The current quarter has even managed to edge out 2013, when Bitcoin gained 40.6% during Q3.
It is a sharp turnaround for Bitcoin. The cryptocurrency lost 22.2% in the first quarter before shedding another 14.09% in Q2, according to the CoinGlass table. A roughly 43.5% Q3 gain would therefore snap a two-quarter losing streak.
Q3 tends to be comparatively subdued
Historically, the third quarter has been substantially less spectacular.
CoinGlass puts Bitcoin’s average Q3 return at just 8.73%, with a median return of only 2.29%. Eight of the 14 Q3 periods displayed in the table have been positive.
This makes the roughly 43.5% advance in 2026 particularly notable.
Only 2017, when Bitcoin surged 80.41% during Q3, has performed better. The 2026 return has already surpassed 2013’s 40.6% gain by roughly three percentage points.
Most other positive third quarters were much more modest. Bitcoin gained 25.01% in 2021, 17.97% in 2020, 6.31% in 2025, and less than 1% in 2024.
Q3 has also produced several substantial declines. Bitcoin fell 39.74% in 2014 and 22.86% in 2019. More recently, it lost 11.54% during Q3 2023.
Q4 stands apart
The fourth quarter is where Bitcoin’s historical numbers become considerably more striking.
CoinGlass puts the average Q4 return at 77.07%, by far the highest of the four quarters. Unlike Q1, the median is also exceptionally strong at 47.73%.
Bitcoin has finished eight of the 13 completed Q4 periods shown in the table in positive territory.
Some of the cryptocurrency’s most explosive rallies have occurred during the final three months of the year. Bitcoin soared 479.59% in Q4 2013, 215.07% in 2017, and 168.02% in 2020. It also gained 81.24% in 2015 and 58.17% in 2016.
However, Q4 is far from guaranteed to deliver gains. Bitcoin fell 42.16% in the fourth quarter of 2018, while Q4 2025 ended with a 23.07% decline. It also posted losses in 2014, 2019 and 2022.
