a very small number of traders can earn on short and long positions. If you look at the liquidation statistics on Bitmex, you will immediately understand what trading with margin leverage is. it is a big misconception that the bear market is not bad. Such a way of earning is for a very small number of people. The bear market has only plus is that it clean the market from unnecessary projects
we cant blame just because of liquidation statistic. It is possible to get many liquidations too in bull market
So, no matter in bull or bear, there are many people who lose in market too
It is all about the skill of trader/investor itself. I think trading is zero sum game. Some people win and the others lose. No matter in bull or bear
You also have to keep in mind that a lot of traders don't experience liquidations because they employ stoplosses (especially market stops on sites like Bitmex) to prevent this from happening; it actually makes no sense to allow a trade to be liquidated in the case of Bitmex because a part of the margin of your trade goes towards the insurance fund, so stopping a trade even a few dollars before liquidation means you'll end up with something instead of nothing. Leveraged trading doesn't have to be highly risky if you play your cards right, though even still most people still end up losing money.