I’ve spent a considerable amount of time reflecting on how the crypto market moves in cycles, and honestly, what we’ve seen in recent months is fascinating when you consider where we were a couple of years ago.

We all know that a crypto bull run doesn’t happen by chance. There are recurring patterns you can trace: Bitcoin halving every four years reduces the mining reward, and historically this has always preceded periods of strong growth. The last halving in April 2024 was considered by many as the starting signal. Now that we’re in May 2026, I can say that the predictions of a possible acceleration by mid-2025 turned out to be interesting, even though the market followed a more complex path than expected.

What struck me the most is institutional adoption. BlackRock, Fidelity, and other major players have started to move seriously into Bitcoin ETF and derivative products. This is not a minor detail: we’re talking about potentially trillions of dollars that could enter the market. When you see established institutions taking an interest in the crypto bull run, you know something is changing in the way the asset class is perceived.

Looking at on-chain metrics, the data was clear: whales were accumulating, balances on exchanges were decreasing, and active addresses were growing. These are the signals long-term holders were sending by building positions rather than liquidating. It’s the kind of behavior that precedes significant moves.

The macroeconomic issue has always been the big question mark. Interest rates, inflation, geopolitical stability—everything like this affects how much capital flows into high-risk assets such as cryptocurrencies. In 2025, there was optimism about a possible normalization, and this should have supported a more aggressive crypto bull run.

On the technical side, Ethereum 2.0 upgrades, Layer-2 solutions, and the development of DeFi were elements that could catalyze interest in altcoins. Historically, once Bitcoin establishes a strong upward trend, altcoins follow with even more pronounced moves toward the end of the cycle.

Of course, the risks were there—and they still are: unfavorable regulations, sudden macroeconomic problems, technical vulnerabilities. Nothing is ever guaranteed in this market.

What I’ve learned is that preparing for a crypto bull run means diversifying between blue chips like Bitcoin and Ethereum and selected altcoins, constantly monitoring on-chain metrics, following regulatory developments, and maintaining a long-term view. Volatility is the price you pay for significant opportunities.

Now that we’re in 2026, we can look back and assess how it turned out. Cycles continue, and understanding these patterns remains essential for anyone who wants to position themselves well in the next market move.