Pressure Z-Score — Signal Playbook

What it detects

Order-book imbalance is statistically unusual for this pair — at least two standard deviations from its own recent norm. A “this is out of character” flag rather than a raw level.

How Pressure Z-Score paints across a heatmap row — the colour language it speaks on the live map.

How VYX surfaces it

VYX evaluates Pressure Z-Score live on every candle across 300+ Hyperliquid markets and paints it onto the heatmap, so an unusual statistical reading stands out at a glance instead of hiding in a watchlist. That is the job it does in the workflow: it is a scan filter and a piece of context, not an automatic entry. Scan the map for where Pressure Z-Score is firing, focus that market to read the signal against price and the confirmation cues below, and let the next candle or two resolve before acting on it.

How to play it

Use it as scanner context, not an automatic entry:

• Use it as an attention filter: it surfaces pairs behaving abnormally right now.
• A high z-score on a normally-balanced pair is more interesting than on a chronically one-sided one.
• Demand market confirmation before treating it as tradeable.
• Pair with a level or flow read — z-score answers “unusual?”, not “which way?”.

Confirmation

What strengthens the read:

• Price reacts in the direction of the pressure.
• The z-score stays elevated rather than instantly reverting.
• A second metric (OFI, flow) agrees.

Invalidation

What kills it:

• The reading reverts to its mean with no price effect.
• Spread is also elevated (the “unusual” reading is just noise).

Risk & honest evidence

Respect the limits:

• Rare ≠ tradeable — extremes can get more extreme.
• Z-scores are recomputed live and need recent history to be meaningful.
• Evidence: grounded in market-microstructure research. VYX's own live backtest is still accruing — treat this as scanner context, not a proven edge.