Market-cleansing bear cycles are healthy, say industry experts

Published at: May 30, 2022

Crypto markets are undeniably bearish, but some industry insiders believe these conditions will shake out the bad actors and create greater opportunities for future participants.

Traders tend to lament the negative price action and relative difficulty in executing profitable trades in bearish market conditions. However, several leading analysts and builders agree that this is the time to make moves that will lead to the greatest gains when bullish sentiments return.

Polygon co-founder Mihailo Bjelic told CNBC on Friday that the current downturn and recent major sell-off earlier this month were just what the market needed.

Bjelic believes that the market became “maybe a little bit irrational, or maybe a little reckless,” as the total crypto market cap grew by 12.5 times between November 2019 and November 2021, a tremendous growth rate that outpaced most other traditional markets:

“When the times like that come, [a] correction is normally needed, and at the end of the day [is] healthy.”

The market is in the middle of a major correction at the moment. Since last November, the total market cap has dropped by 60%, from $3 trillion to $1.2 trillion, according to CoinGecko. Cointelegraph reported on Saturday that traders still expect more pain, especially considering the last bear market drew prices down about 80% overall.

Crypto market analyst The DeFi Edge added context to the idea that bear markets carry benefits that remain in line with the interests of most market actors. The account tweeted to its 164,000 followers on Sunday that “bear markets are healthy for the growth of crypto.”

This line of reasoning is based on the observation that fewer new market participants, which scammers see as potential targets, enter during a bear. Over the last year, Bitcoin (BTC) transaction volume peaked on Nov. 9 at 335,411, coinciding with the peak in price. On Sunday, transaction volume was down by 38% to only 207,859, according to Blockchain.com.

Lower activity means less opportunity and reduced profitability to run many scams, so they tend to disappear.

Bear markets are healthy for the growth of Crypto.The deadweight gets removed and Crypto can soar to new highs. pic.twitter.com/5wKEzHxy6B

— The DeFi Edge ️ (@thedefiedge) May 28, 2022

Jason Ye, partner at crypto investment fund ROK Capital, explained that although prices and activity are lower, bear markets represent prime times for traders and builders to lay the foundation for greater success when market sentiments reverse. He told Cointelegraph on Monday that “In a bear market, it is time to find the best fundamentals and focus on building a product:”

“It’s time for traders to deploy their cash reserves in order to get an upside in the next bull cycle. As always, the winners in the bull market are the people who built in the bear market.”

Game Maker at Metaverse game platform Neo Tokyo Alex Becker echoed Ye’s notion in a tweet on Saturda. He also believes that bear market buyers are the ones in the best position to turn a profit during the next bull. He said that “all the money is made buying in a bear market. Most losses come from buying in a bull market.”

Becker added that although buying low and selling high should be the key factor driving crypto market participants. Moreover, he suggested that people on Twitter are the most disagreeable during a bear market, which he called “ironic.”

The funniest I’ve realized about crypto twitter is everyone gets toxic and bitter as fuck in a bear market.Which is ironic because all the money is made Buying in a bear market.Most losses come from buying in a bull market.Shows how ass backwards this place is.

— Alex Becker (@ZssBecker) May 27, 2022