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?
Whales can make it looks like it's bear and pull it down very low. Then if everything is on panic mode they will saw retailers keeps on selling on the market and if its over then they will start inject funds rapidly or market buys. This will consume them a lot of money but as they can lure other market to buy then they could see a good reversal and slowly will get their money again with profits.