ICT Archivist

Year: 2026

  • TRU – ICT follow through | February 20, 2026

    In a live trading community conversation, a participant asks where the market-controlling “algorithm” is hosted (CME/NY4/NSA involvement). Michael (ICT) responds that no one can prove or tour a central location, says he personally doesn’t believe it’s in the United States, and argues the best “evidence” is repeated precision in price behavior at specific levels and times. He insists the algorithm is based on open/high/low/close, dismissing range bars, tick charts, Renko, and similar chart types, and says markets must be controlled to prevent collective speculation from destabilizing critical markets like treasuries.

    The discussion touches on silver’s recent volatility as an example of the algorithm “turning up the dial” where attention is highest, and mentions possible future shifts in volatility depending on metals contract expirations and geopolitical events such as a war with Iran affecting energy prices. A participant speculates Switzerland; ICT says that would be “close,” references major settlement institutions, and notes Switzerland as a place where “high seats” are.

    The conversation then shifts to community trade recap and mentorship topics: members discuss hitting bearish and bullish targets, unmitigated settlement prices, and ICT concepts across timeframes (including five-second and fifteen-second charts), with emphasis on higher-timeframe context like the weekly open and a weekly doji/compression on a Friday news/opex day.

    Another speaker praises ICT’s earlier remarks about prop firms, arguing many traders become dependent on prop rules and affiliate marketing, and warns firms can change rules and deny payouts. ICT reiterates that traders should invest in themselves using free material, avoid chasing shiny promises from props/gurus/courses, backtest simple ideas like time-of-day highs/lows, and focus on understanding the repeating logic behind his PD arrays rather than seeking gimmicks or social-media validation.

    He describes teaching as a legacy for his children, references trading with his son Cameron observing levels being hit in real time, and frames the community space as a supportive forum where traders share struggles and learn paths toward consistency.

  • February 20, 2026 | That Which Props Up Ponzi Schemes

    ICT delivers an explicit, confrontational monologue arguing that online prop firms are untrustworthy, operate like Ponzi schemes, and routinely change rules to avoid payouts while encouraging financially stressed people to keep paying for evaluations with credit cards. He criticizes traders and educators— including some of his own students—who promote prop firms via affiliate codes, comparing them to enabling bartenders and “friendly neighborhood drug dealers,” and claims monetized opinions become compromised. He says he has no affiliations with brokers or firms and refuses sponsorships so he can speak freely, calling all brokers and prop firms dishonest.

    Citing his sons’ experiences, he says Caleb repeatedly failed to “beat” prop rules and Cameron only received a small payout after the speaker intervened; he urged Cameron to stop using prop firms, get a job, and trade a regulated live account instead. He describes forcing Cameron to work (including DoorDash) to build a $10,000 regulated brokerage account and reports Cameron grew it to about $12,600 in under two weeks and plans to wire out $2,500, emphasizing small, disciplined trading (one micro contract, no trading on some days) over chasing large payouts.

    He advises viewers to avoid prop firms, save at least $5,000, practice a repeatable model on demo properly, then transition gradually to live trading with minimal size, especially given he says current markets are unusually difficult and manipulated. He predicts coming litigation against prop firms, recounts a past Ponzi scheme example and other frauds to illustrate the mechanism, and closes by urging prop firms to treat customers fairly and viewers to stop funding them and stop gambling.

  • The Inner Circle Trader’s Space 10:55PM | February 13, 2026

    ICT explains how winning streaks can create overconfidence (“Midas Touch”) that leads traders to increase leverage and then suffer demoralizing losses, so he recommends building “plateaus” by scaling down after a set number of wins (e.g., after five winning trades, drop to the smallest size) to reduce drawdowns and emotional damage. He promotes an income-based approach using one micro contract, targeting consistent weekly percentage gains (e.g., 7.5%) and illustrates with a live, real-money example of making over $400 on a small account using liquidity targets and inversion fair value gap entries. He advises using circuit-breaker rules after losses, accepting imperfection, avoiding rushing into larger markets, and preventing “scar tissue.” The discussion briefly shifts to disaster preparedness (hurricanes, power/internet loss) and how such stress would likely halt trading, then broadens into concerns about societal instability and control, urging practical readiness.

