Market Cycles & Behavior — Crypto Glossary

Crypto markets move in sharper cycles than most asset classes and come with their own vocabulary for the sentiment swings that drive them. These are the terms you'll see on X/Twitter, in Telegram, and in every trading post-mortem — from classic trader slang (bull run, bear market) to crypto-native idioms (HODL, FOMO, DYOR).

Bear Market A bear market in crypto is an extended period of falling prices, typically 12-24 months, following a bull-run peak. Bull Run A bull run is an extended period of rising prices across crypto markets, typically 12-24 months long. DYOR DYOR — "Do Your Own Research" — is crypto shorthand for a warning that no one is responsible for your investment decisions but you. FOMO FOMO — "Fear Of Missing Out" — is the psychological pressure that drives traders to buy rapidly-rising assets rather than miss the move. HODL HODL is crypto slang for holding an asset through volatility rather than selling. Whale A whale is an entity holding a very large position in a specific crypto asset — large enough that their trades can move prices.