Any financial market has its own ups and downs. These are called cycles, and investors who have a thorough understanding of this matter may be well prepared for the bubbles and can hit their targets during the optimum time. 

But the irony is that many people who join highly risky industries like cryptocurrency investing don’t seem to value cycles’ importance. They simply rely on passive assumptions that it’s normal for the market to change course at some point in time. In fact, there are underlying reasons why crypto prices go through wild swings, and this phenomenon pulls some capital to the bottom. 

If you’ve had the same notion since then, now is the time to set things right. You have to acknowledge that understanding market cycles can give you an advantage when analysing the direction of your investment. Whether it’s going upward or downward, there must be a pattern. This is what you should be most particular about. 

While they do not give you an absolute advantage all the time, cycles can prove quite helpful on many occasions as you conduct trading.

Below are some facts that could set you on the right path as you work on maximising your crypto investment returns. 

The Market Cycle Has Four Phases 

Bull and bear markets are commonly used to describe the time when the crypto market is going upward and downward, respectively. Investors would try to predict when each of these two occurs so that they can make favourable decisions. Buying, selling, and holding the asset would largely depend on this basis. 

This cycle is an inherent part of the network, and investors have to adapt to it as part of their regular transactions. However, in the overall market perspective, there are particularly four phases in the cycle:

1. Accumulation Phase 

When the market has bottomed, and everyone starts buying an asset, this phase would occur. There are various players that can trigger this phenomenon, including value investors and experienced traders who would normally assume at this stage that the worst trend is over.

At this phase, the general market sentiment is still bearish, but the valuations are attractive. Eventually, the market will switch from negative sentiment to a neutral one, where prices are flattened. 

2. Mark-Up Phase 

During this phase, the market becomes stable for a certain period and begins to move higher. There are investors who may start jumping in to take advantage of the favourable price direction. As it comes to a close, market volumes will substantially increase as more people join the trends. 

Valuations may climb beyond historical norms, and many people might succumb to greed. They tend to disregard the objective indicators because they ride the bandwagon without logic or reason. 

3. Mark-Down Phase 

This is the final phase of the market cycle and often the most frustrating one for investors who still hold positions. They hang on because their investment has fallen below what they paid for it and still refuse to let go despite the odds to the contrary. Usually, many such individuals give up their position when the market has plunged 50% or above. 

The crypto website https://www.bitalpha-ai.pro states an important reminder that every trader must keep in mind: “the cryptocurrency market remains one of the most lucrative sectors because of its volatility.” By not knowing when to let go and minimise losses, some investors experience unnecessary risk and lose more of their capital than they should have.

This phase serves as a buy signal for early investors and a sign that a bottom is looming around. Fortunately, new investors can take advantage of the depreciated investment during the succeeding accumulation phase. 

4. Distribution Phase

Sellers begins to dominate in this phase of the market cycle. This is the part where the bullish sentiment of the previous phase transitions to a mixed sentiment. Asset prices may be locked in a trading range that can last a few weeks or even months. 

When the distribution phase is over, the market changes direction. There are patterns of doubling or tripling tops that happen during this phase. 

Final Thoughts 

While it’s not always apparent, cycles exist in all markets, including the best cryptocurrency. Smart investors who can recognise each phase when it occurs are more capable of taking advantage of opportunities to make substantial profits. They are also less likely to get locked in situations where investment returns are not achievable.