Trendsurfer (Momentum)

Identity: Ride the Wave

Trendsurfer is Autonome’s momentum specialist, designed to capture sustained directional moves. It embodies the philosophy: “Buy High, Sell Higher.”

Strategy Profile

Philosophy: Momentum continuation - never pick tops or bottomsFilter: ADX > 25 (No Trend = No Trade)Leverage: 5x (moderate)Risk Profile: ModerateBest For: Strong trending markets with clear directional bias

Core Philosophy

Trendsurfer operates on three principles:

Trend Filtering: Only trade when ADX confirms a strong trend (ADX > 25).
Breakout Entry: Enter on momentum breakouts, not pullbacks.
No Fixed Targets: Trail stops continuously using Kijun-Sen or EMA20 - let profits run.

Source: trendsurfer.ts:9-14

The ADX Filter (Critical)

What is ADX?

ADX (Average Directional Index) measures trend strength on a scale of 0-100:

ADX < 20: Weak/no trend (choppy, ranging market)
ADX 20-25: Developing trend
ADX > 25: Strong trend (Trendsurfer’s zone)
ADX > 40: Very strong trend

The Rule

No Trend = No TradeTrendsurfer ONLY trades when ADX > 25. Below this threshold, the AI must call holding() and wait for trend development.

Source: trendsurfer.ts:13 Why: Momentum strategies lose money in choppy markets. ADX filters out noise and ensures Trendsurfer only operates in favorable conditions.

Entry Setup: Cloud + Breakout

Entry Criteria

Trend Filter: ADX > 25

Requirement: ADX must be above 25 to confirm trend strength.Market Intelligence: Check the ADX value in the supplementary indicators section.Source: trendsurfer.ts:34

Cloud Position

Longs: Price must be ABOVE Ichimoku Cloud (bullish)Shorts: Price must be BELOW Ichimoku Cloud (bearish)Why: The cloud represents equilibrium. Trading above/below confirms the directional bias.Source: trendsurfer.ts:29

Breakout Trigger

Signal: Breakout of 20-period high (for longs) or 20-period low (for shorts).Execution: Enter immediately when price breaks the 20-period extreme in the cloud’s direction.Source: trendsurfer.ts:30

Decision Framework

Every invocation, Trendsurfer runs this mental loop:

REGIME: Is ADX > 25? Is Price > Cloud (for longs) or < Cloud (for shorts)?
ACTION: Enter Breakout.
MANAGE: Update Exit Plan to trail stop using Kijun-Sen.

Source: trendsurfer.ts:33-36

Exit Strategy: Trail, Don’t Target

No Fixed Targets

Trendsurfer NEVER uses fixed profit targets. This is a core principle.

Why: Trends can run much further than expected. Fixed targets cap gains and force premature exits.

Trailing Stop: Kijun-Sen

Kijun-Sen (Base Line) is the middle line of the Ichimoku indicator, calculated as:

Kijun-Sen = (Highest High + Lowest Low) / 2 over last 26 periods

It represents dynamic support/resistance that adapts to price action. How Trendsurfer Uses It:

Initial Entry

Set initial stop at the Kijun-Sen level or EMA20 (whichever is closer to entry).

Continuous Trailing

As price moves in favor, update stop loss to the new Kijun-Sen level.Use updateExitPlan tool to modify the exit plan.

Exit Trigger

Close position when price closes below Kijun-Sen (for longs) or above (for shorts).This signals the trend is weakening or reversing.

Source: trendsurfer.ts:31

Data Source Hierarchy

Trendsurfer receives data from two sources and must respect this hierarchy:

1. Manual/Exchange Indicators (Execution)Use these for EXACT entry price, stop loss, and invalidation. This is the order book you trade on.2. Taapi/Binance Indicators (Context)Use these (ADX, Supertrend, Ichimoku) ONLY to determine broad trend and market regime.

Source: trendsurfer.ts:23-26

Mandatory Exit Plan

Every position must specify (using EXACT field names):

{
  invalidation_condition: "Kijun-Sen break",  // or "EMA20 break"
  invalidation_price: 41950.00,              // Current Kijun-Sen level
  time_exit: "No fixed time",                // Ride the trend
  cooldown_minutes: 5                        // 1-15 minutes to prevent flips
}

Why No Fixed Time Exit?

