So what is a bull run exactly? I think a lot of newer traders get confused about this, so let me break it down.

Basically, a bull run is when you get this explosive surge in price over a relatively short window—we're talking days to weeks of intense buying pressure. It's different from a prolonged bull market, which can stretch for months or years. A bull run is more like a sharp acceleration, fueled by specific catalysts and mass enthusiasm. The market suddenly shifts into overdrive, capital floods in, and everyone's expecting the momentum to keep going.

In crypto specifically, these runs hit different because of the volatility. Bitcoin could spike 10-15% in a few days when a major event drops. Could be a network upgrade, regulatory approval, or some big institution announcing they're buying in. The energy is contagious—once it starts, more people FOMO in, which pushes prices even higher.

How do you actually spot a bull run coming? Here's what I watch for. First, volume spikes alongside price. If Bitcoin's climbing but volume's dead, that's not convincing. But when you see both moving up together, that's real demand. Second, the media narrative shifts hard. Suddenly everyone's talking crypto again, analysts are bullish, and you're seeing positive headlines everywhere. Third, the big money starts moving. When hedge funds and institutional players start accumulating, that usually means something's about to pop.

Then there's the altcoin signal. A lot of times, Bitcoin leads the charge, and then interest spreads to altcoins. When you start seeing smaller projects mooning, that's often a sign the bull run is in full swing and people are hunting for the next big move.

Technically, I've noticed the RSI on higher timeframes can give you clues too. When those levels start resembling previous bull run conditions, it's worth paying attention.

Now here's the thing—and this is important—not every price jump is the start of a real bull run. You get false signals all the time. Local rallies from speculation or manipulation can look convincing in the moment, but they fizzle out. That's why you need to check the fundamentals. What's actually driving this? Is there real adoption happening? Regulatory tailwinds? Institutional inflow? Or is it just hype?

The danger is obvious: people buy near the peak thinking the party's just getting started, then corrections hit hard and they get liquidated. The traders who make money are the ones who get in early, take profits on the way up, and don't get greedy waiting for the absolute top.

Right now, there's definitely some interesting setup happening. Bitcoin's been building on the weekly and monthly charts since earlier this year. Institutional interest is back, there's been movement on the regulatory front with new ETF approvals, and altcoins are starting to move. Some analysts are flagging technical setups that resemble previous bull run starts. Whether this becomes a sustained move or just another local bounce? That's the million dollar question. But the pieces are definitely there if you know what to look for.