So I've been thinking about this lately — what actually separates a real bull run from just random price pumps? Because honestly, spotting the difference early could save you from a lot of FOMO mistakes.

A bull run is basically when the entire market consensus flips. Prices aren't just going up, they're consistently climbing with real momentum behind it. You get those explosive moves like BTC jumping from $10k to $60k back in 2021, altcoins running 5x-10x, people literally making generational wealth on meme coins. But here's the thing — it's not really about the numbers. It's about the psychology. Buyers take control, and the whole vibe shifts.

Now, how do you actually catch one early instead of chasing it at the top?

First thing I look for is the price action itself. Higher highs, higher lows. When an asset breaks through resistance and actually holds above it instead of immediately dumping, that's your first signal. It's subtle but it matters.

Then volume. This is crucial. You'll see trading volume spike across exchanges. But here's the key — if volume is rising alongside price, that's real momentum, not just noise. That's when you know something's actually shifting.

Bitcoin usually leads the charge. Once BTC gets moving, profits start flowing into Ethereum, then into altcoins and smaller projects. That cascade is what people call altcoin season, and it's pretty predictable if you're watching.

Sentiment flips too. The Fear & Greed Index moves from red to green. Your friends who never mentioned crypto suddenly want to talk about it. News outlets are covering Bitcoin daily. There's this wave of attention that builds up.

Look at the technical setup as well. Long-term resistance breaks, moving averages flip bullish, on-chain activity picks up. These aren't guarantees, but they're signals worth paying attention to.

Here's my honest take though — a bull run can feel unstoppable until it suddenly isn't. That's the trap. Don't confuse a pump with an actual trend. Don't let hype make your decisions for you. Have an exit plan before you even enter. Protect your capital first, profits second.

Have you caught one of these early before, or are you usually late to the party?