Complete .mq5 source code
Crypto Expert Advisor MT5: Bitcoin, Ethereum & Altcoin EA Guide
Review an educational H1 EMA-crossover EA with an iMACD main-line filter, ATR stops and illustrative risk sizing. The source runs on the attached broker symbol, not a multi-asset portfolio. No verified win rate or optimized crypto settings are supplied.
Strategy logic
Entry conditions
The EA compares completed H1 bars 2 and 1 for an EMA crossover, then requires the iMACD main line (buffer 0) to be above or below zero. It does not require that MACD itself crosses zero, nor subtract the signal line as an OsMA-style histogram would. Any existing position on this symbol blocks a new entry; the EA does not scan Bitcoin, Ethereum and altcoins simultaneously.
Exit conditions
Initial SL/TP use the selected ATR multiples. At each new H1 bar, the trailing routine checks positions belonging to this example and may tighten the stop using the latest completed ATR. With the default 1 ATR activation and 1.5 ATR trailing distance, the first adjustment can remain below the entry price for a long: activation does not guarantee locked-in profit. There is no opposite-signal exit. Tick-size, stop/freeze levels, IOC filling, netting ownership and execution responses still require broker-specific testing.
MQL5 Expert Advisor Code
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| CryptoTrendEA.mq5 |
//| Trend-following Expert Advisor for BTC, ETH & Altcoin pairs |
//| Uses EMA crossover + MACD confirmation with ATR-based stops |
//| DISCLAIMER: For educational purposes only. Past performance |
//| does not guarantee future results. Trade at your own risk. |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
#property copyright "Pineify"
#property version "1.00"
#property strict
//--- Input parameters
input int FastEMAPeriod = 10; // Fast EMA period
input int SlowEMAPeriod = 50; // Slow EMA period
input int MACDFastPeriod = 12; // MACD fast EMA
input int MACDSlowPeriod = 26; // MACD slow EMA
input int MACDSignalPeriod = 9; // MACD signal period
input int ATRPeriod = 14; // ATR period for stops
input double ATRStopMult = 1.5; // ATR multiplier for stop-loss
input double ATRTPMult = 2.5; // ATR multiplier for take-profit
input double ATRTrailMult = 1.0; // ATR multiplier to activate trail
input double RiskPercent = 1.5; // Risk per trade as % of balance
input int MagicNumber = 202601; // Unique EA magic number
input string TradeComment = "CryptoTrendEA";
//--- Indicator handles
int handleFastEMA=INVALID_HANDLE;
int handleSlowEMA=INVALID_HANDLE;
int handleMACD=INVALID_HANDLE;
int handleATR=INVALID_HANDLE;
//--- Global state
double fastEMABuffer[];
double slowEMABuffer[];
double macdMainBuffer[];
double macdSignalBuffer[];
double atrBuffer[];
datetime lastBarTime = 0;
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert initialization function |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int OnInit()
{
if(FastEMAPeriod<=0 || SlowEMAPeriod<=0 || MACDFastPeriod<=0 || MACDSlowPeriod<=0 || MACDSignalPeriod<=0 || ATRPeriod<=0 || ATRStopMult<=0 || ATRTPMult<=0 || ATRTrailMult<0 || RiskPercent<=0) return INIT_PARAMETERS_INCORRECT;
//--- Create indicator handles
handleFastEMA = iMA(_Symbol, PERIOD_H1, FastEMAPeriod, 0, MODE_EMA, PRICE_CLOSE);
handleSlowEMA = iMA(_Symbol, PERIOD_H1, SlowEMAPeriod, 0, MODE_EMA, PRICE_CLOSE);
handleMACD = iMACD(_Symbol, PERIOD_H1, MACDFastPeriod, MACDSlowPeriod, MACDSignalPeriod, PRICE_CLOSE);
handleATR = iATR(_Symbol, PERIOD_H1, ATRPeriod);
if(handleFastEMA == INVALID_HANDLE || handleSlowEMA == INVALID_HANDLE ||
handleMACD == INVALID_HANDLE || handleATR == INVALID_HANDLE)
{
Print("Error creating indicator handles: ", GetLastError());
return INIT_FAILED;
}
//--- Set buffer as series
ArraySetAsSeries(fastEMABuffer, true);
ArraySetAsSeries(slowEMABuffer, true);
ArraySetAsSeries(macdMainBuffer, true);
ArraySetAsSeries(macdSignalBuffer,true);
