Bitcoin Closes Its Best Quarter Since Early 2024; Ether Its Best Since 2021
Updated: 6 days ago
TL;DR: Q3 2026 ended 30 September with bitcoin up ~44% — its strongest quarter since Q1 2024 — and ether up ~71%, its best since Q1 2021, with both snapping three consecutive down quarters.
The mid-2026 crypto recovery had real momentum behind it. Q3 2026 ended on 30 September with bitcoin up around 44% — its strongest (or second-strongest) quarterly gain since Q1 2024 — and ether up around 71%, its best quarter since Q1 2021.
The numbers
Both assets snapped three consecutive down quarters, a clean reversal of the malaise that defined late 2025 and early 2026. Analysts flagged Q4 as historically bitcoin's strongest quarter.
Ether's outperformance — 71% versus bitcoin's 44% — points to a broadening risk appetite as capital rotated beyond bitcoin.
Marketing Minute's read
Quarterly data cuts through the daily noise, and this is a genuinely bullish data point: three down quarters ending together is the kind of trend break that shifts sentiment. Ether leading bitcoin suggests the recovery is risk-on, not just a flight to the safest crypto asset.
That said, 'best quarter in years' is a backward-looking statistic. Bitcoin was trading in the low-$80,000s into quarter-end despite the gains, a reminder that strong quarterly numbers can coexist with near-term volatility.
What it means for the market
Use the quarterly print as a sentiment anchor, not a forecast. The trend break is real and heads into bitcoin's historically strongest quarter — but the low-$80,000s price and cooling short-term sentiment mean conviction, not euphoria, is the appropriate posture into Q4.
Quick FAQ
How did bitcoin and ether perform in Q3 2026?
Bitcoin rose about 44% (its best quarter since early 2024) and ether about 71% (its best since early 2021), with both snapping three consecutive down quarters.
What does Ether outperforming bitcoin signal?
Ether's 71% versus bitcoin's 44% points to a broadening, risk-on appetite as capital rotated beyond the safest crypto asset — a sign of recovery breadth.
Three down quarters ending together is the kind of trend break that shifts sentiment — and ether leading bitcoin says the recovery is risk-on, not just a flight to safety. But 'best quarter in years' looks backward: bitcoin was in the low-$80,000s at quarter-end. The right posture into Q4 is conviction, not euphoria. — Daniel Nikolla, Founder of Merx Marketing
A three-quarter down streak ending is a real trend break — but strong quarterly numbers can coexist with near-term volatility, so hold conviction, not euphoria.
Does a standout quarter change your view of the cycle, or just the past three months?
If you would like to know more about this topic, please contact us on danieln@merxmarketing.co.uk
Sources: CoinDesk, CryptoBriefing, news.Bitcoin.com.
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Written by Daniel Nikolla, Founder of Merx Marketing Ltd and Marketing Minute
