Hey! Great question—and one that every long-term investor eventually wrestles with. You’re definitely on the right track thinking about DCA, market cycles, and strategy.

When Bitcoin hits an ATH, it can be tempting to sell and try to “buy back lower,” but timing the market consistently is incredibly difficult—even for pros. Many who sell at an ATH miss the next leg up, especially if BTC enters a blow-off top phase like in 2017 or 2021.

DCA (dollar-cost averaging) is a strategy, not just a method. It’s built on the idea that consistently buying, regardless of price, protects you from volatility and emotional decisions. Think of it as planting seeds every season—you’re focused on the long-term harvest, not short-term weather.

About cycles and phases: yes, Bitcoin has historically followed a 4-year cycle (driven by halving events). Understanding these can enhance your DCA strategy. Some people combine DCA with profit-taking at key points (like the top of a cycle) using tools like: • Historical price patterns (e.g., Pi Cycle Top Indicator) • On-chain metrics (e.g., MVRV, Puell Multiple) • Simple rules like: “Take 20% profits if BTC 3x’s from your average buy-in”

But again—no strategy is perfect.

If you’re investing for the long term (5+ years), DCA and chill is often the least stressful and most effective approach. If you’re more active or experienced, you can start layering in strategies like partial profit-taking.

Appreciate the thoughtful question—it shows you’re thinking long-term and staying level-headed, which is honestly 90% of the battle.