A bull market is a period when prices mostly rise over a long stretch of time, often months or years. Investors are optimistic, more people want to buy than sell, and the media covers the market a lot. The opposite is a bear marketBear marketA long period when market prices mostly fall and investors are pessimistic., when prices fall.
The name is usually explained by the way a bull attacks: it thrusts its horns upwards.
How do you recognise a bull market?
There is no single official definition. In stock markets, a common rule of thumb is a rise of 20% or more from the last low. In crypto, the rises are usually much larger and faster.
During a bull market, prices often set one all-time highAll-time high (ATH)The highest price a coin or other asset has ever reached. after another. New people pour into the market and new coins spring up. Prices rarely rise in a straight line, though. Sharp drops are common even when the overall trend is up.
What to watch out for
In a bull market it is easy to believe prices will keep rising forever. Many people buy out of FOMOFOMOThe fear of missing out, which pushes people to buy in a hurry when prices rise fast, often close to the top., the fear of missing out, and often buy close to the top. Nobody knows in advance when a bull market will end.
In crypto, bull markets have often ended in steep falls. A good rule is never to put more into crypto than you can afford to lose, whatever the mood.
Everything in Myntkaup Learn is written and regularly reviewed by the Myntkaup editorial team. It is for education and is not investment advice. Editorial policy. Updated 18 October 2026.