Bitcoin posted a -23.21% return in Q1 2026, marking the third-worst first-quarter performance since 2013, according to CoinGlass data. Ethereum dropped 32%, also marking its third-worst Q1 performance. Back-to-back quarterly losses followed the October 2025 market peak.
Bitcoin’s Q1 loss fell far below its historical Q1 average of 45.90% and its median return of -2.26%. Ethereum fared worse with -32.17% in Q1 2026, also the third-worst since 2016, trailing its historical Q1 average of 66.45% and median return of 4.37%.
Only two prior first quarters posted worse performance: Q1 2018 at -49.7% and Q1 2014 at -37.42%. The Q1 2026 loss followed Bitcoin’s October 2025 all-time high and the October 10 liquidation event that triggered $19 billion in market-wide liquidations.
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