Bitcoin Records Third-Worst Q1 Performance Since 2013 with 23% Decline

Bitcoin (BTC) faced a challenging start to 2026, recording a significant decline of 23.21% in the first quarter. This performance represents a sharp deviation from historical norms, marking the third-worst Q1 return for the cryptocurrency since 2013. According to data from CoinGlass, the current loss stands in stark contrast to Bitcoin's historical Q1 average growth of 45%. The bearish trend has raised concerns among investors as the asset failed to maintain its typical early-year momentum. Market analysts suggest that this substantial drop indicates a cooling of sentiment across the broader digital asset space. Other major instruments, including ETH/USD and Bitcoin ETFs like GBTC, are also being monitored closely following this downturn.