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Crypto World

Bitcoin Q1 2026 Posts Third-Worst Quarterly Loss Since 2013 as Ethereum Slides 32%

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TLDR:

  • Bitcoin’s Q1 2026 return of -23.21% is the third-worst since 2013, trailing only Q1 2018 and Q1 2014 losses.
  • Ethereum recorded a -32.17% Q1 2026 return, falling well below its historical quarterly average of +66.45%.
  • Bitcoin’s Q1 average of +45.90% is heavily skewed by extreme years like 2013’s record gain of +539.96%.
  • Around $1.8 billion in sell orders hit derivatives books in one hour, linked to rising US-Iran geopolitical tension.

Bitcoin Q1 2026 return has dropped to -23.21%, marking one of the weakest first-quarter performances since 2013.

Ethereum also recorded a -32.17% decline during the same period. Data from CoinGlass shows both assets are trading well below their historical quarterly averages.

The numbers reflect broader stress across digital asset markets, driven by macro pressure and rising geopolitical tensions that have rattled investor confidence heading into the second quarter.

Bitcoin Falls to Third-Worst Q1 Since 2013

Bitcoin’s Q1 2026 return stands at -23.21%, placing it among the worst quarterly performances on record. Only Q1 2018 and Q1 2014 recorded steeper losses, at -49.7% and -37.42% respectively.

Both of those periods played out during confirmed bear-market cycles. The current result sits far below the historical Q1 average of +45.90%.

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That average, however, is skewed by extreme years like 2013, when Bitcoin gained +539.96% in the first quarter. The 2021 Q1 also returned +103.17%, further pulling the average higher.

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Source: Coinglass

The historical Q1 median sits at -2.26%, meaning negative quarters are not unusual. Still, a -23.21% return points to conditions well outside normal seasonal weakness.

The data suggests the market is dealing with more than routine volatility. Liquidity contraction and macro risk repricing appear to be key factors.

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These are patterns typically seen during post-cycle deleveraging phases. Investors are not showing signs of early-cycle accumulation at this stage.

Ethereum’s Q1 performance tells a similar story, though the losses run deeper. Its -32.17% return is the third-worst Q1 since 2016. This is well below its historical Q1 average of +66.45% and median of +4.37%.

Derivatives Market Shows Signs of Forced Selling

Ethereum’s higher beta relative to Bitcoin means it tends to fall harder during risk-off periods. The Q1 2026 data is consistent with that pattern.

Capital rotation away from higher-volatility assets has been visible across the market. Together, Bitcoin and Ethereum’s performance points to a defensive macro posture rather than recovery.

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Market analyst CryptoTice flagged a sharp spike in selling pressure through derivatives. The analyst noted that roughly $1.8 billion in aggressive market sell orders hit the books within a single hour.

Rising US-Iran tensions were cited as the catalyst behind the move. The analyst described it as urgency-driven selling rather than a rotation.

When derivatives lead price action, leverage tends to unwind quickly. Liquidations can cascade, and volatility expands rapidly as a result.

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CryptoTice pointed to funding rates, open interest, and liquidity gaps as key areas to monitor. Stress in the derivatives market often shows up before spot prices fully react.

The combined picture across spot and derivatives markets reflects a cautious environment. Both retail and institutional participants appear to be reducing exposure rather than adding risk.

Geopolitical factors have added a layer of uncertainty that is difficult to price. Until clarity returns, volatility is likely to remain elevated across the crypto market.

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Crypto World

Iran War Fallout Will Muddy the Rest of 2026 for Asset Markets: Analyst

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Bitcoin Price

Now almost a week old, the Bitcoin (BTC) recovery is “fragile” as the crypto market faces geopolitical and macroeconomic headwinds from the ongoing war in the Middle East, according to Nic Puckrin, a crypto market analyst and founder of the CoinBureau media outlet.

“Even if the war ends now, its repercussions will likely be the story of 2026, and certainly the dominant narrative for Q2. I don’t expect to see a rate cut until late Q3 or Q4, if at all,” Puckrin told Cointelegraph. He said that he sees: 

“For a push toward $90,000, we would need to see a combination of factors: a ceasefire that results in the end of geopolitical tensions, a sustained drop in oil prices toward $80, and ideally also softer-than-expected economic data that calms stagflation fears.”

If Bitcoin closes the week above $71,000, it could signal continued upside for BTC, with resistance forming around the $74,000 level, he said. At last look, it was trading at about $71,276, according to TradingView data.

Bitcoin Price
BTC faces resistance at the $74,000 level and continues to trade below its 200-day exponential moving average. Source: TradingView

The ongoing conflict has caused an inflationary spike, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Price Index report, published on Friday, chilling hopes of further interest rate cuts in 2026. Rate cuts or credit easing tend to stimulate asset prices.

Related: Bitcoin, Ether near levels that could signal trend reversal: Analyst

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Bitcoin stumbles as Iran negotiations fail and US President threatens major escalation

Bitcoin surged by about 5.8% beginning on April 6, reaching above $73,000, before retracing to about $71,000 on April 11, following news of failed negotiations between the US and Iran, according to the Kobeissi Letter.

“Peace talks appear to have come to a screeching halt,” Kobeissi Letter said, adding, “the outcome of talks was arguably the worst-case scenario.”

Following the failed peace talks, US President Donald Trump said he directed the US military to form a naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz.

“I have also instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in international waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas,” Trump said on Saturday.

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Bitcoin Price
Source: Donald Trump

Members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which decides interest rate policy in the US, remain divided on further interest rate cuts in 2026, citing inflation concerns from the war.

The FOMC did not rule out an interest rate hike in 2026 if inflation remains elevated above its 2% target, according to the meeting minutes from the March FOMC meeting.

According to the CME Fedwatch tool, there is more than a 98% probability of the FOMC maintaining the current target rate range of 350-375 basis points at the next two meetings, on April 29 and June 17. Chances drop to about 65% for the July 29 meeting, with a 33.6% probability of a 25-bps cut.

Magazine: Big Questions: Can Bitcoin save you from the dreaded Cantillon Effect?