I've been watching the crypto market long enough to know when things are about to shift. A bull run is basically what happens when prices start climbing fast and everyone suddenly remembers why they got into crypto in the first place. Money flows in, trading volume explodes, and suddenly your feed is full of people talking about their gains.

If you want to understand what is a bull run, you need to see it as a cycle with distinct phases. It usually starts quietly with accumulation—the smart money moves in when nobody's paying attention. Then recovery kicks in, prices begin their slow climb, and most people still don't notice. But once euphoria hits, that's when the mainstream catches on. FOMO takes over, everyone and their mom wants in, and suddenly meme coins and random NFT projects are getting attention alongside serious projects.

The distribution phase is where things get interesting. Big players start taking profits, and that's when you see the instability creep in. Prices don't move as smoothly anymore.

How do you spot a bull run happening? Bitcoin and the major alts start pumping hard. Social media becomes an echo chamber of crypto talk. People who haven't touched crypto in years suddenly want to discuss it. New projects launch constantly—sometimes multiple ones per week. You'll see DeFi protocols getting attention again, NFT collections trending, and altcoins outperforming everything.

The thing about a bull run is that it attracts real money and real users. More people actually start using crypto, not just speculating. The opportunities come fast and thick. But here's the reality—it's also when people make their biggest mistakes. Prices can reverse hard and fast when the momentum shifts.

If you're thinking about taking advantage of the next bull run, start by finding solid projects early, not the hype ones. Have an actual trading strategy instead of just throwing money at whatever's pumping. And honestly, do your research. Don't just follow the crowd blindly.

I remember 2017 and 2021 clearly. Both had their own character, their own moments where you could tell things were different. Whether the next one is close? That's the million-dollar question everyone's asking. What's your take—have you been through a bull run before?