The cryptocurrency market witnessed a substantial decrease in value during the first quarter of 2026, with a total market cap decline of 20.4% to $2.4 trillion. This represents a loss of $622 billion in just one quarter, with the market now sitting approximately 45% below its October 2025 peak.
The decline was led by Bitcoin, which experienced a 22% fall, outperforming traditional equities such as the NASDAQ and S&P 500. The NASDAQ dropped 7.1%, while the S&P 500 fell 4.8%, both posting their worst quarterly returns since 2022.
Geopolitical tensions, including the US-Iran war, added to the market's downward pressure, although crude oil surged 76.9% in response to global supply shocks. Gold continued its record-breaking trend from 2025, gaining 8.1%