When we look at the history of the price of Bitcoin, it is true that after each big price drop the period of stagnation was longer. However, in the world of cryptocurrency technical analysis doesn't work, and this time this period may be much shorter. In my opinion, the trend may be reversed at the beginning of 2019.
Technical analysis still works in the world of cryptocurrency and of course you have to consider the fact that it is volatile and the fact that even when you are using technical analysis in any market, you should still know better that technical analysis are not meant to give you exactly what the future is going to be but they are only there to be guiding you on the decisions you will be making with a lot of it being based on your strategy. I have been using TA, I have been fine tuning my strategy and I can tell you TA works absolutely well as long as you know what you are doing.
the bear trend is staying long enough.
Well, it is always normal to see the bear trend get to go this long, but the thing is that throughout last year we also had a complete bullish year, so I will just see this as a phase of the market as far as I am concerned which will not be forever. What is most important right now is to at least be seeing a good chance to buy and then being patient enough to wait for the long run. For now, we just have to wait and see how things would turn out, but whatever market decision anyone want to make, it should not be made blindly as they should always back it up with information.