Back to Full Analysis
RECOVERED
NOV 2021 - NOV 2022

Bitcoin Drawdown 2021–2024

The cycle that tested even the strongest hands. From $69,000 in November 2021 to $15,800 in November 2022 — a -77% drawdown. But recovery was faster than previous cycles.

Max Drawdown

-77%

Peak→Bottom

365 days

Recovery Time

480 days

Cycle Visualization

0%-25%-50%-75%-100%
2.3 yrs
2021
-77%
2013
2017
2021
2025

What Happened

November 2021 - All-Time High

Bitcoin reaches $69,000. Everyone expects $100K by year end. ETF rumors peak. Maximum euphoria.

May 2022 - The Break

LUNA collapse triggers market contagion. Bitcoin breaks below $30K support. First major panic selling wave begins.

November 2022 - The Bottom

FTX collapse creates final capitulation. Bitcoin bottoms at $15,800. Maximum fear. Maximum pain. Maximum opportunity.

2023 - The Grind Up

Slow, grinding recovery. Banking crisis helps Bitcoin. ETF rumors return. Most retail has given up. Institutions accumulate.

March 2024 - Recovery Complete

Bitcoin breaks above $69K. Cycle recovered!Total time: 845 days (2.3 years) from peak to full recovery.

📊 Key Statistics

Max Drawdown-77%
Peak DateNov 8, 2021
Bottom DateNov 11, 2022
Bottom Price$15,780
Time to Bottom365 days
Time to Recovery480 days
Recovery DateMar 5, 2024
Total Cycle845 days

⚡ Why Recovery Was Faster (480 days vs 730 days avg)

  • Spot ETFs approved Jan 2024 — Massive institutional inflows
  • Halving effect kicking in — Reduced sell pressure from miners
  • Macro tailwinds — Fed pivot expectations
  • Institutional maturity — Smart money accumulated at bottom

🎓 Key Lessons From This Cycle

What Went Wrong

  • • Over-leveraged positions led to mass liquidations
  • • "It's different this time" narrative was wrong
  • • CeFi platforms (FTX) proved untrustworthy

What Went Right

  • • Patient investors were rewarded
  • • Accumulation at $15K-$20K proved profitable
  • • ETFs created new demand source

Other Cycle Analyses