Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) is down 23% through the first 50 days of 2026, marking its weakest start to a year on record as spot ETFs hemorrhaged nearly $4 billion in five weeks.

The Historic Decline

Bitcoin has never previously posted consecutive declines in January and February. 

The asset fell 10% in January and another 15% in February, setting up the first-ever back-to-back monthly losses to start a year.

While double-digit January drops occurred in 2015, 2016, and 2018, each was followed by a positive February. 

If losses hold, Bitcoin is also on track for its weakest consecutive monthly performance since 2022.

The weakness follows a 17% decline in 2025, a post-election year. 

Historically,…

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