Bitcoin is Dead
Since 2010, journalists, bankers and online commentators have said Bitcoin is dead, doomed, worthless or a scam. We checked 133 of those claims at the original source: the date, who said it, the exact words, a link and an archive copy, and the Bitcoin price on that day. This is a record of what was said, not a prediction and not investment advice.
Declared dead, again and again
- Time span
- 2010–2024
- Different sources
- 68
- Busiest year
- 2017 (36)
- BTC higher today than that day
- 133 / 133
- 57 · Declared dead or dying
- 47 · Said it will fail, crash or go to zero
- 29 · Called it a scam, Ponzi or bubble
Types are our grouping by the words in each quote. Counts depend on what you count as an obituary, so read them as approximate.
Sources: 99bitcoins: Bitcoin Obituaries (index, used as a lead), each entry's own source below · checked 2026-10-16
When it happened, and what the price did
Orange line: BTC price in US dollars on a log scale (each gridline is ten times higher). Red dots: months with at least one verified obituary; bigger dot, more obituaries. Bars: obituaries per year.
Source: blockchain.info (daily market price) · as of 22 Oct 2026, 01:00 London · daily prices; chart by 21btc
The list: quote, source, archive, price
Quotes are the original English words as they appear at the source. “Today vs that day” compares the live price ($81,414, Coinbase) with the daily price on the date of the claim. Past prices do not predict future ones.
Showing 25 of 133 (of 133 verified)
- Dead / dyingECB blog
“Bitcoin has failed”
An ECB blog post titled "Bitcoin has failed".
- BTC that day
- $51,863
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 1.6×
- Dead / dyingBilly Bambrough, Forbes
“BlackRock ‘Will Completely Destroy Bitcoin’”
Page headline: BlackRock ‘Will Completely Destroy Bitcoin’—Shock Price Warning As Leak Reveals Huge Spot ETF Date Update
Forbes headline: BlackRock "will completely destroy Bitcoin", as the spot-ETF news broke.
- BTC that day
- $43,600
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 1.9×
- Scam / Ponzi / bubbleJamie Dimon, JPMorgan CEO
“Bitcoin is a 'hyped-up fraud'”
Page headline: JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon: Bitcoin is a 'hyped-up fraud
Dimon calling Bitcoin a "hyped-up fraud".
- BTC that day
- $20,673
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 3.9×
- Dead / dyingPeter Schiff, investor
“Bitcoin will not recover”
A post on X saying Bitcoin will not recover.
- BTC that day
- $20,435
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 4.0×
- Will fail / go to zeroChristine Lagarde, ECB president
“Crypto assets are ‘worth nothing’”
Page headline: Crypto assets are ‘worth nothing,’ says ECB’s Christine Lagarde
The ECB president saying crypto-assets are "worth nothing".
- BTC that day
- $29,160
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 2.8×
- Dead / dyingRoss Clark, The Spectator
“Crypto is dead”
A column that opens with the verdict "Crypto is dead" after the May 2022 crash.
- BTC that day
- $34,082
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 2.4×
- Scam / Ponzi / bubbleAlex Brummer, Daily Mail
“Bitcoin is a scam which will only end in tears”
Page headline: ALEX BRUMMER: Bitcoin is a scam which will only end in tears
A Daily Mail columnist saying Bitcoin is a scam which will only end in tears.
- BTC that day
- $50,692
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 1.6×
- Will fail / go to zeroBank of England
“Bitcoin could become ‘worthless’”
Page headline: Bitcoin could become ‘worthless’, Bank of England warns
The Guardian reporting that the Bank of England warned Bitcoin could become "worthless".
- BTC that day
- $46,757
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 1.7×
- Scam / Ponzi / bubbleBill Blain, CapX
“Bitcoin is nothing but a Ponzi scheme”
Page headline: why Bitcoin is nothing but a Ponzi scheme
A markets commentator saying Bitcoin is nothing but a Ponzi scheme.
- BTC that day
- $57,292
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 1.4×
- Will fail / go to zeroJamie Dimon, JPMorgan CEO
“I personally think that Bitcoin is worthless”
Dimon saying "I personally think that Bitcoin is worthless".
- BTC that day
- $54,626
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 1.5×
- Dead / dyingThe Institutional Risk Analyst
“Adios bitcoin”
A finance newsletter ending a piece on the BIS with "Adios bitcoin!".
- BTC that day
- $39,067
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 2.1×
- Will fail / go to zeroStephen Isaacs, Alvine Capital
“it will end”
An investment-committee chairman telling CNBC the Bitcoin bubble "will end".
- BTC that day
- $55,703
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 1.5×
- Dead / dyingBen Kritz, The Manila Times
“Bitcoin inches closer to extinction”
A Philippine newspaper column saying Bitcoin inches closer to extinction.
- BTC that day
- $55,703
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 1.5×
- Dead / dyingJ.G. Collins, Seeking Alpha
“Bitcoin: You're Buying Obsolescence”
Page headline: Bitcoin: You're Buying Obsolescence, And The Fall Will Be Hard
An investor blog saying buyers are getting obsolescence and that the fall will be hard.
- BTC that day
- $54,205
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 1.5×
- Will fail / go to zeroNouriel Roubini, economist
“the fundamental value of bitcoin is zero”
Roubini saying the fundamental value of Bitcoin is zero, in a Financial Times op-ed.
