Logarithmic vs. Linear Scale Charting: Which Should You Use?

If you've spent any time analyzing crypto charts, you've probably noticed those dropdown menus offering different scale options. Most traders just stick with the default—but that's actually costing you insights.

Let's break down what each scale actually does and when to use them.

**Linear Scale: The Straightforward View**

Linear scale (also called arithmetic scale) is what you see by default. Equal price movements create equal visual distances. Jump from $10 to $20? That's the same vertical distance as $100 to $110. Simple math.

Why does this matter? When you're tracking recent price action or checking intraday moves, linear scale gives you the raw picture. If Bitcoin pumped 5% yesterday, you'll see it clearly. Great for short-term trading signals.

The catch: huge rallies from years past look tiny. Bitcoin's journey from $100 to $60,000 gets compressed—the early moves barely show up visually, even though the percentage gains were massive.

**Logarithmic Scale: Seeing Proportional Growth**

Logarithmic scale works differently. Each visual unit represents a percentage change, not an absolute dollar amount. A 10% move looks the same whether it's $100 to $110 or $50,000 to $55,000.

This is the trader's secret weapon when analyzing historical cycles. You can spot whether Bitcoin's rallies are actually following similar patterns across different price ranges. Long-term investors love this—it reveals whether we're in uncharted territory or repeating history.

**So Which One Wins?**

Honest answer: both. It depends on your timeframe and strategy.

Use **linear** for:
- Day trading and swing trading
- Spotting recent support/resistance levels
- Analyzing consolidation patterns

Use **logarithmic** for:
- Long-term trend analysis
- Identifying cycle patterns
- Understanding whether this bull run is sustainable
- Comparing gains across different price levels

**The Practical Move**

Pro traders toggle between both. Check your altcoin on linear to catch the breakout, then flip to logarithmic to see if it's breaking historical resistance from the last cycle. That's when you know you're genuinely positioned right.

Most charting platforms let you switch instantly. Spend 10 minutes experimenting and you'll never look at price action the same way again.