Bitcoin Is Down 45%.
Here's How to Buy It Smarter.

Your timeline is full of red candles and panic. Your coworker who bought at $120K won't shut up about it. And you're sitting there wondering: is now actually the time to buy? Let's talk about it.

Look, we're not going to sugarcoat this. Bitcoin dropping from $126K to the $60K range in four months is brutal. People lost real money. Funds got liquidated. The "digital gold" narrative took a beating as actual gold kept ripping to all-time highs.

But here's the thing that most people screaming into the void on Crypto Twitter won't tell you: every single time Bitcoin has done this, it eventually came back stronger. Every. Single. Time. That doesn't mean it will again (past performance isn't a promise) but the pattern is worth understanding before you make any moves.

This guide is for you if you're new to Bitcoin, curious about buying the dip, and want to do it without going full degen. We'll cover what's happening, why it's happening, and most importantly, how to actually buy smarter if you decide to get in.

💥 WTF Happened? The 2026 Bitcoin Crash Explained

Bitcoin hit its all-time high of around $126,080 on October 6, 2025. Life was good. ETF inflows were pouring in. The Fed had cut rates three times. Regulation was trending friendly. Vibes were immaculate.

Then everything unraveled. Fast. Here's the short version of what triggered the selloff:

October 2025: Trump announced threats of 100% tariffs on Chinese imports, triggering a massive liquidity shock. Over $18 billion in crypto positions got liquidated in just a few days. Bitcoin dropped from $126K to around $87K by January 2026.

Late January 2026: The "software-mageddon" hit. Major AI and software stocks imploded as investors started questioning whether massive AI spending would actually pay off. The S&P 500 software index shed roughly $1 trillion. Since hedge funds now hold both tech stocks and crypto through ETFs, margin calls on one meant forced selling of the other. Bitcoin got dragged down with the Nasdaq.

Early February 2026: Silver crashed 30% in its worst day since 1980. Gold wobbled. Then Trump nominated Kevin Warsh as the next Fed Chair, a move markets read as hawkish. Bitcoin plunged to a low of around $60,000 on February 6 before bouncing.

The key takeaway? This wasn't a crypto-specific failure. The blockchain didn't break. No major exchange collapsed (a nice change from 2022). This was a macro-driven liquidation event that hit every risk asset. Bitcoin just happened to be the most liquid thing hedge funds could sell in a hurry.

📈 Bitcoin Has Crashed Before. Every Time It Recovered

If you're new to Bitcoin, a 45% crash feels apocalyptic. If you've been around a while, this is just... Tuesday. Here's how past crashes stack up:

Notice the pattern? The drawdowns have been getting smaller over time. And the recovery periods have been getting shorter. That's not a guarantee, but it suggests Bitcoin is maturing as an asset class, especially now that ETFs and institutional players are in the mix.

💪 The DCA Strategy: How to Buy Bitcoin Smarter

Alright, this is the part that actually matters. If you've decided you want exposure to Bitcoin, the single best strategy for beginners is Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA). It's not sexy, it's not complicated, and that's exactly why it works.

Here's the idea: instead of trying to time the perfect bottom (spoiler: you won't), you invest a fixed amount on a regular schedule, whether that's weekly, biweekly, or monthly, regardless of what the price is doing.

When the price is high, your $50 buys fewer sats. When the price is low, your $50 buys more sats. Over time, this smooths out your average entry price and removes emotion from the equation. No staring at charts at 3am. No FOMO. No panic selling.

Here's what $50/week DCA would look like right now:

That's 286,793 sats (0.00286793 BTC) for $200. Your average buy price? About $69,753. That's better than buying everything in Week 1, and way less stressful than trying to nail the exact bottom.

The beauty of DCA in a bear market specifically? You're buying more sats when prices are low. In Week 2, when Bitcoin dropped to $63K, your $50 bought 31% more Bitcoin than in Week 1. That's the whole game. Accumulate during fear.

🚀 How to Actually Buy Bitcoin in 2026 (Step by Step)

If you're brand new, the process is simpler than you think. Here's the quick rundown:

🚫 5 Bitcoin Buying Mistakes Beginners Make in a Bear Market

1. Going all-in at once

Dumping your entire budget into Bitcoin in one shot during a crash feels smart. "I'm buying the dip!" But what if it keeps dipping? (It often does.) In February 2026, Bitcoin bounced from $60K to $70K... then dropped back to $66K. If you went all-in at $70K thinking that was the bottom, you'd already be underwater. DCA solves this.

2. Investing money you can't afford to lose

Bear markets can last 1-2 years. Can you hold for that long without needing the money? If the answer is no, you're not investing. You're gambling. Bitcoin should be 5-15% of your portfolio at most, and only money you won't touch for years.

3. Trying to trade the volatility

You see Bitcoin crash 15% in a day and think "I'll buy the dip and sell the bounce." Professional traders with algorithmic systems lose money doing this. You're on your phone in your pajamas. Just DCA and chill.

4. Getting distracted by altcoins

When Bitcoin drops 45%, altcoins drop 70-95%. Ethereum is down over 80% from its highs. Solana is in free fall. If you're a beginner, start with Bitcoin only. It's the most battle-tested asset in crypto with the strongest case for long-term survival. You can explore alts later once you understand the space.

5. Letting emotions drive decisions

The whole point of DCA is to remove emotion. When Bitcoin drops 15% in a day, your brain screams "SELL!" When it pumps 10%, your brain screams "BUY MORE!" Both impulses are usually wrong. Stick to your plan. Set your recurring buy. Close the chart. Go outside.

🤔 "But What If Bitcoin Goes Even Lower?"

It might. Some analysts think Bitcoin could hit $38K-$40K based on historical "super-bear" patterns. Others think $58K-$60K was the bottom since that's where the 200-week moving average sits. Nobody knows.

That's the whole point of DCA. If Bitcoin drops to $40K, your weekly $50 buys even more sats. Your average cost drops. You're accumulating at historically cheap prices relative to where Bitcoin has traded for the past two years.

The question isn't "will it go lower?" The question is: "Do I think Bitcoin will be worth more in 3-5 years than it is today?"

If your answer is yes, even just a "probably," then DCA during a bear market is one of the most rational things you can do. If your answer is no or "I don't know," that's totally fine too. Don't invest in something you don't understand or believe in.

🙌 TL;DR: Your Bitcoin Bear Market Game Plan

If you've scrolled straight to the bottom (respect), here's the whole guide in 30 seconds:

1. Bitcoin crashed ~45% from its October 2025 high of $126K. It's currently hovering around $70K. This crash was driven by macro factors, not a crypto-specific failure.

2. Bitcoin has crashed like this (or worse) four times before and recovered to new all-time highs every single time, usually within 2-4 years.

3. The smartest move for beginners is DCA. Set up a weekly recurring buy of whatever you can afford ($25, $50, $100) on a reputable exchange, and let it run.

4. Don't invest more than you can afford to lose. Don't try to time the bottom. Don't trade altcoins. Don't panic sell.

5. Secure your Bitcoin with 2FA at minimum, and a hardware wallet once your stack gets meaningful.

6. Use BitcoinMood's Fear & Greed tracker and DCA Calculator to time your buys around market sentiment. Buying during "Extreme Fear" has historically outperformed regular DCA by 18-31%.