- BTC that day
- $44,878
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 1.8×
- Dead / dyingJames Surowiecki, Marker
“The Bitcoin Dream Is Dead”
An essay titled "The Bitcoin Dream Is Dead".
- BTC that day
- $34,012
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 2.4×
- Will fail / go to zeroOliver Kamm, The Times
“Cryptocurrencies are a fad best avoided”
Page headline: Cryptocurrencies are a fad best avoided despite Paypal accepting bitcoin
A Times columnist calling cryptocurrencies a fad best avoided, even as PayPal accepted Bitcoin.
- BTC that day
- $12,832
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 6.3×
- Dead / dyingMark Dow, former US Treasury and IMF economist
“Bitcoin is dying”
A former Treasury and IMF economist posting that "Bitcoin is dying" as the price fell to $7,400.
- BTC that day
- $8,082
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 10×
- Dead / dyingTimothy Peterson, investor
“Bitcoin will be dead by 2030”
Page headline: Timothy Peterson on X: "#Bitcoin will be dead by 2030. Average currency life = 27 years. And “it is likely that a quantum computer capable of breaking 2000-bit RSA in a matter of hours could be built
A post on X saying Bitcoin will be dead by 2030.
- BTC that day
- $10,364
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 7.9×
- Will fail / go to zero"The Bitcoin Skeptic", CCN
“BTC Value Will Crash 99”
Page headline: The Bitcoin Skeptic: BTC Value Will Crash 99% for the Same Reason Tumblr’s Just Did
A crypto-news op-ed saying BTC will crash 99% for the same reason Tumblr just did.
- BTC that day
- $10,858
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 7.5×
- Dead / dyingUS Treasury Secretary (reported by CCN)
“Treasury Secretary Seals Bitcoin's Impending Death by a Thousand Cuts”
CCN saying the US Treasury Secretary sealed Bitcoin's "impending death by a thousand cuts".
- BTC that day
- $10,874
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 7.5×
- Will fail / go to zeroNouriel Roubini, economist
“It will get to zero in due time”
Roubini posting on X that Bitcoin will get to zero "in due time".
- BTC that day
- $10,579
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 7.7×
- Dead / dyingIrish Tech News
“The END of Bitcoin as we know it”
A tech site announcing "the END of Bitcoin as we know it".
- BTC that day
- $10,738
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 7.6×
- Will fail / go to zeroNew York Post
“Bitcoin not built to last, despite recent surge”
A tabloid saying Bitcoin is not built to last despite its recent surge.
- BTC that day
- $11,890
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 6.8×
- Will fail / go to zeroNew York Post
“Bitcoin will soon be worth zero”
A tabloid headline saying Bitcoin will soon be worth zero.
- BTC that day
- $8,007
- Highest daily price after
- $124,777
- 2025-10-07
- Today vs that day
- 10×
Sources: source link and Internet Archive copy on every row, blockchain.info · as of 22 Oct 2026, 20:31 London · price now $81,414
The obituaries as a song
The Friends of Satoshi channel turned the 99bitcoins list into a three-part music video series. Part 3 covers 2019–2023.
The Bitcoin Obituaries Song 2019-2023 (Not This Time Part 3) · Friends of Satoshi ↗Questions people ask
Is Bitcoin dead?
That is the claim this page tracks, and it has been made many times: 133 are checked here, from 2010 to 2024. Each one is a statement in the media at one moment, not a measurement. The Bitcoin network has kept producing blocks throughout; live data is on the Network page. This page is media history, not a forecast or investment advice.
How many times has Bitcoin been declared dead?
The best-known index, 99bitcoins' Bitcoin Obituaries, counted 477 claims on 2026-10-16. On this page we list the 133 we could check at the original source (or in the Internet Archive): the quoted words are on the page and the date matches. Counts differ by what you count as an obituary, so treat any number as approximate.
When was Bitcoin first called dead?
The earliest entry we could verify is from 2010-12-15 (The Underground Economist). Claims then came in waves around price crashes: 2013–2015, 2017–2018 and 2021–2022. This is a history of what media and experts said, not a forecast.
Is Bitcoin dead now?
No. The network keeps producing a block about every ten minutes, and BTC trades around $81,414. The highest daily price in our data is $124,777 on 2025-10-07. Prices change every minute and this is not investment advice.
Why do people keep calling Bitcoin dead?
Mostly after sharp price falls, regulatory news or a hack. In our list 29 claims call Bitcoin a scam, Ponzi scheme or bubble, 47 say it will fail or go to zero, and 57 say it is dead or dying (grouping by words in the quote, done by us).
Does a media obituary say anything about the Bitcoin price?
Not by itself. For each claim we show the daily BTC price on that day, the highest daily price afterwards and the multiple to today's price, so you can see what happened next. Past prices do not predict future ones and this page is not investment advice.
How was this list checked?
We used the 99bitcoins index only as a lead. Each entry's source page was opened (live, or the Internet Archive copy nearest the date) and the quoted words had to appear there; the publication date had to match within a few days. Entries that failed were dropped. Prices are daily market prices from blockchain.info.
Not investment advice. A headline is an opinion at one moment; it says nothing certain about a future price. Spotted a wrong date or quote? Tell us on the forum and we will fix it or drop the entry.