$BTC Bitcoin’s Big Reality Check in 2026Bitcoin is facing serious pressure in 2026.

So far this year, Bitcoin has dropped over 21%, and compared to its October 2025 all-time high, it has fallen nearly 50%. Just last week, the price touched around $60,000 — the lowest level in about 16 months.

For many investors, this was unexpected.

With a crypto-supportive U.S. administration and hopes for new cryptocurrency regulations to bring clarity to the market, a lot of people predicted a major bull run at the start of 2026. Instead, the market moved in the opposite direction.

Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz believes the industry may be entering a new phase. According to him, the “speculation era” of crypto — where investors expected massive, fast profits — could be slowing down.

As larger and more cautious institutions enter the space, the focus may shift away from hype-driven gains and toward real-world assets and more stable, lower returns.

In simple terms:

Crypto might be maturing.

Historically, Bitcoin has always been volatile — sometimes reacting to global economic pressure, and other times going through its own “crypto winters.” This drop could be another reset phase before the next major move.

The big question now is:

Is this just another cycle… or the beginning of a more stable, regulated crypto market?

One thing is certain — the market is changing.$BTC