What Was Happening in 2022
January 2022 opened with Bitcoin at $38,493, already sliding from its November 2021 peak. What followed was one of the most devastating years in crypto history. The Terra/Luna ecosystem collapsed in May, wiping out $60 billion. Celsius, Voyager, and Three Arrows Capital all went bankrupt. Then in November, FTX, the third-largest crypto exchange, imploded in spectacular fashion. Bitcoin finished the year at $16,547.
Starting a DCA in 2022 felt like catching a falling knife. Every month, prices were lower than the month before. Your purchases at $38,493, $31,793, $18,971, and $16,547 all looked like mistakes at the time. The "told you so" crowd was louder than ever.
But bear markets are where DCA investors build their fortunes. Those deeply discounted purchases in late 2022 at $16,547 would be worth 4x within two years. The people who kept buying when it felt the worst were rewarded the most.
The Crashes You Survived
You started in a bear market and rode it all the way down. Bitcoin fell from $38,493 to $16,547 over the course of 2022, a 57% decline from your first purchase. The recovery that followed was strong: back above $42,000 by end of 2023, above $94,000 by end of 2024. The current correction from $115,758 to $68,000 is the second drawdown since your start. Your low-cost 2022 purchases are still significantly in profit.
- 2025-2026 Correction: -41% ($115,758 to $68,000)
Run your own scenario
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Open DCA Calculator →Ready to start your own plan? Read our Bitcoin savings plan guide. Wondering if you should invest all at once instead? See our DCA vs lump sum analysis. Not sure how much to allocate? Our sizing guide walks through practical frameworks.