Bitcoin Falls 48% From Peak, Posting Worst Five-Month Streak Since 2018

Bitcoin is heading for its worst five-month losing streak since 2018, dropping 48% from over $126,000 to around $65,500 after four consecutive monthly declines, with February set to close down 16%, DL News reports. Analysts pointed to macro headwinds including tariff uncertainty following a US Supreme Court ruling on Trump's tariffs and his weekend threat of 15% global levies, AI concerns highlighted in a Citrini Research report, and gold's 24% gain over five months that has revived debate over Bitcoin's "digital gold" narrative, Carlos Guzman of GSR and Fabian Dori of Sygnum Bank told DL News. Crypto-specific factors include fears the market's four-year halving cycle is repeating and stalled US regulation as the Clarity Act remains stuck in the Senate; Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said on February 19 the bill had a 90% chance of passing by end-April in a Fox Business interview. Franklin Templeton's Tony Pecore said such corrections can benefit the ecosystem by reducing speculation and refocusing attention on fundamentals.