Bookmap Icebergs and Absorption: How Hidden Orders Control Price
Icebergs and absorption are where Bookmap blows normal charts out of the water. This is where you see the real battle between large players—hidden size, refilling orders, and massive traders absorbing everything thrown at them. If you want to know why price refuses to break a level, this is it.
What an Iceberg Order Is
An iceberg order is a hidden limit order. Only a small portion is visible to the market, but when that visible portion gets filled, the order refills again and again.
On Bookmap, icebergs show up when:
- large executed volume happens at a price
- but the displayed liquidity barely changes
- size keeps reappearing no matter how many trades hit it
This tells you a big trader or institution is sitting there quietly absorbing order flow.
How Bookmap Detects Icebergs
Bookmap tracks executed volume and compares it to displayed liquidity. When the trades exceed the visible size, Bookmap flags iceberg activity.
Common signs include:
- repeated fills at the same price
- displayed size staying stable despite heavy trading
- large bubble clusters hitting a level but the level refusing to break
If you see this pattern, you’re watching a large player defend that price.
What Absorption Means
Absorption is when aggressive buyers or sellers attack a level but can’t move price because the other side absorbs everything.
Example:
- Massive red bubbles hit the bid
- Bid size stays strong
- Price barely ticks down
This means a buyer is absorbing every sell order thrown at them. That often leads to a reversal.
Icebergs vs Absorption
| Icebergs | Absorption |
|---|---|
| Hidden resting orders refilling repeatedly | Displayed (or hidden) orders absorbing aggressive trades |
| Usually passive intent | Reactive defense of a price |
| Level stays stable | Attack fails to break the level |
They often occur together. Icebergs create the absorption. Absorption exposes the iceberg.
Where Icebergs Usually Show Up
- Prior highs and lows
- Session open levels
- VWAP
- Big liquidity walls
- Market structure turning points
If you see icebergs in these zones, expect a reaction.
Common Iceberg Scenarios
1. Iceberg Support
Price drops into a level. Aggressive sellers pile in. Hidden buying absorbs everything. Price reverses hard.
2. Iceberg Resistance
Price pushes up. Buyers attack. Hidden sellers absorb and shut it down. Price reverses downward.
3. Iceberg Trap
A giant iceberg absorbs one side, then the same trader flips and sends the market the other direction.
Why Icebergs Matter More Than Indicators
Indicators show you the past. Icebergs show you who’s in control right now.
That’s why Bookmap users can spot reversals and breakouts before most traders even see the candle forming.
Final Thoughts
Icebergs and absorption reveal the hidden hands in the market. When a level refuses to break despite massive aggression, that’s not random—that’s a large trader holding the line. Learn to spot these behaviors and you’ll understand the real intent behind price movement.