1. Price Trends

Decreasing Prices: A continuous decline in the price of major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH).

Lower Highs and Lower Lows: On price charts, this pattern indicates a bearish trend.

2. Market Capitalization

Decline in Total Market Cap: A shrinking total market capitalization across all cryptocurrencies often signals a market decline.

3. Trading Volume

Reduced Volume: A drop in daily trading volumes suggests reduced interest or activity in the market.

Spike with Falling Prices: High trading volumes during a price drop may indicate panic selling.

4. Fear and Greed Index

A shift towards "Extreme Fear" in the Crypto Fear & Greed Index often reflects declining sentiment and market downturns.

5. Sentiment Analysis

Negative News: FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) caused by regulatory actions, hacking incidents, or major failures like exchange bankruptcies.

Social Media Trends: Declining positive sentiment in forums, Twitter, and Reddit.

6. Technical Indicators

Moving Averages: When short-term moving averages (e.g., 50-day) cross below long-term moving averages (e.g., 200-day), it's called a "death cross," signaling bearish momentum.

RSI (Relative Strength Index): If RSI drops below 30, it indicates oversold conditions, often seen in downtrends.

7. On-Chain Data

Lower Active Addresses: A decrease in the number of active wallet addresses and transactions.

Declining Network Hash Rates: For PoW coins like Bitcoin, a dropping hash rate can signal a loss of miner confidence.

8. Correlation with Macro Factors

Stock Market Correlation: If global markets are bearish, cryptocurrencies often follow.

Rising Interest Rates: Tightening monetary policy reduces liquidity, which can negatively impact the crypto market.

9. Whale Activity

Large Sell-Offs: Tracking whale wallets that move large amounts to exchanges can indicate impending sell pressure.

10. Stablecoin Dominance

An increase in stablecoin dominance (e.g., USDT, USDC) reflects a shift to safety, indicating investors are exiting riskier assets.

Monitoring these indicators collectively can give a more comprehensive view of whether the market is truly in decline.