer says “don’t trade during Mercury retrograde” and you lose, it’s because you didn’t obey. If you win, it’s because your natal chart is special. Any outcome fits into the narrative. When famous bearish traders promote these narratives in forums and social networks, the effect multiplies among beginners desperately seeking a manual.

From Playful Tool to Mass Phenomenon

The recent boom of the “Life K-Chart” exemplifies all this. A crypto-esoteric content creator launched an app that generates (red and green candles) predicting your life’s fortune based on your birth date.

Three million views on Twitter. 300,000 API calls in 72 hours. Imitator tokens appeared in less than 24 hours, despite the tool being marked as “entertainment only.”

Why did it resonate so much? Because it offers what we all want but few admit: an explanation for our lack of control. “I don’t lose because I’m a bad trader, but because my natal cycle doesn’t match.” “I didn’t miss that rally due to bad timing, but because my destiny was sideways.”

The True Function: Company in Darkness

A Pew Research survey in 2025 showed that 28% of American adults consult astrology, tarot, or divination at least once a year. Esotericism is no longer marginal; it’s a normalized psychological need that the crypto world simply brought out of the closet.

When a trader says in the group: “Today is Mercury retrograde, I won’t open positions,” no one responds “that’s unscientific.” Instead: “Exactly, me neither. Let’s avoid this together.” The interaction validates both’s anxiety as reasonable.

In a market without authoritative answers, where no one is right (neither technical analysts nor macroeconomists), esotericism doesn’t aim to be accurate. It only offers company.

So, precision or illusion? When you see your K-Chart predicting a bearish market this year, you won’t sell everything. But when you lose, the guilt will be less. When you miss an opportunity, the consolation will be greater. In this 24/7 market with no respite or definitive answers, what we truly seek is not to predict the future but to find psychological support that allows us to keep sitting at the gaming table.