Bitcoin, Ethereum suffer worst start to decade, down 24% and 34% year-to-date

Bitcoin and Ethereum recorded their worst year-to-date performances on record as of Feb. 20, 2026. Bitcoin has fallen 24% to approximately $67,000, while Ethereum dropped 34% to around $2,000 since Jan. 1, 2026. This decline contrasts with traditional assets, as gold rose 17% and the S&P 500 gained 0.4% over the same period. The slump follows a "flash crash" on Oct. 10, 2025, which wiped out $19 billion in leverage. Bitcoin is down over 46% since early October. Bitwise analyst Danny Nelson declared a "Crypto Winter," citing investor apathy despite regulatory acceptance. The sector faces further strain from crypto lender BlockFills, which suspended withdrawals in February 2026 with losses exceeding $75 million.