Bitcoin to zero? Google searches for the term hit record in U.S. as BTC price drops

CoinDesk

by Shaurya Malwa

February 21, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Bitcoin’s price decline has sparked heightened interest in the U.S., with Google searches for “bitcoin to zero” reaching a record high in February. This surge coincided with Bitcoin (BTC) dropping from its October all-time high, falling toward $60,000 after a 50% drawdown. While some view this spike as a sign of widespread capitulation and potentially a contrarian buy signal, historical data shows similar peaks near local lows in 2021 and 2022. However, the global picture tells a different story. Global interest in “bitcoin to zero” peaked at 100 back in August and has since declined to as low as 38 this month. This divergence suggests that panic is more localized than universal. U.S.-specific factors, such as tariff escalations, tensions with Iran, and broader risk-off sentiment in domestic equities, have likely influenced retail investors’ reactions. The methodological nuance of Google Trends data also comes into play. While a score of 100 indicates the highest relative interest within a specific time window, it doesn’t necessarily mean more people are searching in absolute terms compared to past peaks. Bitcoin’s growing user base and mainstream visibility since 2021 mean that even a lower baseline could result in higher scores. The mixed signals from U.S. and global data highlight the importance of context when interpreting market sentiment. While retail fear is elevated in the U.S., the cooling global trend underscores that contrarian strategies may not yield the same results. Bitcoin’s

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Originally published on CoinDesk on 2/21/2026