1
Calculate your total crypto exposure as % of net worth
Target: less than 30% for most investors. If crypto is 80% of your net worth, one bad quarter can change your life in ways you never planned for.
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The Bear Market Survival Checklist
By Menno · Updated March 2026
A bear market survival checklist helps crypto investors protect capital, maintain discipline, and position for recovery during extended downturns.
10 things every serious crypto investor should check right now. Not hopium. Not trading signals. Just a clear, honest list of what separates people who survive bear markets from people who quietly disappear.
By Menno
13 years in crypto · 35K+ YouTube subscribers
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Format
10-item checklist
Read time
5 minutes
Price
Free
Preview (3 of 10)
10 things to check before the next leg down
2
Set stop-losses or mental exit points for every position
You do not need hard stop-losses on every trade, but you do need a clear number where you walk away. If you cannot name that number right now, the position is running on hope.
3
Review your DCA schedule
Are you buying at regular intervals regardless of price? A DCA plan removes timing stress, but only if you actually follow it when the market feels ugly.
7 more items waiting
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Enter your email to see items 4-10. Includes stablecoin reserves, token unlock audits, correlation checks, and the “maximum pain” framework.
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Quick Answer: How do I survive a crypto bear market?
Surviving a crypto bear market requires moving from a growth mindset to a capital preservation mindset. The most critical steps are: capping crypto exposure to a safe percentage of your net worth, maintaining 3-6 months of stablecoin reserves, and using a data-driven risk framework like Risk Wave to avoid catching falling knives. Discipline during drawdowns is what separates long-term winners from those who disappear during cycles.
By Menno van Ravels - 13 years in crypto, 3 bear markets survived, zero paid promotions
Last reviewed: March 2026
Educational only - not financial advice. Crypto carries substantial risk; never invest more than you can afford to lose.
All 10 Checklist Items
This bear market survival checklist by Menno covers the practical steps every serious crypto investor should audit before the next leg down. It is not trading signals or hopium. It is a clear, honest list of what separates people who survive bear markets from people who quietly disappear.
Bear Market Context: What the Data Shows
According to Glassnode on-chain data, the average Bitcoin bear market has lasted approximately 386 days, with drawdowns averaging 77% from peak to trough (Glassnode Insights, "Defining Bear Markets," 2024). The 2022 cycle saw Bitcoin fall 77.6% from its November 2021 high of $69,000 to a low of $15,476 in November 2022 — while many altcoins lost 90-99% of their value in the same period (CoinGecko Annual Crypto Industry Report 2024). Historical data from previous cycles shows that investors who maintained disciplined DCA through bear markets and avoided leverage achieved significantly better 3-year forward returns than those who panic-sold. The Bear Market Checklist provides a structured framework for surviving and capitalizing on these cycles by addressing the specific behaviors — position sizing, stablecoin reserves, correlation awareness, and emotional discipline — that separate investors who emerge stronger from those who quietly disappear.
- Calculate your total crypto exposure as % of net worth — Target less than 30% for most investors. If crypto is 80% of your net worth, one bad quarter can change your life.
- Set stop-losses or mental exit points for every position — You need a clear number where you walk away. If you cannot name it right now, the position is running on hope.
- Review your DCA schedule — A DCA plan removes timing stress, but only if you actually follow it when the market feels ugly.
- Check your stablecoin reserves — Have at least 3-6 months of planned buys in USDC or USDT. Cash on the sidelines is ammunition for when everyone else is panicking.
- Audit token unlock schedules for your holdings — Vesting schedules create sell pressure. If a project is unlocking 15% of supply next month, that is math, not speculation.
- Review your portfolio correlation — If everything moves together, you are not diversified. Check if your holdings actually behave differently in drawdowns.
- Delete price alert apps that trigger anxiety — Switch to weekly reviews instead of hourly price checks. The investors who survive bear markets stop reacting to noise.
- Document your thesis for every holding — If you cannot explain in two sentences why you hold a token, sell it. Bear markets expose positions held for vibes.
- Set a "maximum pain" number — Define the portfolio value where you stop looking and just wait. Having this number before the pain arrives prevents emotional decisions at the bottom.
- Join a community of strategic thinkers — Bear markets are survived together, not alone. The right community keeps you accountable and focused on process over price.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bear Market Survival Checklist?
A free 10-item guide covering position sizing, stablecoin reserves, portfolio correlation, token unlock schedules, and mental frameworks for surviving extended drawdowns. Created by Menno from Alpha Factory.
Is the checklist free?
Yes. The first 3 items are visible immediately. Enter your email to unlock all 10 items for free. You will also receive a weekly market briefing you can unsubscribe from at any time.
Who created the checklist?
Menno, the founder of Alpha Factory, with 13 years of crypto experience and over 35,500+ YouTube subscribers. The checklist reflects real lessons from navigating multiple bear markets.
How long does it take?
About 5 minutes to read. Each item includes a clear action and a short explanation. Implementing the changes depends on your current portfolio setup.