{"id":39919,"date":"2026-04-03T07:00:57","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T07:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cryptomag.finance\/?p=39919"},"modified":"2026-04-03T07:00:57","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T07:00:57","slug":"bitcoin-stumbles-hard-the-worst-q1-in-years-raises-big-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cryptomag.finance\/?p=39919","title":{"rendered":"Bitcoin Stumbles Hard: The Worst Q1 In Years Raises Big Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bitcoin ended the first quarter of 2026 at $68,200 after falling 22% over the period, its weakest opening three months since 2018. The slide erased an early push higher that had briefly carried the cryptocurrency close to $95,000 before the market turned lower.<\/p>\n

A Sharp Turn After A Strong Start<\/h2>\n

The quarter did not begin quietly. Bitcoin<\/a> opened the year at a little past $87,000 and moved higher in the early stretch, showing enough strength to reach nearly $95,000. That momentum did not last. The price later sank to about $60,000 on February 6, marking a fast shift in tone after a strong start to the year.<\/p>\n

From there, the market kept swinging. Bitcoin managed a brief rebound to around $70,000 later in February, but the recovery faded. Selling pressure returned as tension in the Middle East spread through risk markets, and Bitcoin slipped again, touching about $63,000 before the quarter ended.<\/p>\n

Coinglass data<\/a> used in the report shows how unusual the quarter was when set against recent history. Bitcoin fell nearly 50% in the first quarter of 2018, then posted smaller swings in the years that followed.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It gained 8% in 2019, lost 10% in 2020, surged over 100% in 2021, slipped 1.40% in 2022, and then rebounded with gains of 70% in 2023 and 65% in 2024. The pattern broke again in 2025 with an 11% decline before this year\u2019s deeper drop.<\/p>\n

Geopolitical Stress Kept Traders On Edge<\/h2>\n

The latest decline was tied in the report to rising unrest<\/a> in the MidEast. That pressure did not stay confined to one trading session. It lingered through March and helped push Bitcoin into a choppy finish for the quarter, with rapid price changes making it harder for the market to settle.<\/p>\n

The report also pointed to fresh selling at the start of the second quarter. After US President Donald Trump signaled a tougher stance and warned of further military action in the weeks ahead, Bitcoin fell 3% in 24 hours to $66,700. Ethereum<\/a>, BNB, and XRP<\/a> also traded lower by about 3% to 4% as the broader crypto market softened.<\/p>\n

April Brings A Different Seasonal Pattern<\/p>\n

Despite the weak finish to March, the report noted April has often been a better month for Bitcoin. Coinglass data cited in the report shows an average April gain of 11.90% and a median return of 5% over the years, which has kept some traders looking for a rebound even after the rough quarter.<\/p>\n

Featured image from Meta, chart from TradingView<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bitcoin ended the first quarter of 2026 at $68,200 after falling 22% over the period, its weakest opening three months since 2018. The slide erased an early push higher that had briefly carried the cryptocurrency close to $95,000 before the market turned lower. 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