James Mitchell

James started trading in 2016 with a focus on price action and traditional technical analysis, then gradually shifted into systematic strategies after his discretionary equity curve plateaued in late 2018. By 2020 he was running a hybrid book — manual swing trades on majors plus rule-based scalping systems on XAUUSD — and writing strategy notes in semi-public Telegram channels that eventually attracted the attention of ForexCracked.

He joined the editorial team in 2021 and now leads ForexCracked's strategy and education vertical. His work covers indicator validation (does this no-repaint indicator actually not repaint when the candle closes?), strategy guide development, and the educational explainers that turn complex SMC/ICT concepts into something a newer trader can act on without blowing their account in the first week.

James trades a personal book primarily on H1 and H4 timeframes using a combination of supply/demand zones, market structure (BOS/CHoCH), and volume profile. He respects the underlying mechanics of smart money concepts — order blocks, fair value gaps, liquidity sweeps — when they're explained without the cult-like marketing layer that surrounds much of the broader SMC scene.