ArraySetAsSeries(atrBuffer, true);
Print("CryptoTrendEA initialized on ", _Symbol);
return INIT_SUCCEEDED;
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert deinitialization function |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OnDeinit(const int reason)
{
if(handleFastEMA!=INVALID_HANDLE) IndicatorRelease(handleFastEMA);
if(handleSlowEMA!=INVALID_HANDLE) IndicatorRelease(handleSlowEMA);
if(handleMACD!=INVALID_HANDLE) IndicatorRelease(handleMACD);
if(handleATR!=INVALID_HANDLE) IndicatorRelease(handleATR);
Print("CryptoTrendEA deinitialized. Reason: ", reason);
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert tick function |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OnTick()
{
//--- Only act on new H1 bar close
datetime currentBarTime = iTime(_Symbol, PERIOD_H1, 0);
if(currentBarTime == 0 || currentBarTime == lastBarTime)
return;
lastBarTime = currentBarTime;
//--- Copy indicator data (need 3 bars: [0]=current, [1]=prev, [2]=prev-prev)
if(CopyBuffer(handleFastEMA, 0, 0, 3, fastEMABuffer) < 3) return;
if(CopyBuffer(handleSlowEMA, 0, 0, 3, slowEMABuffer) < 3) return;
if(CopyBuffer(handleMACD, 0, 0, 3, macdMainBuffer) < 3) return;
if(CopyBuffer(handleMACD, 1, 0, 3, macdSignalBuffer) < 3) return;
if(CopyBuffer(handleATR, 0, 0, 3, atrBuffer) < 3) return;
double atr = atrBuffer[1];
if(atr<=0) return;
double fastPrev = fastEMABuffer[2];
double slowPrev = slowEMABuffer[2];
double fastCurr = fastEMABuffer[1];
double slowCurr = slowEMABuffer[1];
double macdCurr = macdMainBuffer[1];
//--- Update trailing stops on open positions
UpdateTrailingStops(atr);
//--- Check for existing positions
if(PositionSelect(_Symbol))
return; // One position at a time
//--- Bullish crossover: fast crosses above slow + MACD main line positive
bool bullCross = (fastPrev <= slowPrev) && (fastCurr > slowCurr) && (macdCurr > 0);
//--- Bearish crossover: fast crosses below slow + MACD main line negative
bool bearCross = (fastPrev >= slowPrev) && (fastCurr < slowCurr) && (macdCurr < 0);
if(bullCross)
OpenTrade(ORDER_TYPE_BUY, atr);
else if(bearCross)
OpenTrade(ORDER_TYPE_SELL, atr);
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Open a trade with ATR-based SL and TP |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OpenTrade(ENUM_ORDER_TYPE orderType, double atr)
{
double ask = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_ASK);
double bid = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_BID);
double price = (orderType == ORDER_TYPE_BUY) ? ask : bid;
double slDistance = atr * ATRStopMult;
double tpDistance = atr * ATRTPMult;
double sl, tp;
if(orderType == ORDER_TYPE_BUY)
{
sl = price - slDistance;
tp = price + tpDistance;
}
else
{
sl = price + slDistance;
tp = price - tpDistance;
}
//--- Normalize prices
int digits = (int)SymbolInfoInteger(_Symbol, SYMBOL_DIGITS);
sl = NormalizeDouble(sl, digits);
tp = NormalizeDouble(tp, digits);
//--- Calculate lot size based on risk
double lotSize = CalculateLotSize(slDistance);
if(lotSize <= 0)
{
Print("Invalid lot size calculated.");
return;
}
MqlTradeRequest request = {};
MqlTradeResult result = {};
request.action = TRADE_ACTION_DEAL;
request.symbol = _Symbol;
request.volume = lotSize;
request.type = orderType;
request.price = price;
request.sl = sl;
request.tp = tp;
request.deviation = 20;
request.magic = MagicNumber;
request.comment = TradeComment;
request.type_filling = ORDER_FILLING_IOC;
if(!OrderSend(request, result) || result.retcode!=TRADE_RETCODE_DONE)
Print("OrderSend failed: ", result.retcode, " ", result.comment);
else
Print("Trade opened: ", EnumToString(orderType), " Lot=", lotSize,
" SL=", sl, " TP=", tp);
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Update trailing stops for open positions |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void UpdateTrailingStops(double atr)
{
if(!PositionSelect(_Symbol))
return;
