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DERIVATIVES · TAKER BUY-SELL RATIO

Taker Buy-Sell Ratios in Crypto: How to Read the Data With Price Context

The taker buy/sell ratio measures aggressive buying versus selling volume. Against price, it shows whether aggression is moving the market.

By ChartsPod Editorial Team · Reviewed by ChartsPod Research
Published · Updated · 5 min read

Short answer

The taker buy/sell ratio divides aggressive buy volume by aggressive sell volume over a period; Binance publishes it for futures (buyVol, sellVol, buySellRatio) with 30 days of history, and spot klines include taker buy volume. In price context: a ratio above 1 with rising price shows buyers moving price; above 1 with flat or falling price shows passive sellers absorbing; below 1 with rising price suggests passive buyers lifting bids. It is a period summary of delta, so window length matters.

Reading with price

RatioPriceReading
>1UpAggressive buying effective
>1Flat/downSellers absorbing
<1UpPassive buying, sellers hitting bids
<1DownAggressive selling effective
Illustrative 4h windows: taker ratio vs price changeIllustrative 4h windows: taker ratio vs price change: Ratio window 1 1.30 ; Ratio window 2 1.40 ; Ratio window 3 1.20 .ILLUSTRATIVE 4H WINDOWS: TAKER RATIO VS PRICE CHANGERatio window 11.30Ratio window 21.40Ratio window 31.20
Ratio stayed >1 while price stalled in window 2 (absorption). Original ChartsPod editorial graphic.

Relation to delta

Taker ratio = buy ÷ sell; delta = buy − sell. A ratio of 1.2 on 10,000 BTC total volume is about +909 BTC delta; on 1,000 BTC, about +91 BTC. Use delta or volume alongside the ratio to judge size.

Taker ratio checksTaker ratio checks: Window length; Spot or futures; Venue; Volume behind the ratio; Price response same window.TAKER RATIO CHECKSWindow lengthSpot or futuresVenueVolume behind the ratioPrice response same window
A ratio without volume hides size. Original ChartsPod editorial graphic.

Using it

Related: DEX Buy Count vs Buy Volume: Why They Can Tell Different Stories, Crypto Taker-Buy Volume: Null vs Zero - Handle Missing Fields Correctly.

Check taker buy-sell ratio beside price in ChartsPod.

Open BTC/USDT in ChartsPod

It is a period summary of delta, so window length matters.

Check Taker Buy-Sell Ratios in Crypto against a live market before relying on it.

Try it in ChartsPod

Questions readers ask

What is the taker buy/sell ratio?

Aggressive buy volume divided by aggressive sell volume.

Where does Binance publish it?

Futures taker long/short ratio endpoint; spot klines include taker buy volume.

Why add volume?

Ratios hide how much traded.

Sources and methodology

Definitions follow Binance's USD-M market data documentation, Hyperliquid's funding documentation, TradingView's open-interest guide and Bybit's liquidation rules, read 17 October 2026. Examples are illustrative, not recorded market data.

  1. Binance: USD-M market data (long/short ratios, OI statistics, klines) — ratio definitions, 30-day retention, kline open/close time.
  2. TradingView: Understanding crypto open interest — aggregated vs single-venue OI and units.
  3. ChartsPod: product overview, pricing and FAQ — free terminal, venues, modules, no order placement; checked 17 Oct 2026.
  4. Binance Spot API: market data endpoints (klines) — 12-field klines, open-time identity, timeZone parameter.

This article explains research tools and workflows. It is not financial advice, does not recommend buying or selling any asset and does not predict prices. Crypto derivatives carry a risk of rapid and total loss of margin.

CHARTSPOD EDITORIAL EDITION · RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ONLY · NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE.