Bitcoin’s : Longest Downtrend Since 2018 Exposed

Bitcoin has seen better days. The top cryptocurrency is down 5.53% this month. This makes it the worst January for Bitcoin since 2022. If it does not bounce back over the weekend, it will mark a . This is the longest losing streak for Bitcoin since 2018.

What Happened to Bitcoin This Month?

The crypto king is hurting. Bitcoin dropped below $85,000 recently. This extends its losses to a six-day streak. It is one of the longest dips since November 2024.

In the last 24 hours alone:

• Crypto liquidations hit $1.8 billion.
• Bitcoin took the biggest hit with $793 million in liquidations.
• Most of these – $753 million – came from long positions. Traders betting on price rises got wiped out.
• Bitcoin ETFs saw $818 million in outflows on Thursday. The weekly total is now $978 million.

These numbers show fear in the market. Big players are pulling back. Retail traders are getting squeezed.

A Look Back: Why 2018 Feels Familiar

Back in 2018, Bitcoin faced a big crash. It came after a boom in Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). Many projects failed. The market spiraled down.

Today feels similar but different. No ICO madness this time. Instead, outside forces are at play. Geopolitical tensions are rising. Investors run to safe assets like gold or bonds. Bitcoin acts like a high-risk stock in these times.

Expert Views: Risk Aversion Rules the Market

Gracy Chen, CEO of a major exchange, says the downturn comes from fear. Geopolitical crises make people avoid risk. They pick steady assets over volatile ones like Bitcoin.

“Bitcoin and other risk assets act like high-beta plays. They fall hard when risk appetite drops,” Chen explained.

She watches two key signs:

1. Trading volumes: High volume with price drops could mean capitulation. A bottom might be near.
2. RSI (Relative Strength Index): Low readings show oversold conditions. This could spark buying.

Bitfinex analysts agree. They call this a short-term shakeout. Some retail buyers stepped in at $84,000. It forms a base. Deeper support sits at $75,000-$81,000. If price tests there, we will see real demand.

Institutional Caution Grows

ETFs tell the story. Outflows show big money leaving. This adds selling pressure. A majority of Bitcoin holders are now underwater. Their investments are worth less than they paid. This could lead to more sales to cut losses.

Marissa Kim from Abra points to big changes since Trump took office. Old crypto cycles are broken. The US printed tons of money fast. This hurt predictable patterns. Bitcoin lags behind other ‘debasement trades’ like certain stocks.

She also blames a flash crash in October. A pricing glitch on a major exchange hurt market makers. Some left the market. This weakened support.

Not Just Bitcoin: The Whole Market Hurts

The pain spreads wide:

• XRP, Solana, Dogecoin: No positive monthly returns since September.
• Ethereum: On track for fifth straight monthly loss.

Solana has some ETF inflows. But they do not drive the price yet.

A Glimmer of Hope in Ripple’s Move

Not all news is bad. Ripple launched a new treasury platform. It helps manage digital assets and cash. Think treasurers and accountants using it.

Key features:

• Payments settle in 3-5 seconds.
• 24/7 yield from tokenized funds like BlackRock’s BUIDL.
• Real-time tracking of cash, XRP, and stablecoins.

This builds on Ripple’s $1 billion buy of treasury software. XRP traded $2.4 billion in 24 hours. Spot ETFs saw $9.2 million inflows Tuesday. Total inflows hit $1.4 billion. XRP’s all-time high was $3.65 in July 2025.

Such innovations show crypto pushing into real finance. Even as prices fall, the tech grows.

Bitcoin vs. Gold: The Digital Gold Debate

People ask: Is Bitcoin digital gold? Gold shines in crises. Bitcoin falls. But long-term, Bitcoin has beaten gold. Context matters. Short-term fear favors real gold. Long-term scarcity favors Bitcoin.

What’s Next for Bitcoin?

The dip looks like a shakeout. Retail buying at $84,000 is a good sign. If volumes spike and RSI hits oversold, a rebound could come.

Watch these levels:

Geopolitics calm? Risk appetite returns? Bitcoin could rally. For now, patience is key.

Final Thoughts

Bitcoin’s is tough. It is the longest streak since 2018. Liquidations and outflows hurt. But markets cycle. Capitulation often marks bottoms. Stay informed. Crypto rewards the patient.

What do you think? Will Bitcoin bounce soon? Share in the comments.