As we move into mid-2026, the market dynamics will likely shift significantly. The initial fear that typically accompanies bear markets tends to fade, giving way to a phase where complacency sets in and momentum stalls. This sideways consolidation, however, carries a constructive undertone.

While retail attention wanes and boredom takes hold, institutional players are quietly positioning themselves. Large-scale allocators don't broadcast their moves—they accumulate methodically during periods when public interest ebbs. Simultaneously, builders and long-term believers continue their steady accumulation, unbothered by short-term price action.

The narrative then resets. What emerges isn't a V-shaped recovery but rather a gradual, under-the-radar accumulation phase—the kind that later becomes the foundation for the next cycle's explosive growth. Horizontal movement doesn't always signal stagnation; sometimes it reflects infrastructure being silently rebuilt.