Abstract. We consider singular solutions of the L 2 -critical biharmonic nonlinear Schrödinger equation. We prove that the blowup rate is bounded by a quartic-root, the solution approaches a quasi-self-similar profile, and a finite amount of L 2 -norm, which is no less than the critical power, concentrates into the singularity. We also prove the existence of a ground-state solution. We use asymptotic analysis to show that the blowup rate of peak-type singular solutions is slightly faster than that of a quartic-root, and the self-similar profile is given by the ground-state standing wave. These findings are verified numerically (up to focusing levels of 10 8 ) using an adaptive grid method. We also use the spectral renormalization method to compute the ground state of the standing-wave equation, and the critical power for collapse, in one, two, and three dimensions.