Bitcoin Price Gains 44% for Second-Best Q3 as Ethereum Jumps 71%

Ethereum Jumps 71% as Bitcoin Heads for Historic Q3 Finish

Crypto has turned what is usually one of its quieter quarters into one of the strongest periods in its history.

Bitcoin’s price has gained roughly 43.5% in Q3 2026, climbing from about $58,500 at the start of the quarter to around $84,000. That puts the quarter on track to become bitcoin’s second-best Q3 ever, behind only the roughly 80.4% surge recorded in 2017.

Ethereum has done even better.

According to Coinglass data, $ETH is up 71% this quarter, exceeding its previous Q3 record of about 66.5% set in 2025. The move marks ethereum’s strongest summer rally on record.

Bitcoin and Ethereum Break the Usual Q3 Pattern

July, August and September have historically been inconsistent months for crypto, often producing flat or modest returns compared with stronger fourth-quarter periods.

This year has been different.

Bitcoin’s advance represents its best Q3 performance since 2013, while ethereum has set a fresh quarterly record.

Crypto analyst Luciano called the combination extraordinary, writing on X that this is the “2nd best quarter ever recorded for BTC and the best quarter $ETH has ever had.”

The significance goes beyond percentage gains. Both assets are entering the final stretch of September with momentum already established before a quarter that has historically attracted greater speculative interest.