Bitcoin (BITCOMP), Dogecoin (DOGE-X), and Ethereum (ETH-X) have developed inside bar patterns on the daily chart. An inside bar pattern indicates a period of consolidation and is usually followed by a continuation move in the direction of the current trend.

An inside bar pattern has more validity on larger time frames (four-hour chart or larger). The pattern has a minimum of two candlesticks and consists of a mother bar (the first candlestick in the pattern) followed by one or more subsequent candles. The subsequent candle(s) must be completely inside the range of the mother bar, and each is called an "inside bar."

A double or triple inside bar can be more powerful than a single inside bar. After the break of an inside bar pattern, traders want to watch for high volume as confirmation that the pattern was recognized.

Bullish traders will want to search for inside bar patterns on stocks that are in an uptrend. Some traders may take a position during the inside bar prior to the break, while other aggressive traders will take a position after the break of the pattern.

For bearish traders, finding an inside bar pattern on a stock that's in a downtrend will be key. Like bullish traders, bears have two options of where to take a position to play the break of the pattern. For bearish traders, the pattern is invalidated if the stock rises above the highest range of the mother candle.

The Bitcoin Chart

Bitcoin was printing an inside bar on the daily chart just above a support level at $42,223. The crypto is trading in a short uptrend within a larger downtrend. Bitcoin will have to make a higher high above the $55,200 level for confirmation that the downtrend is over.

The Dogecoin Chart

Dogecoin is trading in a steep downtrend, but it is holding above a key support level of $0.197. The crypto's inside bar on Saturday demonstrates consolidation. If Dogecoin loses support at its key level, it could fall toward the 16-cent mark.

The Ethereum Chart

Like Bitcoin, Ethereum may be working to reverse course into an uptrend, but it will need to shoot up above Thursday's high of $3182 for confirmation. Otherwise, the crypto could continue lower in its larger downtrend following Saturday's inside bar.