Bitcoin's bull run cycles reveal a fascinating pattern worth tracking. Looking back at the data, each major rally has consistently stretched across roughly nine months—a timeframe that's emerged as almost predictable at this point.

Take 2011: nine months of upside, though month six threw in a nasty bear trap that shook out plenty of weak hands. Fast forward to 2013, same story—nine months again, but this time the fake-out came in month five. The 2017 rally? Another nine-month cycle with its trap landing on month six. Then 2021 rolled around and the pattern held strong: nine months, month six bear trap.

What's interesting is how consistent this rhythm has become. The bear traps—those brutal pullbacks designed to scare investors—keep appearing at predictable intervals, yet they never killed the underlying bull trend. Each one turned out to be a buying opportunity for those who understood the bigger picture.

If this pattern continues into 2026, traders watching Bitcoin should prepare for that familiar nine-month window. The key? Recognizing those mid-cycle shakeouts for what they are: temporary noise in a larger uptrend. Understanding these cycles can help position portfolios more strategically through the volatility.