I’ve just come across something fascinating that many traders probably overlook: the Benner Cycle. A concept from the 19th century that remains surprisingly relevant to our markets today.

It all started with Samuel Benner, an American farmer who wasn’t exactly a classic financial expert. But that’s what made him interesting. Benner personally experienced several financial crises—crop failures, market panics, asset losses. These painful experiences motivated him to understand the patterns behind them. And in 1875, he published his insights: a predictive model that categorizes market movements into recurring cycles.

What’s interesting about the Benner Cycle is its simplicity. He identified three types of phases: “A” years are panic years with financial crises (1927, 1945, 1965, 1981, 1999, 2019—and yes, 2019 fits perfectly with our crypto crashes). “B” years are peak selling points (1926, 1945, 1962, 1980, 2007, 2026). And “C” years are buying opportunities at market lows (1931, 1942, 1958, 1985, 2012).

What fascinates me: these patterns still work. Benner originally focused on commodities like corn and pork, but traders have long since applied his approach to stocks, bonds, and also Bitcoin.

For us in the crypto space, this is especially relevant. Bitcoin follows its four-year halving cycle, which also brings emotional extremes—euphoria and panic. That’s exactly where the Benner Cycle comes into play. It not only explains when markets fall but also when they rise. As we approach 2026, and according to Benner, it’s a “B” year, that means: peak prices, prosperity, overvaluations. This isn’t just relevant for stock traders—crypto investors should keep this on their radar too.

The practical aspect of the Benner Cycle is that it provides a long-term overview. You not only know when to buy (“C” years with low prices) but also when it’s time to strategically sell (“B” years with peak prices). In a volatile market like crypto, that’s invaluable.

Samuel Benner showed with his work that markets aren’t chaotic—they follow patterns based on human behavior. Fear and greed, panic and euphoria, always in the same rhythm. The Benner Cycle is essentially a guide to reading these rhythms. Whether you’re trading stocks, commodities, or Bitcoin, the psychological patterns remain the same. And that’s what makes his legacy timeless.