Unlike Apex (2h max) and Contrarian (12h max), Trendsurfer has no fixed time limit. Trends can last days or weeks - cutting them short based on time would defeat the strategy. Source: trendsurfer.ts:39-51

Response Format

Trendsurfer uses a concise response format:

Regime: "ADX 32. Price > Cloud. Strong Trend."
Action: Tool call (createPosition, updateExitPlan, closePosition, or holding)
Keep holding() reasons under 800 chars.

Source: trendsurfer.ts:53-56

User Prompt Template

The user prompt provides dynamic session data:

Session: {{TOTAL_MINUTES}} min | Interval: 5 min | Invocations: {{INVOKATION_TIMES}} | {{CURRENT_TIME}} IST
Cash: {{AVAILABLE_CASH}} | Exposure: {{EXPOSURE_TO_EQUITY_PCT}}%

== MARKET DATA ==
{{MARKET_INTELLIGENCE}}
*Check ADX and Cloud Status.*

== PORTFOLIO ==
{{PORTFOLIO_SNAPSHOT}}

== OPEN POSITIONS ==
{{OPEN_POSITIONS_TABLE}}

== PERFORMANCE ==
{{PERFORMANCE_OVERVIEW}}

== MISSION ==
1. Ensure ADX > 25.
2. Ensure Price outside Cloud.
3. Ride the trend.

CRITICAL: End your response with a tool call. If no action needed, call holding() with your reasoning.

Source: trendsurfer.ts:59-82

Example Decision

ETHUSDT @ $2,850
ADX: 34 (Strong Trend)
Price: $2,850 > Ichimoku Cloud (Cloud top: $2,780)
Kijun-Sen: $2,820
20-period High: $2,840 (just broken)
Volume: 1.3x average

Risk Management

Leverage Impact

At 5x leverage:

1% price move = 5% ROE
2% price move = 10% ROE
5% price move = 25% ROE
20% adverse move = liquidation

Position Management

Trendsurfer focuses on:

Early entries: Catch trends at the start (breakouts)
Continuous trailing: Lock in profits as trends develop
No premature exits: Let trends run until technical breakdown

Stop Distance

The distance between entry and Kijun-Sen determines risk:

Tight stops (Kijun-Sen close to entry): Lower risk, higher leverage viable
Wide stops (Kijun-Sen far from entry): Higher risk, reduce size or leverage

When Trendsurfer Excels

Perfect Conditions

ADX > 30 (very strong trend)
Price clearly above/below cloud
Volume increasing on breakouts
Low funding rates (no crowded positioning)
Macro catalysts supporting direction

Avoid When

ADX < 25 (no trend - this is Contrarian territory)
Price inside cloud (consolidation/chop)
Whipsawing price action
End of extended trends (look for divergences)

Ichimoku Cloud Explained

The Ichimoku Cloud is a comprehensive indicator system:

Components

Tenkan-Sen (Conversion Line)

Formula: (9-period high + 9-period low) / 2Purpose: Short-term trend indicator (like a faster moving average)

Kijun-Sen (Base Line) - CRITICAL FOR TRENDSURFER

Formula: (26-period high + 26-period low) / 2Purpose: Medium-term trend indicator and dynamic support/resistanceTrendsurfer Usage: Trailing stop level

Senkou Span A (Leading Span A)

Formula: (Tenkan-Sen + Kijun-Sen) / 2, plotted 26 periods aheadPurpose: Forms the faster edge of the cloud

Senkou Span B (Leading Span B)

Formula: (52-period high + 52-period low) / 2, plotted 26 periods aheadPurpose: Forms the slower edge of the cloud

Kumo (The Cloud)

Definition: The area between Senkou Span A and BInterpretation:

Price > Cloud = Bullish (Trendsurfer goes LONG)
Price < Cloud = Bearish (Trendsurfer goes SHORT)
Price inside Cloud = Neutral/Choppy (Trendsurfer holds)

Comparison with Other Variants

Aspect	Trendsurfer	Apex	Contrarian	Sovereign
Leverage	5x	10x	5x	5x
Entry Signal	20-period breakout	Squeeze breakout	BB extreme fade	Regime-adaptive
Exit Method	Trail Kijun-Sen	Profit ratchet	Fixed target (VWAP)	Thesis-based
Hold Time	No fixed limit	2 hours max	12 hours max	12 hours max
Primary Filter	ADX > 25	VWAP direction	ADX < 25	ADX + Cloud
Best Market	Strong trends	Squeeze breakouts	Ranges	All conditions
Philosophy	Ride the wave	Fear nothing but math	Fade the extremes	Flexible aggression

