In financial markets, a bear market denotes a period where investor confidence is low, leading to increasing selling pressure and prices continuing to decline. This term is used primarily in the context of stock markets but is applicable to all asset classes, including cryptocurrencies. Investors typically feel pessimistic, leading to negative sentiment and a lack of new capital inflow. Bear markets can last for months or even years and are often triggered by negative economic factors, such as recession, high-interest rates, or geopolitical tensions.