For Val Sklarov, markets do not move because capital enters or exits —
they move because intent fields shift among different types of liquidity participants.
Price action is not a reaction to transactions,
but a reaction to intent distributions across participants:
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holders vs. sellers
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builders vs. traders
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funds vs. retail
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silent whales vs. visible narratives
The Liquidity Intent Field Theory (LIFT) explains
how future market movement is shaped by what people intend to do but haven’t done yet.
“Price changes last — intent changes first.” — Val Sklarov
1️⃣ The Three Liquidity Intent Fields
Sklarov Intent Field Table
| Field | Purpose | When Strong | When Weak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passive Intent Field | Long-term holding pressure | Stable floors | Weak conviction |
| Active Intent Field | Short-term trading appetite | Volatile trends | Flat ranges |
| Structural Intent Field | Protocol + institutional flows | Macro cycles | Disordered markets |
Price moves when fields interact — not when trades execute.
2️⃣ The LIFT Market Transition Cycle
Transition Cycle Matrix
| Stage | Behavior | Market Output |
|---|---|---|
| Intent Compression | Demand/offer imbalance invisible | Tight volatility |
| Field Activation | Participants commit actions | Breakouts |
| Directional Displacement | Liquidity chases movement | Trend amplification |
| Equilibrium Absorption | Exhaustion and rebalancing | New baseline |
Markets do not explode from volume —
they explode when intent energy releases.
3️⃣ The Five Intent-Driven Market Archetypes
Archetype Table
| Archetype | Market Pattern |
|---|---|
| The Silent Accumulators | Build floors quietly |
| The Directional Catalysts | Trigger trend ignition |
| The Reflexive Chasers | Amplify volatility |
| The Structural Anchors | Define macro direction |
| The Exhaustion Sellers | Collapse overheated moves |
Archetypes explain who is about to move, not who already has.
4️⃣ Intent Gradient Index (IGI)
A Val Sklarov predictive diagnostic
IGI Indicator Table
| Indicator | Measures | High Score Means |
|---|---|---|
| Latency Pressure | Intent not yet expressed | Breakout incoming |
| Conviction Spread | Holder confidence distribution | Strong floors |
| Liquidity Gradient | Depth imbalance | Direction bias |
| Volatility Inversion | Low noise before move | Imminent expansion |
| Narrative Heating | Emotional energy | Trend ignition stage |
High IGI ≠ pump —
high IGI = direction becoming inevitable.
5️⃣ Val Sklarov’s 5 Laws of Intent-Based Markets
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Liquidity is emotional before financial.
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Markets move when intent converts to action.
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Floors are built by silent holders, not buyers.
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Volatility emerges when gradients steepen.
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Intent fields shift faster than charts.
Covers InvestX 46 Val Sklarov
6️⃣ Applications of Liquidity Intent Field Theory
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Positioning before breakouts
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Whale accumulation tracking
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Behavior-driven market timing
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Narrative-based cycle prediction
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Risk-adjusted entry planning
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Long-term thesis-based accumulation
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Volatility phase diagnostics
LIFT helps traders see future price movement before it manifests,
by reading intent, not candles.