Been digging into the historical patterns of crypto bull runs, and there's actually a pretty interesting rhythm to how long these cycles tend to last.

Looking back at the data, the 2015-2016 bull run stretched about 17 months from bottom to peak, taking BTC from around $152 up to $780. Then 2017 was wild but shorter—just 12 months from the start of the year to that crazy December peak near $20k. But here's where it gets really interesting: the 2020-2021 cycle was absolutely massive, running for about 20 months. That one started from the COVID crash lows around $3,850 in March 2020 and eventually peaked near $69k by late 2021.

The most recent bull run we just came through started back in early 2023 after the whole FTX situation settled. That one ran for roughly 14 months before hitting a peak around $73,738. So if you're trying to figure out how long does a crypto bull run last, the answer is pretty clear from history—we're looking at anywhere from 12 to 20 months typically. The shorter ones are usually less intense, while the longer cycles tend to be more explosive.

What's wild is that we're now in May 2026 and BTC has already broken through to new all-time highs, sitting well above $80k and with the historical peak now around $126k. The pattern seems to be that each major bull run kicks off right after a significant market bottom, then runs hot for over a year before cooling down. After the halving back in April 2024, I was expecting things to heat up around late 2025, and honestly, the market's been following that script pretty closely.

The cycles definitely have their own personality—some are sharper and quicker, others are longer grinding rallies. But one thing's consistent: once these bull runs get going, they tend to maintain momentum for at least a year, often stretching into the 18-20 month range if conditions are right. Definitely worth paying attention to these patterns if you're trying to time the market.