The three parts of MACD
- The MACD line is the 12-period exponential moving average minus the 26-period one. Above zero, the shorter average is above the longer one.
- The signal line is a 9-period average of the MACD line, a smoothed copy of it.
- The histogram is the distance between the two. It grows when they move apart and shrinks when they come together.
The standard settings are written MACD(12, 26, 9). They can be changed; the readings below hold for any setting.
Crossover 1: the signal line
When the MACD line crosses above its signal line, momentum is turning up; when it crosses below, momentum is fading. This is the faster of the two signals and the one most traders mean by "a MACD crossover". It is also the noisier one.
Crossover 2: the zero line
When the MACD line crosses above zero, the 12-period average has moved above the 26-period one: a change in the direction of the trend, not only its speed. It comes later than the signal-line cross and is read as more significant.
Combining the two is common: a signal-line cross above zero is a crossover in the direction of an existing uptrend.
Where MACD stands today
Which side of its signal line the daily MACD of each coin is on, and when it last crossed. The MACD comparison page has the values.
| Coin | Now | Last cross |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin BTC | ▼ Below signal | 2026-09-29 13 days ago |
| Ethereum ETH | ▼ Below signal | 2026-09-28 14 days ago |
| BNB BNB | ▼ Below signal | 2026-09-26 16 days ago |
| Solana SOL | ▼ Below signal | 2026-10-01 11 days ago |
| XRP XRP | ▼ Below signal | 2026-09-30 12 days ago |
| Cardano ADA | ▼ Below signal | 2026-10-08 4 days ago |
| Dogecoin DOGE | ▼ Below signal | 2026-10-01 11 days ago |
| Avalanche AVAX | ▼ Below signal | 2026-10-02 10 days ago |
| Polkadot DOT | ▼ Below signal | 2026-10-01 11 days ago |
| Chainlink LINK | ▼ Below signal | 2026-10-04 8 days ago |
Daily candles on Binance, as of the close of October 12, 2026 (UTC). Updated every day.
How to set a MACD crossover alert
- Open the chart of the coin and choose the timeframe.
- Click + and pick the MACD Bullish Crossover template (MACD line Crossing Up its signal line) or MACD Zero-Line Cross (MACD line Crossing Up zero).
- For the bearish version, change the operator to Crossing Down.
- To trade only crossovers in the direction of the trend, add a second condition, such as price Greater Than MA(200). All conditions must hold on the same candle.
- Save. You get a Telegram message on the candle where the crossover happens.
MACD is built from moving averages, so its crossovers lag price, and in a sideways market they come in quick succession. Test the alert on past candles in the Strategy Tester to see how often it would have fired.
Questions
Which MACD crossover is more reliable?
The zero-line cross comes later and changes less often; the signal-line cross is earlier and noisier. Many traders take signal-line crosses only in the direction of the zero line.
Can I change the MACD settings in an alert?
Yes. The fast, slow and signal periods are editable in the condition, for example MACD(8, 21, 5) for faster signals.
What timeframe works best?
Daily MACD crossovers are fewer and slower; on 1h and below they are frequent. Choose the timeframe you trade on, and test it first.
This guide explains how traders commonly read these indicators. It is not financial advice, and past signals do not predict future ones.