Glossary

All-Time Low (ATL)

Plain-language definition Crypto glossary

Key takeaways

An all-time low (ATL) is the lowest price an asset has ever traded at, the mirror image of the all-time high.
The ATL is set the moment a new low prints and stays fixed until an even lower price occurs, and the gap between it and the all-time high shows the full range an asset has traded across its history.
A price near its all-time low signals deep pessimism but says nothing on its own about recovery, and for failed projects the price can keep grinding to fresh lows, so an ATL is not automatically a bargain.

Definition

An all-time low (ATL) is the lowest price an asset has ever traded at. It is the mirror image of the all-time high and a common reference point for how far a coin has fallen — or recovered.

How it works

The ATL is set the moment a new low prints and stays fixed until an even lower price occurs. Because most coins launch small and some later collapse, an asset can have very different ATL and all-time-high figures, and the gap between them shows the full range it has traded across its history.

Why it matters

The ATL frames sentiment: a price near its all-time low signals deep pessimism, though on its own it says nothing about whether a recovery will follow. For failed projects the price can keep grinding to fresh lows, so an ATL is not automatically a bargain.

Example

A coin that once traded near zero shortly after launch may still hold that early figure as its all-time low years later.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Does a low near the all-time low mean a coin is a good buy?

Not necessarily, and this is not financial advice. A price near its all-time low reflects deep pessimism, but it offers no guarantee that a recovery will follow. For failed or declining projects, the price can keep setting fresh lows, so a low price alone is not a sign of value.

How is the all-time low different from the all-time high?

The all-time low is the lowest price an asset has ever reached, while the all-time high is the highest. They are mirror images, and the distance between them shows the entire range a coin has traded over its history. Because many coins launch small, the two figures can be very far apart.

Can an asset's all-time low change over time?

Yes, but only downward. The ATL stays fixed until the asset trades at an even lower price, at which point a new all-time low is set. As long as the price never falls below the prior low, the ATL remains unchanged, sometimes for years.