What’s a bull run in crypto? How to prepare for the next rush
Nov 17, 2025・6 min read
The bull is a sacred animal for many Bitcoin (BTC) aficionados, since the prices of cryptocurrencies during a “bull run” often rise to record-shattering levels. But only crypto investors who strategize beforehand can make the most of these moments.
Because crypto bull markets mean higher prices, many people want to know when the next bull run is. Although there’s no way to predict the future, there are hints that a bull market may be brewing, which you can learn to spot.
In this article, we’ll explain what a bull run is and how it works, then offer some strategies for predicting the next bull market and making the most of it.
What’s a crypto bull run?
Bull runs are sustained periods when prices rise across the cryptocurrency market. While some digital assets outperform others, most projects experience gains during a crypto bull run – particularly higher-risk niche altcoins and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
During these optimistic phases, many institutions and individuals rush to purchase currencies, resulting in a frenzied upward buying spiral. This surge in activity often coincides with increased media coverage on mainstream platforms and social media.
What’s the difference between a bull and bear market?
When crypto prices fall and stay low for a sustained period, the market has entered a “bear” phase. Although bear markets (also known as crypto winters) can be concerning, they’re a natural feature of price dynamics. Here’s how these two market phases compare.
When do bull runs typically start (and end)?
When market analysts researched previous bull runs in crypto history, they noticed a pattern now known as the "four-year cycle theory." According to this observation, the crypto market tends to enter 6 to 18-month bullish phases following an event known as "Bitcoin halving," which occurs every four years when BTC’s inflation rate is cut in half. The BTC supply shock triggers bull runs before falling into a multi-year bear market/crypto winter.
While the four-year cycle model has historical precedent, it’s not a scientific method and relies on a limited dataset. Past performance can never predict future results when analyzing how long a crypto bull run lasts, and experienced traders also look for other factors that have contributed to prior bull markets.
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Quick guide to past crypto bull runs
Although each bull market had unique catalysts, all of these cycles were shaped by industry-specific and macro factors. Bull markets rely on favorable economic conditions and positive news in the blockchain sector.
Now, let's take a closer look at some previous bull runs to show how multiple market forces combine to create these phases.
2013 bull run: Banking crisis and early accessibility
The combination of a European banking scandal and an increase in centralized exchanges (CEXs) propelled BTC to its first noteworthy bull market. During this early Bitcoin bull run, the price per BTC climbed from $100 in early 2013 to over $1,100 by the end of the year.
Key catalysts:
- Growing distrust in financial institutions following the levy on bank deposits in Cyprus
- 2012 Bitcoin halving that brought the block reward down from 50 to 25 BTC
- Greater accessibility to cryptocurrencies thanks to CEXs like Coinbase
- Availability of more lightweight wallet solutions such as Electrum and Blockchain.info
2017–2018 bull run: Ethereum’s rise and ICO hype
Ethereum (ETH)’s launch was the big story in the 2017 to 2018 cycle. Although BTC’s halving preceded this bull run, the innovation of smart contracts on ETH is what sparked excitement – and speculative fervor – over new tokens and decentralized applications (dApps).
Key catalysts:
- Introduction of smart contract technology on ETH
- Growing speculation thanks to the rise in altcoins and initial coin offerings (ICOs)
- Bitcoin halving that lowered the block reward from 25 to 12.5 BTC
- The CME and CBOE Bitcoin futures launching in 2017
2020–2021 bull run: Pandemic policies and institutional adoption
The macroeconomic disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic were arguably the main driver in the 2020 to 2021 bull run. Concerns over rising inflation and stimulus policies pushed institutional capital toward digital assets and brought BTC to a new high of $69,000.
Key catalysts:
- Increased adoption of BTC treasuries by companies like Strategy and Tesla
- Adoption of BTC as legal tender by El Salvador
- Increased attention and activity across blockchains, generated by DeFi and NFTs
- Risk-on atmosphere created by money printing due to the global pandemic and low yields
2024–2025 bull run: ETF approvals and renewed institutional interest
Expectations for BTC’s halving event in early 2024 helped generate upward momentum, but the price didn't explode until a few months later. The hope for more lenient crypto policies in the United States was arguably the major catalyst driving BTC to a historic $100,000.
Key catalysts:
- Approval and launch of spot BTC ETFs in America
- News of the U.S. government creating a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve
- Increased interest in trends like asset tokenization and real world assets (RWAs)
- Expectations of interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve
How to identify the next crypto bull run
Sensing a bull market before it blows up requires consistent research and close attention to trends. While there are no guarantees, traders who understand what causes a crypto bull run keep a close eye on a few key signals:
- Increasing on-chain activity: Data on public blockchains reveal how active crypto investors are. Generally, traders interpret higher-than-average transactions and wallet addresses as bullish signs.
- Rising stablecoin inflows to exchanges: Unlike other cryptocurrencies, stablecoins have a 1:1 valuation with a fiat currency like USD. Abnormally high stablecoin transactions on CEXs can suggest that traders are ready to make big purchases.
- Bitcoin dominance charts: “Bitcoin dominance” measures the percentage of the total market cap that’s in BTC. Since BTC tends to lead bull markets, its dominance level rises early in these phases and usually falls near the end as speculation in altcoins takes over.
- Positive regulatory news: Greater clarity on national or international crypto policy is generally a positive sign for digital asset prices. Although it’s hard to predict these news announcements, traders can follow the latest updates in crypto regulation for insights.
How to strategize for the next bull run
If you hope to participate in the next bull market, it’s important to stay calm and make well-reasoned trading decisions. To maximize your odds of success, keep these tips in mind:
- Avoid emotional trading: Crypto bull markets are emotional times, and it’s easy to get caught up in trades based on a fear of missing out. Simply being aware of the power of emotions in crypto trading is the first step toward avoiding unnecessary risks.
- Use automation: One practical way to stay disciplined and create an exit strategy is to set automated sell orders well in advance. Using stop-loss and take-profit orders takes the decision to sell crypto out of your hands by executing trades at predefined levels.
- Diversify and rebalance your portfolio: No matter how well a particular cryptocurrency performs, you can reduce overall risk by spreading funds between multiple assets. Strategies like portfolio allocation help you set percentages for specific currencies.
- Track taxes early: Most tax agencies use long-term or short-term capital gains percentages on crypto profits, so traders have to take these extra costs into consideration. By integrating your wallet addresses and exchange APIs with a CoinTracker account, you can more easily monitor your latest holdings, estimate gains and losses, and implement bull market crypto tax strategies.
Make the most of every bull run with CoinTracker
Bull runs are rare and exciting opportunities to increase your holdings. While no one can predict when the next bull market will be with absolute certainty, you can watch for known signs and be ready to capitalize smartly on the next rush. Plus, you can use the quieter times in between to learn how to manage and track your crypto portfolio with confidence.
Want a clear view of your assets at all times? With CoinTracker, link your wallets and exchanges to monitor your portfolio’s performance in real time. Create a free account and see why crypto investors trust us
Disclaimer: This post is informational only and is not intended as tax advice. For tax advice, please consult a tax professional.