Bookmap Sweeps and Stop Runs: How to Spot Fast Liquidity Grabs
Sweeps and stop runs are fast, aggressive moves where the market chews through multiple liquidity levels in seconds. Bookmap makes these moves obvious by showing the order flow behind them—big bubble streaks, liquidity vanishing, and price ripping through levels without hesitation. This is how you read them without guessing.
What a Sweep Is
A sweep is a burst of aggressive orders that blasts through several price levels at once. It leaves a trail of same-colored volume bubbles and clears any nearby liquidity walls.
In simple terms: the market runs straight through size like it’s not even there.
What a Stop Run Is
A stop run is a sweep triggered by traders’ stop-loss orders being hit. Once stops activate, they execute as market orders, which fuels even more aggressive flow.
You’ll usually see:
- a sudden bubble streak
- liquidity pulling out of the way
- price ripping through several ticks instantly
How Sweeps Look on Bookmap
Sweeps are extremely easy to spot on Bookmap compared to normal charts. The platform shows the exact order flow behind the move.
Key signs:
- Long streak of red or blue bubbles (one-sided aggression)
- Multiple liquidity levels removed instantly
- DOM depth collapsing
- Heatmap levels disappearing
- Price slicing through the order book
If several of these fire at once, you’re watching a sweep unfold.
Why Sweeps Happen
- Stop-loss clusters getting triggered
- Large traders executing sweeping orders
- Market makers removing liquidity
- Algorithms hunting weak levels
These are not random. They’re usually driven by a clear goal: grabbing liquidity quickly.
How to Read Liquidity Behavior During a Sweep
Liquidity tells you whether the move will stick or fail. Watch for:
1. Liquidity Pulling
Large orders vanish just before price reaches them. This clears a path for the sweep.
2. Chasing Liquidity
Large limit orders move with price, not against it. This signals continuation.
3. Refilling
If traders reload the book after a sweep, a reversal might happen.
How Stop Runs Look on Bookmap
Stop runs show even more aggression because stops convert directly into market orders.
- Huge bubble clusters
- Instant depth collapse
- No hesitation through key levels
- Sudden heatmap darkening (liquidity gone)
Once the stops are cleared, the market often snaps back if no real interest remains.
Continuation vs Reversal After a Sweep
This is where Bookmap shines. Watch executed volume:
- If heavy volume continues after the sweep → momentum likely keeps going
- If volume dries up instantly → the move was just a stop run → expect pullback
- If icebergs appear → a larger player is absorbing → possible reversal
Practical Use
Traders use sweeps to:
- enter momentum trades
- avoid getting trapped
- identify fake breakouts
- spot forced liquidations
All of these become obvious with Bookmap's real-time bubbles and liquidity shifts.
Final Thoughts
Sweeps and stop runs are high-energy moves driven by aggressive orders and liquidity collapses. Bookmap exposes the mechanics behind these moves better than any candlestick chart ever could. Once you learn to read bubble streaks, liquidity behavior, and depth collapse, you’ll know whether the market is hunting stops or launching a real trend.