  • The Inner Circle Trader’s Space 10:55PM (NOT RECORDED) | February 13, 2026

    Summary:

    Trading psychology & tactics
    – Overconfidence after a winning streak (“Midas touch”) leads traders to over‑leverage and then panic when a loss comes. ICT stresses managing that impulse.
    – Practical rule: build plateaus — after a series of winning trades (example: five), scale back to the smallest size (one micro) rather than continually increasing risk. This limits drawdowns and emotional damage.
    – Income‑based trading: focus on steady, modest targets rather than chasing huge payouts. Example math: on a $5k base, aiming 7–12% weekly is realistic; one micro contract (≈$2/handle) can hit a daily/week target (e.g., ~37.5 handles per session) without excessive risk.
    – Use simple intraday tools he teaches (fair value gaps, liquidity runs, opening ranges) and trade with a consistent model; paper‑trade instead of immediately increasing size if you feel “cocky.”
    – Accept imperfection: small leverage and reasonable stops let you be profitable while still learning to scale. Implement “circuit breakers” for yourself (reduce leverage after stops).

    Preparedness & practical resilience
    – In discussion about living through hurricanes/civil disruptions (caller from Miami): recommended preparedness—generators, batteries, flashlights, water storage/filters, IBC totes, basic supplies—and the value of community mutual aid.
    – Consider redundant communications/internet (Starlink) if trading or needing connectivity during outages.

    Broader social/political concerns (ICT’s perspective)
    – Long-form cautionary commentary about perceived corruption, institutional failure, use of fear to control populations, and risks of future crises (disease scares, engineered events, or even nuclear fallout as hypotheticals presented).
    – Warns of the dangers of full digital currency and centralized control (ability to restrict spending/ mobility); urges personal preparedness and skepticism of political systems and elites.
    – Encourages avoiding panic, not taking irrational street action, and instead fortifying one’s home, family and resources.

    Personal notes & closing
    – Personal anecdotes about family (new grandson), reflections on parenting, and a closing reminder to appreciate loved ones (suggestion: write a short, sincere love letter rather than buying a card).
    – Final exhortation: be prudent in trading and life—manage risk, prepare practically, and don’t be driven to irrational decisions by emotion or external panic.

  • The Inner Circle Trader’s Space 10:41PM | February 13, 2026

    Summary:

    – A trader asked about using volume imbalances as profit targets and whether wicks that touch an imbalance invalidate it. Michael’s answer:
    – You can use the imbalance as a take-profit target, but be pragmatic — it’s fine to exit slightly before the level rather than waiting for a perfect hit. Trust your trade decision-making while you build the skill to hold for fuller moves.
    – Volume imbalances are flexible and can be traded multiple times because they are essentially common gaps with wicks passing through them. They do not become invalid simply because price wicks through.
    – An imbalance becomes effectively “invalid” for trading (entries, targets, stops) only when a full candle body closes over it on the same timeframe it formed (e.g., a weekly imbalance needs a weekly body close to be considered closed). If a substantial portion of a body lies inside the imbalance, Michael will stop using it and look for other PDAs.
    – By contrast, inversion fair value gaps have much stricter criteria and cannot be treated as flexibly.
    – Carry levels down to lower timeframes for use, but judge validity based on the timeframe of formation.

    – A second caller (Daniel) asked about trading psychology:
    – He has no trouble with technicals but struggles with overconfidence after winning streaks, which leads him to stop respecting risk and eventually suffer losses.

    – Key practical points: be flexible with volume imbalances, don’t insist on perfect exits, trust and train your decision-making, and stop using a PDA once its forming-timeframe candle body closes over it.

  • My Your Mark With Micros | February 13, 2026

    Summary:

    – ICT opened an unscripted trading discussion and noted he often gets asked for quick fixes or financial help but can’t bail everyone out.
    – Main topic: criteria for trading the “first presented fair value gap” (FPFVG), especially in the opening range (~9:31–10:00 ET).
    – Key entry conditions for an FPFVG:
    – It should fit a session narrative (e.g., a pre-session expectation that was “undelivered”).
    – Look for a clear displacement in the anticipated direction (a jolt/higher displacement for longs).
    – Prefer a protraction that jumps outside efficiency (buy-side bounce).
    – Size and volatility rules:
    – In the current high-volatility environment he uses larger minimums: ~10 handles on NASDAQ, ~3–5 handles on ES.
    – These thresholds evolved from prior rules because intraday ranges are now much wider.
    – Smaller gaps can still inform stop placement or position sizing but are often not traded as primary signals.
    – Execution & risk management:
    – Have a preconceived session bias (not necessarily a hard day bias).
    – If price trades back into the gap, start scaling in around the upper half of the gap.
    – Place stop just beyond the first candle’s low (± a tick). If stopped, wait for price to trade above the gap and try once more with the same stop; if stopped again, end trading for the session.
    – Don’t feel obligated to take every available FPFVG trade.
    – A participant raised a psychology question: they have solid technical skills and execution but self-sabotage when things go very well (example: growing $500 to $7,000), and they struggle to fix this recurring behavioral issue.

