There are a lot of topics on the forum on which there is a consenus (curling in the squat racK: bad, biotest products: good) but this topic seems to have brought a difference of opinion.
Which is a harder feat for lifters: losing fat or gaining muscle?
I’ve found both to take about an equal amount of finesse to do correctly (i.e. cutting fat without losing strength and gaining muscle without putting on excess fat).
both
That’s because there’s not a right answer to this question, it’s a personal answer. For me, bulking is easier.
What is technically easier? losing fat or gaining muscle? Losing fat is definitely easier.
Now what is easier in terms of effort and discipline? Clearly an attempt at gaining muscle doesn’t require near the discipline that getting shredded does.
Asking this question completely disregards one’s genes.
What genes do you have? Some people are predisposed to gain weight very easily, other are predisposed to lose weight very quickly.
You need also take into account one’s fitness level. The closer you are to reaching your genetic ceiling, the harder it can be to gain muscle, or lose fat without excessive muscle loss.
Also, what are one’s BF%? Its a well known fact someone who has 20% bodyfat may gain a muscle/fat mass ratio as bad as 3/7, especially if insulin sensitivity is particularly bad, T levels are low, and metabolism is particularly slow. Someone with a 5% will gain a much better muscle/fat mass ratio, perhaps 8/2 for every 10 lbs gained.
Likewise someone with a 5% BF level will find it extremely hard to diet down further without losing excess muscle, whereas someone with a 20% bf can diet down without losing musch muscle mass.
Other variable factors include diet choice, level of education in regards to nutrition, weightlifting, and physiology, supplementation used, and so forth.
This is as individual as it gets. From genetic factors to circumstancial factors (present bf levels) to variable factors such as choice of diet and workouts, they all can make bulking or cutting easier than the other.
Both are easy to do.
Gaining fat is by far easiest 
Losing LBM is next in line.
After that though it’s a toss up, depends on the person and the stats, both starting point and ending point.