Can Bitcoin Go to Zero?

Bitcoin is a digital currency that runs on an open network of computers, with no central bank or company in charge. If you are new to it, start with what Bitcoin is and how it works.

Many first-time buyers worry that Bitcoin could crash to zero. This guide explains what would have to happen, how far the price has fallen before and how people limit the risk. It makes no prediction: you can follow the live Bitcoin price, but no chart shows what comes next.

Can Bitcoin really go to zero?

Yes, it could, and no one can rule it out. Bitcoin has no promised value, and no central bank supports its price. Its price is set by supply and demand: when demand falls, the price falls (bitcoin.org, as of September 2026).

bitcoin.org, a long-running information site about the project, answers the question “Can bitcoins become worthless?” with “Yes.” It points to national currencies that failed in the past and names possible causes: technical failures, competing currencies and political issues. It also says that no one is in a position to predict Bitcoin’s future.

What would have to happen for Bitcoin to go to zero?

The price would reach zero only if almost no one wanted to own bitcoin any more. These are the main ways that could happen.

• A serious software flaw. Bugs in Bitcoin’s software have been found before. In September 2018, developers disclosed one that could have let miners create extra bitcoins. It was fixed, and they knew of no attempt to exploit it (Bitcoin Core, September 2018). A flaw that was exploited and not fixed could destroy trust.
• A sustained 51% attack. The network stays secure as long as most of the computing power used for mining is not controlled by attackers (Bitcoin white paper, 2008). A group with most of that power could block or reverse recent transactions, but it could not spend other people’s coins (bitcoin.org). A long attack could still damage trust.
• Bans in major economies. The Law Library of Congress counted 9 jurisdictions with an absolute ban on crypto and 42 with an implicit ban, including China after a 2021 central bank notice (as of November 2021). One national ban does not switch off a global network, but bans across many large economies could cut demand sharply.
• A collapse in demand. People could lose interest, switch to a competing currency or lose trust after a major failure. With few buyers left, the price would fall toward zero. See how many people use cryptocurrency for current estimates.

How far has Bitcoin fallen before?

Bitcoin’s price has fallen by more than 75% four times since 2011, and by about 53% between October 2025 and July 2026. As of September 2026, it has never gone to zero. The table shows each fall from a peak to the lowest price that followed.

Each fall lasted between about five months and just over a year. Anyone who bought near a peak lost most of that purchase’s value at the low point. Past performance does not predict future results: earlier recoveries do not mean the next fall will end the same way.

To see why the price swings so much, read what volatility is and how Bitcoin’s price is determined.

What are “Bitcoin obituaries”?

Bitcoin obituaries are articles and public statements declaring that Bitcoin is dead. The 99Bitcoins website tracks them. It had counted 477 as of September 2026, from December 2010 to its latest entry in August 2025. The glossary entry on Bitcoin obituaries explains the term.

None of these calls has come true so far, but that says nothing about the future. A long list of wrong forecasts does not prove that Bitcoin cannot fail, just as a crash does not prove that it will.

How can you manage the risk?

You cannot remove the risk, but you can limit how much a fall would hurt. These are common approaches, not advice for your situation.

• Only use money you could afford to lose. The UK Financial Conduct Authority says that if you invest in crypto, you should be prepared to lose all the money you put in (FCA, updated January 2026).
• Decide how much to hold. Some people keep crypto to a small share of their savings, so a deep fall would not upset their everyday finances.
• Spread purchases over time. Dollar-cost averaging means buying a fixed amount at regular intervals. It reduces the risk of buying everything at a peak, but it does not protect you if the price keeps falling.
• Protect the coins you hold. You can lose your own bitcoin while the network keeps running. Lost private keys cannot be recovered, and a payment can only be refunded by the person who received it (bitcoin.org). Platforms can fail too: in 2022 the US Securities and Exchange Commission charged the founder of the FTX trading platform with diverting customers’ funds. See what a crypto wallet is and how to protect yourself from fraud.

For a wider look at the risks before you buy, read whether Bitcoin is safe to buy.

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Malcolm O'Mahony

Malcolm is a Content Marketing Manager at Coinmama. He's passionate about Web3 and specializes in making complex concepts easy to understand. Crypto since 2017. Coinmama since 2020.

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