BACKTESTING · FIBONACCI PULLBACK

Fibonacci Pullback Backtest in Crypto: Fees, Slippage and Break-Even Costs

Buying a pullback to the 61.8% retracement is a popular rule. The swing used to draw the levels decides everything.

Short answer

A Fibonacci pullback rule measures a swing (low to high), then buys at a retracement level (e.g. 61.8%) with a stop below the swing low or 78.6%. Swing selection is the backtest risk: choose swings mechanically (confirmed pivots), apply the same to all history, and compare entries at Fibonacci levels with entries at arbitrary levels (e.g. 50% or 60%). Use limit-fill realism and compute break-even cost.

Break-even cost

ItemValue (illustrative)
Trades110
Gross avg per trade+0.47%
Fees (2 × 0.05%)−0.10%
Slippage (2 × 0.03%)−0.05%
Net avg per trade+0.32%
Break-even round-trip cost0.47%
Fibonacci Pullback: edge vs cost per trade (%)Fibonacci Pullback: edge vs cost per trade (%): Gross edge 0.47 %; Fees 0.10 %; Fees + slippage 0.15 %.FIBONACCI PULLBACK: EDGE VS COST PER TRADE (%)Gross edge0.47 %Fees0.10 %Fees + slippage0.15 %
Edge per trade versus cost per trade. Original ChartsPod editorial graphic.

Fibonacci vs arbitrary levels

Entry levelTradesNet avg (illustrative)
61.8%110+0.36%
60.0%114+0.35%
50.0%150+0.29%
Illustrative net avg (%)Illustrative net avg (%): 61.8% +0.36 %; 60% +0.35 %; 50% +0.29 %.ILLUSTRATIVE NET AVG (%)61.8%+0.36 %60%+0.35 %50%+0.29 %
61.8 vs 60: no meaningful difference here. Original ChartsPod editorial graphic.

Conclusion

Related: Moving-Average Pullback Backtest in Crypto: Fees, Slippage and Break-Even Costs, Trend-Line Breakout Backtest in Crypto: Fees, Slippage and Break-Even Costs.

Backtest the fibonacci pullback rule with costs in ChartsPod.

Open the ChartsPod terminal

Use limit-fill realism and compute break-even cost.

Review Fibonacci Pullback Backtest in Crypto with bar replay before using it live.

Open ChartsPod replay

Questions readers ask

Do Fibonacci levels work in crypto?

Test against nearby arbitrary levels.

How should swings be chosen?

Mechanically, with confirmed pivots.

Limit fills?

Require price to trade through.

Sources and methodology

Backtest cost logic follows TradingView's Pine Script strategy documentation; indicator definitions are standard. All performance numbers are illustrative examples of the method, not results of real tests.

  1. TradingView Pine Script: Strategies — simulated fills and assumptions.
  2. TradingView Pine Script: Repainting — live vs historical calculation.
  3. ChartsPod documentation — guides for order flow, derivatives, alerts, backtests, journal and workspaces.

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.