Secret crypto indicators bull run- Mainstream headlines usually lag the market. By the time major outlets declare a new crypto bull run, significant price action has often already occurred. Sophisticated participants monitor a quieter set of on-chain, derivatives, and liquidity signals that historically shift weeks or months earlier.
Here are ten indicators that have repeatedly appeared near the early stages of prior Bitcoin and broader crypto upcycles. None is perfect in isolation. Confluence across several raises the probability that a regime change is underway. Data is drawn from public sources including CryptoQuant, Glassnode-style metrics, and exchange flow trackers as of August 2026.
This is not financial advice. Cryptocurrency markets remain highly volatile. Past patterns do not guarantee future results. Always verify data independently and manage risk carefully.
1. Bitcoin Bull Score Crossing 60
CryptoQuant’s composite Bull Score aggregates ten on-chain metrics into a single regime reading. A sustained move above 60 has historically marked the transition from bearish or neutral conditions into early bull territory. In August 2026 the score crossed this threshold for the first time since October 2025, with six of the ten underlying indicators turning green, including demand growth and stablecoin liquidity.
2. MVRV Ratio or Z-Score Emerging from Undervaluation
Market Value to Realized Value compares current market capitalization with the aggregate cost basis of coins on-chain. Sharp vertical rises from depressed levels have repeatedly coincided with the end of downcycles. When MVRV begins climbing while still below historical euphoria bands, it often signals that the market is moving from accumulation into early expansion.
3. Persistent Spot Bitcoin ETF Net Inflows
After the 2024 launch of U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, multi-day or multi-week streaks of net inflows became a cleaner gauge of institutional demand. Sustained positive flows, rather than one-day spikes, have preceded broader risk-on periods. In mid-August 2026, single-day inflows exceeded $500 million, the strongest print in months.
4. Exchange Net Outflows Accelerating
When Bitcoin leaves centralized exchanges faster than it arrives, it typically indicates accumulation by longer-term holders rather than immediate selling pressure. Rising outflows combined with declining exchange reserves have preceded several cycle bottoms and early recoveries.
5. Stablecoin Supply Growth Coupled with Deployment
Expanding stablecoin market capitalization shows dry powder entering the ecosystem. The more useful signal is when that supply begins moving onto exchanges or into DeFi rather than sitting idle. Rising stablecoin liquidity on major venues has often preceded increased buying power in risk assets.
6. Puell Multiple Recovering from Miner Stress
The Puell Multiple measures daily miner revenue relative to its yearly average. Extreme lows reflect miner capitulation. A sustained recovery above the lower bands historically aligns with healthier supply conditions and the early stages of price recovery.
7. SOPR (Spent Output Profit Ratio) Stabilizing Above 1
SOPR tracks whether coins being moved are sold at a profit or loss. After prolonged periods of realized losses, a move and hold above 1.0 indicates that selling pressure is being absorbed and that the market is beginning to realize profits again—an early constructive shift.
8. Long-Term Holder Supply Beginning to Stabilize or Rise
When long-term holders stop distributing and begin accumulating again, it removes a major source of supply overhang. Metrics showing LTH supply bottoming and then increasing have appeared near the transition from late bear to early bull phases in previous cycles.
9. Funding Rates Moving from Deeply Negative Toward Neutral
In perpetual futures markets, sustained negative funding (shorts paying longs) can reflect crowded short positioning. A gradual shift toward neutral or mildly positive rates often accompanies the unwind of that positioning and the early stages of a short squeeze or trend change.
10. Network Activity and Active Addresses Diverging Positively from Price
When active addresses, transaction counts, or fee revenue begin rising while price remains relatively range-bound, it can signal growing organic usage ahead of speculative attention. This divergence has occasionally preceded broader market recoveries.
Putting the Indicators Together
No single metric predicts the future with certainty. The strongest historical setups have occurred when several of these signals align: valuation metrics recovering from undervaluation, liquidity expanding, exchange balances declining, and derivatives positioning normalizing. In August 2026 a subset of these readings—particularly the Bull Score and MVRV behavior—moved into more constructive territory, though large unrealized losses from prior holders still represent a potential headwind.
Markets can remain irrational longer than expected, and false signals are common. Treat these indicators as probability tools rather than timing devices. Combine them with price structure, macro liquidity conditions, and rigorous position sizing.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, trading, or any other form of advice. Cryptocurrency markets are extremely volatile and speculative. The indicators discussed have historical associations but no predictive guarantee. Always conduct your own research, verify data sources, and consult a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions. You can lose some or all of the capital you deploy.
As of August 22, 2026, these signals remain active areas of discussion among on-chain analysts. Whether they mark the early phase of a sustained bull market or a temporary bounce will only become clear in hindsight.
