Bitcoin falls below $70,000, down 28% in 2026 so far—weakest start since 2018

Bitcoin has fallen about 28% so far in 2026, making this its weakest start to a year since 2018. Bitcoin is trading near $68,133.09 at 17:40 IST, down from roughly $90,062 at the beginning of January. The currency has seen a correction of 42.16% in the last 6 months.

The drop has come at a time when global markets are turning cautious. Bond yields remain high, liquidity is tighter, and risk appetite has cooled. Spot Bitcoin ETF inflows have also slowed compared to the strong momentum seen late last year.

The monthly trend shows steady pressure.

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January ended with a loss of just over 10%. February is already down more than 13%. If March does not see a recovery, the first quarter of 2026 could be Bitcoin’s worst Q1 performance in eight years.

Two straight negative months at the start of the year is unusual. In the past, similar patterns were seen during broader bear markets, including 2018 and 2022. That history is making investors more careful this time around.

However, the current decline does not look like earlier crashes.

There has been no large wave of panic selling. Instead, futures open interest has dropped by more than 20%, suggesting traders are reducing leverage gradually. This points to a reset in positioning rather than forced liquidations.

For now, Bitcoin remains under pressure as markets adjust to tighter financial conditions. The next few weeks will likely determine whether this is just an early-year correction or the start of a deeper downturn.