The dot-com bubble was the 1990s U.S. market bubble that burst after investors abandoned many internet-related companies.
The bubble grew as investors poured money into businesses associated with the commercial internet. Many firms had little revenue or no profits, but rising share prices encouraged more speculation. The Nasdaq Composite, heavily weighted toward technology companies, became the clearest market indicator of the boom.
The bubble began reversing in 2000. The Nasdaq reached its peak on 10 March 2000 and then suffered a prolonged collapse. Numerous internet startups failed, while established technology companies also lost large portions of their market value.
The dot-com crash is not the same as the 2008 housing-led crash. It centered on technology valuations and speculative expectations, although its aftermath contributed to an economic slowdown. Several surviving companies later became major internet businesses.