A fan recently complained to me — mainstream cryptocurrencies surged and then retraced. He was so scared he sold everything in the middle of the night, only for the prices to go up again the next day. He still feels the pain from that decision. This isn’t an isolated case; many retail investors are being repeatedly educated by the market this way, still operating with last year’s bear market mindset. Losing money is no surprise in such a scenario.

This is a very real issue: market sentiment has changed, and many people haven’t kept up with the pace.

**The logic of the 2026 crypto market is different from the past**

This year’s core drivers can be summarized into two points — value return and regulatory implementation.

First, about value return. Last year’s bear market thoroughly cleaned out the market, with many projects lacking fundamental support going to zero. The projects that survived began to show their true value. Especially those with real application scenarios, such as public chains and Web3 infrastructure projects. Their tokens are no longer just for speculation; they are backed by real capital flow and business support. That’s the true basis for valuation.

Second, regarding regulation. The crypto policy frameworks in major regions worldwide are becoming clearer. The once “one-size-fits-all” risk approach is largely gone. Institutional funds are now willing to enter the market, which is a key support for the formation of a slow bull trend.

**A slow bull doesn’t mean a continuous upward trend**

Someone asked me, does a slow bull mean it won’t fall? Of course not. The rhythm of a slow bull is “rise more, fall less, and move upward with fluctuations.” Corrections are normal shakeouts and also the best opportunities for retail investors to get on board.

To judge whether a correction has truly ended, I teach everyone to look at one signal — trading volume.

If trading volume shrinks during a correction, it indicates there’s not much selling pressure, and institutions aren’t offloading. But if trading volume suddenly spikes during a correction, be alert — it could be the start of a real decline. For example, recently, when BTC adjusted from $45,000 to $42,000, you can judge whether the main players are shaking out weak hands or genuinely bearish by observing the volume.

The market always gives opportunities to those with patience. The key is not to be scared by short-term fluctuations or blindly chase the highs.