Downside risk remains as bitcoin nears record-tying six-month losing streak

Markets Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Downside risk remains as bitcoin nears record-tying six-month losing streak A close below $67,300 for bitcoin would confirm six straight monthly losses amid ongoing macro pressures. By James Van Straten | Edited by Stephen Alpher Mar 31, 2026, 12:58 p.m. Make preferred on What to know : With a few hours to go in March, bitcoin is down around 1% for the month and on track to match a rare six-month losing streak on only one other occasion. In every prior bear market, bitcoin has fallen below its 200-week moving average and realized price; it has yet to break this cycle. Bitcoin BTC $ 66,616.61 is on track to match a joint record of six consecutive monthly losses, set only once between August 2018 and January 2019, according to Coinglass data. Currently at $66,600, BTC would need to rally a bit more than 1% over the next 15 hours to close above the $67,300 level at which it started the month. According to Coinglass data , bitcoin fell 4% in October, 18% in November, and 3% in December. The downtrend continued into 2026, with a 10% drop in January, 15% in February, and March currently down about 1%. The last time bitcoin recorded six consecutive down months was between August 2018 and January 2019. That period was followed by five consecutive months of gains, offering bitcoin bulls a modest historical precedent for a potential recovery. Downside risks remain Unlike that 2019 experience, however, the technicals and the macro situation suggest the pressure could continue. Bitcoin remains above key long-term support levels, including its 200-week moving average at $59,268 and its realized price — the average on-chain cost basis — at $54,177, according to Glassnode data. In previous bear markets, bitcoin has typically fallen below both levels and remained there for a sustained period. 200WMA + realized Price (Glassnode) Macro conditions also remain a headwind. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has kept oil prices above $100 per barrel for over a month, complicating central bank policy decisions around rate cuts or further tightening. At the same time, renewed concerns around quantum computing risks have added another layer of uncertainty. One potential bright spot is that bitcoin has edged slightly higher since the onset of the Middle East conflict, suggesting some resilience despite the broader risk-off environment. Bitcoin News More For You The Definitive Stablecoin Landscape Series: North America By CoinDesk Research Mar 26, 2026 Commissioned by Ripple As stablecoins evolve into core financial infrastructure, North America leads. This report maps the regulation, market shifts, and players driving adoption. Why it matters : Stablecoins are entering their third phase of evolution - the institutionalization era - becoming increasingly embedded into core financial infrastructure. As institutions prioritize transparency and compliance, regulated issuers like USDC, RLUSD, and PYUSD are steadily gaining share with RLUSD surpassing $1B in market cap within its first year. North America, leading in regulatory frameworks and institutional distribution, is at the center of it all. View Full Report More For You A quantum computer may need just 10,000 qubits to empty your crypto wallets, researchers say By Sam Reynolds | Edited by Shaurya Malwa 1 hour ago The research shows quantum computers may break bitcoin and ether wallet encryption with far fewer qubits than previously thought, accelerating the push toward post-quantum security. What to know : A research paper from Caltech and quantum startup Oratomic found that the cryptography protecting bitcoin and ether wallets could be broken with as few as 10,000 physical qubits, far below earlier estimates of hundreds of thousands. Using Google's quantum circuits as a baseline, the authors say a neutral-atom quantum computer... Read full story Latest Crypto News Google warns five quantum attack paths could put $100 billion on Ethereum at risk 57 minutes ago Prediction markets backlash builds possible stormcloud for 2027 59 minutes ago Forex startup OpenFX raises $94 million to expand stablecoin-powered cross-border payments 1 hour ago Quantum risk resurfaces at the worst time for bitcoin, but 1 token is loving it 1 hour ago A quantum computer may need just 10,000 qubits to empty your crypto wallets, researchers say 1 hour ago Bearish sentiment builds in crypto as volatility and hedging rise 2 hours ago Top Stories Breaking Bitcoin with quantum may be easier than thought, with Taproot partly to blame, Google says 8 hours ago David Bailey’s Nakamoto sells roughly 5% of its bitcoin holdings, offloading 284 BTC 3 hours ago Bitcoin demand falters as 'real' interest rates surge 6 hours ago Bitcoin holds $67,500 as Trump signals he may end Iran war with Hormuz still shut 7 hours ago Maryland man charged in $50 million Uranium Finance hack after U.S. seized $31 million in crypto 7 hours ago