So do the whales have the ability to dump us into a bear market on their own?
They would be able to buy cheap Bitcoin but if we're in a bear market they can't sell for huge profits (and then rinse and repeat) until the next bull run. Or is Bitcoin accumulation the be all end all for them?
Market manipulation is beneficial when many participants are trading in the market. Market makers constantly manipulate the market so that hamsters buy cryptocurrency at a high price and sell it when the price of coins falls.
Their goal is to take your higher bitcoins from you. Therefore, the best strategy is to have an investment portfolio in the HOLD position for 10 years.