Honestly, understanding what a bull run actually is separates people who make money from those who just chase pumps.

A bull run isn't just prices going up. It's when the entire market psychology flips. Buyers take control, momentum builds, and assets start climbing hard. I'm talking the kind of moves where BTC went from 10k to 60k back in 2021, or when altcoins were doing 5x to 10x gains. Some people literally became millionaires off meme coins during those runs.

But here's the thing most people miss - it's not about the numbers alone. It's about momentum and how the market actually feels.

So how do you actually spot a bull run before everyone else catches on?

First, watch the price action itself. You'll notice assets breaking through old resistance levels and actually holding above them instead of crashing back down immediately. That's a shift in control. Higher highs and higher lows - that's the pattern.

Volume is everything. When more people are buying and exchange volume spikes alongside rising prices, that's real momentum, not just noise. Fake pumps don't have volume behind them.

Then there's the flow of money. Bitcoin usually moves first. Once BTC starts running, profits rotate into Ethereum. Then it flows down into altcoins and the meme coins. That cascade is what people call altcoin season, and if you're paying attention, you can position accordingly.

Sentiment shifts too. Check the Fear and Greed Index - when it's swinging from red over to green, the mood is changing from fear to actual greed. That's a psychological shift that matters.

You'll also notice the noise level increases. Crypto starts trending everywhere. People who never cared suddenly want to talk about it. News outlets are covering Bitcoin daily. Your friends are asking about getting in. That FOMO wave is real, and honestly, it's one of the strongest signals that sentiment has flipped.

On the technical side, look for Bitcoin breaking through long-term resistance that's been holding for months. Watch if the 200-day moving average flips bullish. Check if on-chain activity is picking up - more wallets moving, more transactions happening. These aren't guarantees, but they're pieces of the puzzle.

Here's my warning though: a bull run feels like everything only goes up forever. Until it doesn't. That's when people get hurt. Don't confuse a quick pump with an actual trend. Don't throw money in just because everyone's hyped. Always know your exit before you enter.

I've seen people catch bull runs early and turn modest amounts into serious gains. I've also seen people chase the hype at the top and get liquidated. The difference is usually discipline and having a plan.

Have you caught one of these runs early? Or are you one of the people who always seems to buy right before the correction? That's the real question.