Bitcoin News: Bitcoin Down 22% in Q1, on Track for Worst Start to Year Since 2018

Bitcoin is heading toward its worst first-quarter performance in eight years, with the price down 22.3% year-to-date, raising the prospect of its weakest Q1 since the 2018 bear market.Bitcoin began the year near $87,700 and has since fallen roughly $20,000 to around $68,000, according to market data. If losses persist through the end of March, the decline would mark Bitcoin’s sharpest first-quarter drawdown since 2018, when prices collapsed nearly 50% in three months, data from CoinGlass shows.Historically, Bitcoin has posted losses in seven of the past thirteen first quarters. Recent negative Q1s include 2025 (-11.8%) and 2020 (-10.8%), underscoring the period’s reputation for volatility.“The first quarter of the year is known for its volatile nature,” analyst Daan Trades Crypto said in a post on Sunday, adding that Q1 performance has often failed to predict longer-term trends.First-ever red January and February in sightBitcoin is also on pace for an unprecedented milestone: two consecutive red months to start the year. The asset fell 10.2% in January and is down 13.4% so far in February. To avoid a negative February close, Bitcoin would need to reclaim the $80,000 level before month-end.So far, Bitcoin has only recorded back-to-back negative first quarters during deep bear markets in 2018 and 2022, highlighting how unusual the current setup could become if losses extend.Ether also under pressureThe broader crypto market has not been spared. Ethereum is down 34.3% this quarter, placing the current period on track to become its third-worst Q1 historically. Ether has closed the first quarter in the red only three times in the past nine years.Correction, not collapse?Despite the steep pullback, some analysts argue the move reflects a correction rather than a breakdown. Nick Ruck, director of LVRG Research, told Cointelegraph that Bitcoin’s decline amid global macro uncertainty remains consistent with past cyclical corrections.“Historical patterns show Bitcoin’s resilience often leads to strong recoveries in later months,” Ruck said, citing continued institutional adoption and halving-cycle dynamics as longer-term supports.As of the latest data from CoinGecko, Bitcoin was trading near $68,670, extending its losses to a fifth consecutive weekly decline.Whether this quarter ultimately mirrors past capitulation phases or stabilizes into a base-building period may hinge on broader macro conditions and risk sentiment in the weeks ahead.