Bull Market vs Bear Market: How To Recognise Each Regime
How to recognise crypto market regimes, what each feels like, and how to adjust positioning without trying to call the top.
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A bull market is a sustained period of rising prices, typically with expanding participation and improving on-chain activity. A bear market is the inverse, falling prices, declining activity, capitulation among weak holders.
What each regime feels like
Bull markets feel like every decision is right. Bear markets feel like nothing works. Both feelings are dangerous, they encourage over-confidence at the top and surrender at the bottom.
Positioning
Long-term investors adjust position size at the margin rather than trying to flip net exposure. Active traders adapt their playbook: trend-following in bulls, mean-reversion in chop, defence first in bears.
Execution venue matters
Choose a venue that handles both regimes well. Bybit's order types and risk tools are equally suited to trend-following longs and defensive hedges.
Frequently asked questions
How long do crypto cycles last?
Historically about four years, anchored to the halving, though the pattern is loosening as the market matures.
What ends a bull market?
Usually a combination of macro tightening, leverage unwind, and exhaustion of marginal demand.
Should I sell in a bear?
Long-term holders typically do not sell core positions. Active traders adjust exposure or hedge.
How do I know we're in a bull market?
By the time it's obvious, much of the move has happened. Watch breadth, on-chain activity and ETF flows.
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