Analysis Report: ICT's Claim That Volume Profile Is 'Practically Useless'

On November 15, 2025 (17:15 UTC), Michael J. Huddleston (known as the Inner Circle Trader, ICT) claimed volume profile—a technical analysis tool used to identify support/resistance via volume distribution across price levels—is ‘practically useless.’ ICT asserts he can detect volume moves before they appear on charts and urges traders to ignore volume-based signals [User Input]. This claim is corroborated by a social media post (X/Twitter) quoting ICT arguing volume profile is hindsight since it displays past volume activity [2].

• Short-term
  : The claim may influence sentiment among ICT’s retail follower base (forex/stock traders using his strategies). No immediate market price movements linked to the claim have been observed.
• Medium-term
  : If ICT followers act on his advice, there could be reduced volume profile usage among this group, potentially leading to altered trading behavior (e.g., ignoring key support/resistance levels).
• Long-term
  : Unlikely to affect institutional traders—volume profile is widely accepted as a valuable tool for market analysis [1][3][4].

Sources: [1] TrendSpider, [2] X/Twitter post, [3] SHS Web of Conferences study, [4] ATAS.

• ICT’s Credibility
  : PhidiasPropFirm reports ICT has no verifiable profitable results; he failed a 2016 $10k→$1M challenge and blew his account in the 2024 Robbins Cup [0].
• Volume Profile Effectiveness
  :
  • TrendSpider: Identifies high-probability support/resistance zones and complements other indicators [1].
  • ATAS: Used by professionals to analyze sentiment and develop strategies [1].
  • 2021 Study: Reveals micro-level market dynamics to predict price movements [3].
• ICT’s Argument
  : Volume profile is hindsight (displays past volume activity) [2].

Sources: [0] PhidiasPropFirm, [1] TrendSpider/ATAS, [2] X/Twitter post, [3] SHS Web of Conferences.

• Direct
  : Trading platforms/tools with volume profile features (TrendSpider, ATAS, TradingView [1][2]).
• Indirect
  : Retail traders using ICT strategies across stocks/futures/forex who may adjust their approach.
• Related Sectors
  : Technical analysis software providers, volume profile educational resources.

Sources: [1] TrendSpider/ATAS, [2] X/Twitter post.

• Information Gaps
  : Need to investigate (1) post-2021 empirical studies on volume profile, (2) size of ICT’s follower base, (3) volume profile usage statistics.
• Multi-Perspective
  : ICT’s claim contradicts industry consensus—traders should test volume profile in their own strategies before adjusting.
• Key Monitoring Factors
  : Social media sentiment among ICT followers, changes in volume profile usage, subsequent expert comments.

Sources: [0] PhidiasPropFirm, [1] TrendSpider/ATAS, [2] X/Twitter post, [3] SHS Web of Conferences.

• Users should be aware
  that ignoring volume profile (a widely accepted tool with empirical support) based on ICT’s advice may increase trading risks (e.g., missing critical support/resistance levels) [1][3][4].
• This development raises concerns
  about the reliability of ICT’s claim, given his lack of verifiable profitable results and documented trading failures [0].
• Historical patterns suggest
  that disregarding established technical tools without rigorous testing can lead to suboptimal decisions—users should factor this into their analysis [1][3].

Sources: [0] PhidiasPropFirm, [1] TrendSpider/ATAS, [3] SHS Web of Conferences, [4] ATAS.

[0] PhidiasPropFirm, “Is ICT Trading Legit? The Truth About Inner Circle Trader …”, URL: https://phidiaspropfirm.com/education/is-ict-legit
[1] TrendSpider Learning Center, “Volume Profile Strategies”, URL: https://trendspider.com/learning-center/volume-profile-strategies/
[2] X/Twitter post by jestertrading33, URL: https://x.com/jestertrading33/status/1989006370419454074
[3] SHS Web of Conferences, “Analysis of trading volume and its use in prediction future price …”, URL: https://www.shs-conferences.org/articles/shsconf/pdf/2021/03/shsconf_glob20_02010.pdf
[4] ATAS, “Fixed Range Volume Profile: Definition and Trading Strategies”, URL: https://atas.net/volume-analysis/fixed-range-volume-profile-definition-and-trading-strategies/

Note: Source [2] is a social media post (Tier 3 credibility—use with caution). All other sources are Tier 2/Tier 3 (industry-recognized).
This report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
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