High-Frequency Cryptocurrency Price Forecasting using Machine Learning Models: A Comparative Study

The cryptocurrency market is currently one of the most interesting areas for investment, attracting both experienced and casual investors. Although it can offer high returns, it also poses significant risks due to its high volatility. In this context, artificial intelligence, particularly through deep learning and machine learning algorithms, has played a key role in developing applications that provide investment advice, with the aim of maximizing returns and reducing investment risks. This study proposes a system for forecasting the closing prices of ten of the leading cryptocurrencies currently available in the market, presented in a web application capable of making predictions ranging from one to four hours. To achieve this, different models using various machine learning and deep learning algorithms were analyzed and tested, including Recurrent Neural Networks, time series analysis algorithms such as ARIMA, and even some more conventional regression algorithms. For algorithm comparison, minute step Bitcoin price data over a 30-day period was used to forecast prices 60 minutes ahead. Through extensive experimentation, the GRU neural network demonstrated superior predictive accuracy, achieving MAPE = 0.09\%, MSE = 5954.89, RMSE = 77.17, and MAE = 60.20. A web application was also developed, which integrates the best-performing model to provide real-time price predictions for multiple cryptocurrencies.