Black Thursday crash
Bitcoin falls by about half in a day as COVID panic hits every market.
$4,842
Source: Bitstamp BTC/USD daily close, 2020-03-12
On March 12, 2020, as the COVID 19 pandemic spread and stock markets plunged, bitcoin had one of its worst days ever. Traders were forced out of leveraged positions on exchanges such as BitMEX, which made the drop worse. Bitcoin lost close to half its value within about 24 hours.
The crash did not last. Central banks and governments launched huge stimulus programs, and within months bitcoin had recovered and started the rally that ran into 2021.
Source: Bitstamp BTC/USD daily closes 2011-08-18 to 2026-10-14. Fetched Oct 14, 2026 from free public APIs. Click a dot for the event and its price on that day.
Part of Bitcoin in 2020 · full Bitcoin timeline · Bitcoin hub
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Facts written in our own words. Last checked Oct 14, 2026.