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Bull Market
A sustained period of rising prices, broad optimism, and increasing investor participation.
What it is
A bull market is defined as a 20%+ rise from a recent low that's sustained over weeks to months. In crypto, bull markets are typically 12-18 month phases driven by macro liquidity, the BTC halving cycle, and retail FOMO. Indicators: BTC above its 200-day EMA, alts outperforming BTC, new-coin launches multiplying. Bull markets eventually end in euphoria (everyone you know talks about crypto) and grossly overextended technicals (RSI >85 for weeks on the weekly chart). Trading rule for bulls: take more longs, give them more room, trail stops wide. Never short a strong bull trend just because 'it's gone up a lot'.
Example
BTC's 2020-2021 cycle: $4K (March 2020 low) → $69K (Nov 2021 high). 17 months, +1,625%. ETH same period: $90 → $4,800 (+5,233%). Pure bull market behavior.
How Indikora uses Bull Market
Indikora's Regime detector classifies current market state — bull-trending vs ranging vs bearish — and adjusts strategy weights accordingly.
Related terms
- Bear Market — A sustained downtrend of 20%+ from recent highs, characterized by widespread pessimism.
- Trend (Uptrend, Downtrend, Sideways) — The dominant direction of price over a given timeframe: up, down, or sideways (consolidation).
Strategy guides that cover this
- Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) in Crypto — Strategy Guide
When DCA beats lump-sum, when it doesn't, and the math behind the most overlooked retail strategy