if(PositionGetInteger(POSITION_MAGIC)!=MagicNumber) return;
long posType = PositionGetInteger(POSITION_TYPE);
double openPrice = PositionGetDouble(POSITION_PRICE_OPEN);
double currentSL = PositionGetDouble(POSITION_SL);
double currentTP = PositionGetDouble(POSITION_TP);
double bid = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_BID);
double ask = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_ASK);
int digits = (int)SymbolInfoInteger(_Symbol, SYMBOL_DIGITS);
double trailActivation = atr * ATRTrailMult;
double newSL = currentSL;
if(posType == POSITION_TYPE_BUY)
{
if((bid - openPrice) >= trailActivation)
{
double proposedSL = NormalizeDouble(bid - atr * ATRStopMult, digits);
if(proposedSL > currentSL)
newSL = proposedSL;
}
}
else if(posType == POSITION_TYPE_SELL)
{
if((openPrice - ask) >= trailActivation)
{
double proposedSL = NormalizeDouble(ask + atr * ATRStopMult, digits);
if(proposedSL < currentSL || currentSL == 0)
newSL = proposedSL;
}
}
if(newSL != currentSL)
{
MqlTradeRequest req = {};
MqlTradeResult res = {};
req.action = TRADE_ACTION_SLTP;
req.symbol = _Symbol;
req.sl = newSL;
req.tp = currentTP;
req.position = PositionGetInteger(POSITION_TICKET);
if(!OrderSend(req, res) || res.retcode!=TRADE_RETCODE_DONE)
Print("Trailing stop update failed: ", res.retcode);
}
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Calculate lot size based on account risk percentage |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
double CalculateLotSize(double slDistance)
{
double balance = AccountInfoDouble(ACCOUNT_BALANCE);
double riskAmount = balance * RiskPercent / 100.0;
double tickValue = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_TRADE_TICK_VALUE);
double tickSize = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_TRADE_TICK_SIZE);
double minLot = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_VOLUME_MIN);
double maxLot = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_VOLUME_MAX);
double lotStep = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_VOLUME_STEP);
if(tickSize <= 0 || tickValue <= 0 || slDistance <= 0 || lotStep<=0 || riskAmount<=0)
return 0;
double lotSize = riskAmount / (slDistance / tickSize * tickValue);
lotSize = MathFloor(lotSize / lotStep) * lotStep;
lotSize = MathFloor(MathMin(maxLot, lotSize)/lotStep)*lotStep;
if(lotSize<minLot) return 0;
return NormalizeDouble(lotSize, 8);
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+Copy this code into MetaEditor, save it in the MQL5/Experts folder, and compile with F7.
Generate a custom Crypto trend-following EA
Describe the entry, exit, position, order, and risk rules you want. Pineify generates editable MQL5 source code that you can inspect and compile in MetaEditor.
Pine Script vs MQL5: Same Strategy, Different Platforms
| Aspect | Pine Script (TradingView) | MQL5 (MetaTrader 5) |
|---|---|---|
| Execution | Series evaluated on chart updates | Event handlers with explicit buffers |
| Deployment | Runs in TradingView with alerts | Runs in the MT5 terminal or on a VPS |
| Broker access | Strategy orders are simulated; live automation needs a separate integration | Direct broker connectivity |
| Backtesting | Strategy Tester for strategy scripts | Strategy Tester for Expert Advisors |
| Code complexity | Simpler, functional syntax | C++-like, more powerful |
The calculation can be implemented on either platform, but the runtime model and buffer APIs differ.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related MQL5 pages
Technical references
Risk and testing note
These educational examples require independent compilation and testing. A compile pass or an illustrative setting does not establish execution correctness or profitability. Any reported performance must be supported by reproducible data and test settings; past results do not predict future returns. Trading involves significant risk of loss. This content is not financial advice.