Volatility and setbacks in numbers
Of the 14 years from 2012 to 2025, 4 ended lower than the year before: 2014 at minus 59.6 %, 2018 at minus 73.6 %, 2022 at minus 64.3 % and 2025 at minus 6.3 %.
The largest fall went from US$14,156 at the end of 2017 to US$3,743 at the end of 2018. Worked out, that is 3,743 divided by 14,156 minus one, or minus 73.6 %. The year-end price only got back to the old level in 2020.
With bitcoin, high averages and deep setbacks go together, even in the year-end prices.
From US$14,156 at the end of 2017 it went to US$3,743 at the end of 2018, minus 73.6 %. The year-end price was back at the old level only in 2020.
Year-end prices in US dollars, each year backed by at least two public sources.
Questions people ask
How far did bitcoin fall in bad years?
In the deepest case, from the end of 2017 to the end of 2018, by 73.6 %, measured on year-end prices. Within the year daily prices went even lower.
How long did bitcoin take to make up a slump?
After the largest fall the year-end price was above the old level of the end of 2017 again only in 2020.
Why is the average alone not enough to describe bitcoin?
Because the same span with high averages also holds years with losses of more than half. Whoever sees only the average does not see the setbacks.
Source: Bitcoin-Jahresschlüsse, je Jahr mindestens zwei öffentliche Belege, as of 2025, retrieved 2026-10-22 · Alpha Modus Holdings, Inc. (Form 8-K, 01.10.2026), as of 2026-09-30, retrieved 2026-10-28
Every year as a tile, higher or lower than the year before, with the calculation behind it.
The simulation, the comparison and the Beam stay free.
Education, not advice. Disclaimer