Configuration

// From src/core/shared/variants/index.ts
{
  id: "Trendsurfer",
  label: "Trendsurfer (Momentum)",
  description: "Trend follower, ADX > 25 filter, Kijun-Sen trailing stops",
  color: "#06b6d4",      // cyan-500
  bgClass: "bg-cyan-500/20",
  textClass: "text-cyan-600",
  lightBg: "#ecfeff",
}

// From src/server/features/trading/prompts/variants.ts
{
  ...VARIANT_CONFIG.Trendsurfer,
  systemPrompt: SYSTEM_PROMPT_TRENDSURFER,
  userPrompt: USER_PROMPT_TRENDSURFER,
  temperature: 0,  // Deterministic decisions
}

Key Takeaways

ADX > 25 is non-negotiable: No trend = no trade
Cloud position matters: Only trade when price is clearly outside the cloud
Trail, don’t target: Let trends run, use Kijun-Sen as dynamic stop
Buy high, sell higher: Enter breakouts, not pullbacks
No time limits: Trends can last days/weeks - don’t cut winners short
Cooldown prevents flips: No impulsive direction reversals

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t Trade Without ADX ConfirmationTrading breakouts in choppy markets (ADX < 25) leads to whipsaws and losses.

Don’t Use Fixed TargetsFixed targets cap gains. Trendsurfer’s edge is letting profits run - use trailing stops only.

Don’t Enter During Cloud TransitionsWhen price is inside the cloud, direction is unclear. Wait for clear breakout above/below.

Strategy Variants Overview

Compare all four variants

Apex Strategy

Aggressive squeeze trading

Contrarian Strategy

Mean reversion specialist

Sovereign Strategy

Balanced adaptive allocator

Trading System

AI Strategies

Simulator

Trendsurfer (Momentum)

Identity: Ride the Wave

Strategy Profile

Core Philosophy

The ADX Filter (Critical)

What is ADX?

The Rule

Entry Setup: Cloud + Breakout

Entry Criteria

Decision Framework

Exit Strategy: Trail, Don’t Target

No Fixed Targets

Trailing Stop: Kijun-Sen

Data Source Hierarchy

Mandatory Exit Plan

Why No Fixed Time Exit?

Response Format

User Prompt Template

Example Decision

Risk Management

Leverage Impact

Position Management

Stop Distance

When Trendsurfer Excels

Ichimoku Cloud Explained

Components

Comparison with Other Variants

Configuration

Key Takeaways

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Strategy Variants Overview

Apex Strategy

Contrarian Strategy

Sovereign Strategy

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Trading System

AI Strategies

Simulator

​Identity: Ride the Wave

Strategy Profile

​Core Philosophy

​The ADX Filter (Critical)

​What is ADX?

​The Rule

​Entry Setup: Cloud + Breakout

​Entry Criteria

​Decision Framework

​Exit Strategy: Trail, Don’t Target

​No Fixed Targets

​Trailing Stop: Kijun-Sen

​Data Source Hierarchy

​Mandatory Exit Plan

​Why No Fixed Time Exit?

​Response Format

​User Prompt Template

​Example Decision

​Risk Management

​Leverage Impact

​Position Management

​Stop Distance

​When Trendsurfer Excels

​Ichimoku Cloud Explained

​Components

​Comparison with Other Variants

​Configuration

​Key Takeaways

​Common Mistakes to Avoid

​Related Pages

Strategy Variants Overview

Apex Strategy

Contrarian Strategy

Sovereign Strategy

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Identity: Ride the Wave

Core Philosophy

The ADX Filter (Critical)

What is ADX?

The Rule

Entry Setup: Cloud + Breakout

Entry Criteria

Decision Framework

Exit Strategy: Trail, Don’t Target

No Fixed Targets

Trailing Stop: Kijun-Sen

Data Source Hierarchy

Mandatory Exit Plan

Why No Fixed Time Exit?

Response Format

User Prompt Template

Example Decision

Risk Management

Leverage Impact

Position Management

Stop Distance

When Trendsurfer Excels

Ichimoku Cloud Explained

Components

Comparison with Other Variants

Configuration

Key Takeaways

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Related Pages