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CryptoMedium•20 February 2026•

1 min read

Bitcoin and Ethereum Face Worst Start to a Year in a Decade

A dramatic image showing a red downward trend line, a cracked cube with a Bitcoin symbol, and 'SYSTEM FAILURE -99%'. Debris, circuit boards, and broken crypto coins are scattered.

Bitcoin and Ethereum have recorded their most significant year-to-date price declines in a decade, marking a historically bearish start to the year. According to data from CoinGecko, the two largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization are facing unprecedented downward pressure compared to historical trends. This record-breaking slump has raised concerns across the digital asset market as investors grapple with steep losses. Despite the grim performance figures reported by Fortune, some market analysts remain optimistic about a potential imminent rebound based on technical support levels. The current market sentiment reflects a period of extreme volatility that has surpassed all year-to-date declines seen in the last ten years. Consequently, the performance of BTC and ETH continues to dictate the broader trajectory of the entire crypto sector.

Version History

Version 13 months ago

What changed: The story was updated to include specific drawdown percentages for both Bitcoin and Ethereum from their all-time highs, quantifying the severity of the current slump.