At the beginning of February 2026, the sharp decline in the Bitcoin price in a short time raised the anxiety level of investors to the highest level. While there was a significant increase in internet searches regarding whether Bitcoin would drop to zero on a global scale, the highest atmosphere of fear in recent years prevailed in the markets.
Crypto Wave of Fear and Anxiety
The price of Bitcoin dropped from $81,500 to approximately $60,000 in a short period of five days. This sharp decline of 25% was the fastest loss of value since the end of 2024. The Crypto Fear and Greed Index, which measures market sentiment, dropped to 5 points during this period, marking the first time such a low score was reached since the turbulent period in 2022. While the panic of the decline affected a wide range of people, from small investors to corporate actors, many people began to have question marks about the long-term future of Bitcoin.
Liquidation Wave and Global Factors
Market experts state that this sharp fluctuation in prices is due to several main factors. The intense sales that started on February 11, when Bitcoin failed to overcome the psychological resistance at $ 70,000, led to the rapid closure of large-scale positions. One of the most important developments that increased sales pressure was US President Donald Trump’s announcement that a 100 percent customs duty would be applied to products imported from China. While this decision negatively affected global markets, it accelerated the decline in prices by reducing risk appetite on the crypto asset side.
Pessimistic and Optimistic Comments from Experts
Despite the general negativity in the market, some experts suggest that the fluctuation marks the beginning of a new era in the crypto market. According to this view, we are entering a phase where the classical four-year cycle ends and the influence of institutional investors increases. In addition, Bloomberg analyst Mike McGlone touched on the long-discussed “bubble” issue and warned that a decline to the $ 10,000 level might be possible for Bitcoin. On the other hand, it is evaluated that the bipartisan market regulation law agreed upon in the USA may support stability in the long term.
A new report published by Matrix on Target offers a structured framework for investors on timing entry and detecting price bottoms in the current bear market. The report also includes predictions made in the past; Pointing out the bull market that started in October 2022, predicting a peak of $125,000 in mid-2023, and emphasizing the transition to a bear trend after falling below critical price levels at the end of 2025 are among the prominent headlines of the report.
The recent panic also shows that the crypto industry still bears the traces of the loss of trust caused by security vulnerabilities and cyber attacks in the past. Such severe price volatility in the Bitcoin and crypto industry significantly affects investor behavior.
Mike McGlone described the volatility as a sign that the crypto bubble has burst and suggested that much lower levels could be seen in Bitcoin.
In the current environment, retail investor anxiety is reflected in Google searches, while market makers are closely monitoring new regulations and structural developments to escape long-term bear markets.