  • Feburary 13, 2026 | TRU part 2

    Kitt says an X Space was repeatedly disconnected (“rug pull”) despite attempts to add co-hosts, and apologizes to Michael and listeners for the connection issues.

    After reconnecting, the conversation recalls Michael’s earlier points about trusting oneself, manifestation, and faith in the Lord, including the phrase “the Lord inhabits the praise.”

    A listener asks whether current conditions resemble the Great Depression, referencing grandparents’ lessons on canning, gardening, hunting, sewing, and self-sufficiency; Michael says history often leads to disorder and war, argues crises are planned with solutions pre-made (citing COVID as an example), and urges preparation, humility, and using money as a tool to fortify family and help others rather than flaunting wealth online.

    Michael shares a personal story of becoming briefly homeless and sleeping in his car with his child due to financial decisions made under pressure, using it to warn that desperation and life circumstances can disrupt trading even when the skill exists, and that people should be able to sustain themselves without trading for long periods.

    A caller from Detroit, Raffi, says he is unemployed, doing DoorDash, using prop firms, and facing tax foreclosure; others challenge his “victim mindset” and emphasize that trading from desperation leads to gambling and losses, advising him to prioritize stable work, focus on accumulating knowledge, and use demo/drills rather than trying to save his situation with trades. Michael asks details and learns Raffi has owned his home seven years, owes about $5,000–$6,000 in taxes, earns about $150–$180 on a good DoorDash night, has five children total (four at home), and his wife does not work; Michael advises getting additional income, resting, and securing housing first because “trading won’t go away, but your house can go away.”

    Another speaker offers help and suggests a personal loan plan for the tax amount, and multiple speakers recommend showing up to construction job sites with tools, finding a second/night-shift job (e.g., concierge/front desk), and delaying live trading until life pressure is reduced. The group reiterates Michael’s approach of keeping trading simple with very small size (e.g., one micro and modest daily targets) and compounding over time. The host notes ongoing connection problems, thanks everyone, ends the Space, and says they will do another next Friday and welcomes thoughtful screenshots with questions for follow-up.

  • Feburary 13, 2026 | Trader Round Up – It’s Friday

    Summary:

    A live conversation where speakers discuss concerns about food and health, claiming “fake meat” is being pushed while alleging mRNA is being injected into meat and that cancer “cures” will be delivered by syringe. One speaker recommends halal meat for cleanliness but says it would not remove mRNA, describes being “pure blood,” and recounts a childhood vaccination event involving his youngest child’s blood pressure crash and later learning differences. He criticizes chemotherapy as ineffective, suggests nutrition changes (especially removing carbs and sugar) could have helped his grandfather with pancreatic cancer, and mentions fenbendazole and ivermectin as potential aids.

    The group emphasizes buying food directly from farms, promoting paleo-ketogenic, high-fat/high-protein diets (raw butter, organ meats), and avoiding processed foods; they cite widespread antibiotic use in livestock and contamination of grains/beans with pesticides and glyphosate, and discuss fluoride, aluminum, and geoengineering as harmful.

    The conversation shifts to politics and conspiracy topics, including Epstein-related documents, allegations of “disclosure, missing government trillions, and claims of a “Luciferian” power structure. Speakers speculate about engineered civil unrest (“zombie apocalypse” as code), false-flag events, depopulation, and government preparation (food storage, officials’ security measures). They argue the system is designed to push people toward snapping while remaining comfortable enough not to act.

    Later, they return to personal health practices: elimination diets, cutting sugar and bread, improved resting heart rate and blood pressure, and discussion of parasites and turmeric for inflammation.

