Bitcoin fell 23.8% in Q1 2026, marking the worst first-quarter performance since 2018

By: rootdata|2026/04/01 18:42:01

According to The Block, btc-42">Bitcoin fell 23.8% in the first quarter of 2026, marking the worst first-quarter performance since 2018. In comparison, Bitcoin dropped 50% in the first quarter of 2018. Coupled with a 23% decline in the fourth quarter of 2025, Bitcoin has accumulated a decline of about 41.6% over the past six months.

Analysts attribute this decline to multiple factors. Andri Fauzan Adziima, head of research at Bitrue, stated that the downward trend in the first quarter was mainly driven by outflows from Bitcoin spot ETFs, along with persistently high inflation, a cautious stance from the Federal Reserve, and an overall risk-averse sentiment in the market. In the first quarter, there was a net outflow of $496.5 million from Bitcoin spot ETFs, with $1.8 billion flowing out in the first two months, while $1.32 billion inflow in March partially offset the previous outflows.

Nevertheless, analysts believe that the long-term confidence in Bitcoin remains unshaken. Min Jung, a researcher at Presto Research, stated, "There is almost no evidence to suggest a structural change in long-term confidence in Bitcoin; institutional participation and adoption trends remain intact, indicating that this decline is more cyclical than fundamental." She pointed out that a trend reversal in the second quarter depends on greater certainty in the macro environment, especially regarding the situation in the Middle East.

Nick Ruck, research director at LVRG, stated, "To reverse the trend in the second quarter, we need ETF funds to flow back in, clear progress on crypto-friendly regulations in the U.S., and a shift towards looser monetary conditions."

-- Price

In three weeks, Drift, Hyperbridge, and KelpDAO were consecutively hacked, resulting in nearly $900 million in losses. Polygon's CEO wrote that the problem lies not with any single team, but with the "notary" style architecture shared by the entire industry—relying on one or two signers to stamp cro...

Major Upgrade on Web: 10+ Advanced Chart Styles for Deeper Market Insights

To deliver more powerful and professional analysis tools, WEEX has rolled out a major upgrade to its web trading charts—now supporting up to 14 advanced chart styles.

Morning Report | Aethir secures a $260 million enterprise contract with Axe Compute; New Fire Technology acquires Avenir Group's trading team; Polymarket's trading volume surpassed by Kalshi

Overview of Important Market Events on April 23

Why a Million-Follower Crypto KOL Chooses WEEX VIP?

Discover why top crypto KOL Carl Moon partnered with WEEX. Explore the WEEX VIP ecosystem, 1,000 BTC protection fund, and exclusive rewards for serious traders.

CoinEx Founder: The Crypto Endgame in My Eyes

The industry will not disappear, but it will shrink significantly.

Spark Coin (SPK): Explodes 73% as Aave Bleeds $15B, A Good Investment Now?

Spark coin (SPK) surged 73% as $15 billion fled Aave after the KelpDAO hack. This article explains what Spark is, why it’s pumping, and whether it is a good investment right now.

As Aave's building collapses, Spark's high-rise is rising

The growth of Spark's TVL is essentially a redistribution of existing capital in DeFi among protocols, rather than new capital entering the market. The "cake" of the entire industry has shrunk in the short term, and no one can remain unaffected.

RootData: Q1 2026 Cryptocurrency Exchange Transparency Research Report

In this report, Binance continues to rank first with the highest trading volume and wealth potential, while OKX has risen to second place as one of the few exchanges with an increase in trading volume this month.

What Is Memecoin Trading? A Beginner's Guide to How It Works, the Risks, and 2026's Hottest Tokens

Memecoins surged 30%+ at the start of 2026 while Bitcoin was flat. RAVE spiked 4,500% then crashed 90% in days. MAGA jumped 350% overnight. This guide explains exactly how memecoin trading works — and how to not blow up your account doing it.

Trump Extends Ceasefire: Bitcoin Hits $79K — What Crypto Traders Need to Know Right Now

Bitcoin surged past $79,000 after Trump extended the ceasefire indefinitely. We break down exactly what happened, how every major crypto reacted, and what traders should watch next — including the one level that could unlock an $85,000 BTC rally.

CHIP Crypto Price Prediction 2026: Can USD.AI's GPU Lending Token Reach $1?

CHIP's 24-hour trading volume hit $1.87 billion on a $236 million market cap — an 8x ratio that almost never happens on legitimate tokens. We explain what's driving it, what USD.AI actually does for GPU tokenization, and whether CHIP belongs in your AI crypto portfolio.

RootData: Q1 2026 Web3 Industry Investment Research Report

In Q1 2026, the total financing amount in the primary cryptocurrency market was $4.59 billion, a significant decrease of 46.7% compared to the previous quarter, with 170 financing events, a decline of 14.2% quarter-on-quarter, indicating that the market as a whole has entered a significant contracti...

Let us look at the data. Let us be neutral. Let us see if the ice has really melted.

WEEX Bubbles App Now Live Visualizes the Crypto Market at a Glance

WEEX Bubbles is a standalone app designed to help users quickly understand complex crypto market movements through an intuitive bubble visualization.