What you need
- Bear Markets Are Normal — 70-85% BTC drops happen every cycle
- Most Alts Die — 95%+ of altcoins from each cycle never recover
- Concentrate to Quality — Move to BTC/ETH, reduce altcoin exposure
- DCA Is Your Friend — Consistent buying beats timing the bottom
- Preserve Capital — Cash is a position; don't be fully invested
- This Too Shall Pass — Every bear has been followed by new ATH
What is a Crypto Bear Market?
A crypto bear market is an extended period of declining prices — typically defined as a 20%+ drop from recent highs sustained over months. In crypto, bear markets are BRUTAL:
Typical Bear Market Drawdowns
Historical Bear Markets
| Period | BTC Peak | BTC Bottom | Drop | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-2015 | $1,150 | $170 | -85% | 415 days |
| 2018-2019 | $20,000 | $3,200 | -84% | 364 days |
| 2022 | $69,000 | $15,500 | -77% | ~380 days |
"Everyone's a genius in a bull market. Bear markets reveal who's actually a trader."
— Market Wisdom
Contrarian Take
Everyone's worried about Meta's metaverse spending. They should be. But what they miss is that Meta's AI advertising engine is so far ahead, they can burn $10B yearly on moonshots and still dominate.
The 10 Bear Market Survival Rules
Accept That You Didn't Sell the Top
Nobody sells the exact top. Forgive yourself. Focus on what you can control now, not what you "should have done."
Reduce Altcoin Exposure Immediately
95%+ of altcoins never recover from bear market lows. Rotate to BTC/ETH or stables. Quality over quantity.
Hold Cash — It's a Position
Being 100% invested in a bear market is insane. Keep 30-50% in stables for opportunities and mental peace.
Delete Trading Apps (Temporarily)
Checking prices 50 times a day only creates anxiety. Set alerts for significant levels and step away.
No Leverage. Ever.
Bear markets are designed to liquidate leveraged positions. Random 20% pumps will wipe your shorts. 30% dumps will wipe your longs.
Start DCA When Fear Is Maximum
Fear & Greed Index below 20 = accumulation zone. Buy small amounts consistently. Don't try to catch the exact bottom.
Focus on Income, Not Gains
Build your income outside crypto. The more fiat you earn, the more you can deploy at lows. Bear market = accumulation period.
Learn and Build Skills
Bear markets are for learning: technical analysis, DeFi, coding, content creation. Skills compound for the next cycle.
Remember: This Has Happened Before
Every previous bear market was followed by new all-time highs. Bitcoin has gone through 4 bear markets and recovered every single time.
Protect Your Mental Health
Money lost can be made back. Your mental health cannot be traded for. Take breaks, exercise, talk to friends. It's just money.
What to Hold vs What to Sell
HOLD Through Bear
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Top L1/L2 with real users
- DeFi blue chips (Aave, Uniswap)
- Anything you'd buy more of today
SELL or Reduce
- Memecoins (DOGE exception possible)
- No-product tokens
- Dead projects with no development
- Narrative plays from last cycle
- Anything you're "hoping" recovers
Bear Market DCA Strategy
Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA) is the best strategy for bear markets. You can't time the bottom, but you can average into it.
Example: $500/month DCA into BTC
Smart DCA Tips
- Automate it: Set up recurring buys on Coinbase/Binance so you don't "forget"
- Heavy when fearful: Double your DCA when Fear & Greed below 20
- Reserve for capitulation: Keep 30% of DCA budget for "blood in streets" moments
- Stick to quality: 70% BTC, 20% ETH, 10% conviction alts
- Don't try to time: Consistent > perfect timing
The Psychology of Bear Markets
Bear markets follow predictable emotional stages. Knowing where you are helps you make better decisions:
Denial (Early Bear)
"This is just a dip. We'll bounce back. I'm not selling."
Anger (Mid Bear)
"Why didn't I sell? These markets are manipulated!"
Bargaining
"If BTC gets back to my entry, I'll sell everything."
Depression (Capitulation)
"Crypto is dead. I should never have invested. Selling everything."
Acceptance (Bottom Forming)
"I lost, but I learned. Let me rebuild slowly."
Disbelief (Early Bull)
"This is just a dead cat bounce. I'm not falling for it again."
The Capitulation Signal
When YOU feel like selling everything and giving up on crypto, that's often the bottom. Peak despair = peak opportunity. If you can hold and buy when it feels the worst, you'll outperform 90% of the market.
Positioning for the Next Bull Run
Bear markets are where wealth is transferred from the impatient to the patient. Here's how to be ready:
- Accumulate BTC/ETH: These will lead the next cycle. Own the leaders.
- Research next narratives: AI, RWA, gaming — what will pump next cycle?
- Build a watchlist: Note quality projects at bear market lows for future buys.
- Learn new skills: Technical analysis, DeFi mechanics, on-chain analysis.
- Grow your income: More fiat = more buying power at lows.
Bear Market Survival Checklist
- ✅ Reduced altcoin exposure to <20% of portfolio
- ✅ Holding 30%+ in stables for opportunities
- ✅ Set up automatic DCA for BTC and ETH
- ✅ Deleted trading apps from home screen
- ✅ Removed all leverage positions
- ✅ Focused on work/income outside crypto
- ✅ Mentally prepared for 12+ more months of pain
- ✅ Ready to buy more if Fear & Greed below 15
Bear markets don't last forever. Neither does your opportunity to buy cheap. Stay alive. Stay ready.