    A major emotional segment features a participant thanking Michael for his “Berean Study” YouTube channel, describing how it led him to church and baptism in Jesus Christ’s name, and sharing that the experience felt more liberating than money or trading success. Michael responds that the testimony answers his doubts about reaching people, says he would rather focus on Bible teaching than trading, and gives advice on faith: read the Bible (he mentions reading it through with Alexander Scorby), talk to God openly, place God above all else, and live with daily gratitude and praise. Other participants affirm the impact of Michael’s beliefs and teaching across different religious backgrounds.

  • Uncommonsense For Volatile Markets | February 8, 2026

    Summary

    – Big-picture: we’re entering (or already in) a period of unusually high, broad market volatility driven by geopolitical, monetary and structural forces. Expect volatility to increase and to affect all asset classes.

    – trader mindset & preparation: most losses come from psychology, overleverage, impatience and copying noisy influences. Mastering yourself, doing thorough backtesting and lengthy demo/forward testing, and refusing to chase “quick wins” are essential.

    – prop firms & leverage: restrictions from prop firms are often a protection, not a conspiracy. Limits can prevent traders from destroying small accounts in today’s extreme conditions.

    – influencers & noise: many popular commentators and YouTubers don’t actually trade or manage risk; treat their calls skeptically. Hindsight callouts and monetized “hot takes” can harm inexperienced listeners.

    – crypto view: the speaker is strongly negative on crypto — calls it structurally risky, prone to Ponzi dynamics, and predicts potential deep collapses (compared to Luna). He won’t invest in it and warns others not to assume it’s legitimate money.

    – silver concerns: there may be an actual physical supply shortage versus paper contracts. With March 2026 delivery approaching, delivery/settlement dynamics could force disruptive price moves and engineered “cash-out” reductions if physical supply cannot be delivered (historical parallel: 1980 Hunt brothers episode).

    – manipulation & systemic risk: large institutions and exchanges can and do influence price paths; banks may be exposed and central banks/authorities sometimes intervene to manage fallout (2007–08 parallels). Energy, metals and macro shocks (war, geopolitical escalation) can produce extreme, fast moves (example: oil going deeply negative in 2020).

    – personal stance & credibility: the speaker emphasizes he’s not monetizing these views, interacts with the community freely, and feels responsible to warn and coach rather than hype.

    Actionable takeaways
    – Don’t overleverage; reduce position size when markets are erratic (even one micro contract in silver can wipe a small account).
    – Backtest, tape-read and demo-trade for months (minimum a semester’s worth) before risking real money.
    – Take profits when appropriate and avoid “marrying the vein” (refusing to take profits because you’re emotionally attached).
    – Be skeptical of loud online voices and sensational narratives; study market history (e.g., 1980 silver, Swiss franc de-peg, 2020 oil) to recognize recurring patterns.

    Overall message: respect risk, clean up your trading psychology and process, be skeptical of hype, and prepare for continued extreme market action rather than chasing quick riches.

  • Grab Your Tinfoil Hat… | January 31, 2026

    – Market environment: He says markets are unusually volatile and manipulated, so traders must respect risk, avoid overleveraging, and take profits when appropriate.
    – Metals (gold & silver): He’d long expected a metals run. Silver’s recent spike was driven by real industrial demand and tight supply, but exchanges allegedly engineered a “controlled demolition” (sharp drop) because physical delivery couldn’t be met — so be cautious trading metals now.
    – Personal note: He regrets not buying cheap deep‑out‑of‑the‑money silver put options before the drop, but emphasizes managing position size and exits over chasing moves.
    – Systemic warnings: He argues global power players (BRICS, WEF, big finance) are pushing toward a gold‑back alternative, centralized governance, and tighter controls on currency, property and markets.
    – Civil liberties & control: He warns of expanding surveillance, new taxes (even on travel, consumption, unrealized gains), “smart city” rollouts, property grabs, and emergency/policing measures that could restrict movement or trading.
    – Consequences for traders/influencers: If markets become harder or regulated away from retail, prop‑firm incomes and influencer revenue could evaporate; don’t rely solely on trading income.
    – Practical advice: Be critical, prepare contingencies — reduce risk, take profits, build household reserves (food, water, power), consider self‑defense and alternative income streams — and think independently rather than following hype.
    – Call to community: He asks listeners how they would respond if trading were disrupted and invites practical ideas and feedback.