Bitcoin and Ethereum Defy Seasonal Weakness with Strong Q3 Performance

The third quarter of 2026 has been an anomaly for cryptocurrency markets, as both Bitcoin and Ethereum are ending the period on a strong note. According to data from CoinGlass, as of September 26th, Bitcoin had gained around 43.5% since July 1st, while Ethereum had surged by approximately 71.02%. However, these figures were slightly lower in a provisional update provided by CoinGlass on September 28th, at around +41.8% and +69.64%, respectively.

The strong performance of both assets is unusual for the third quarter, which has historically been a less robust period for cryptocurrency markets. Despite this, Bitcoin is currently trading in the range of $84,000 to $85,000, while Ethereum remains near $2,700. The question on everyone's mind is whether this trend will continue into the fourth quarter.

The data also shows that Ethereum has outperformed Bitcoin by around 28 percentage points since July 1st, indicating a greater propensity towards risk within the cryptocurrency space. However, it's essential to note that this doesn't necessarily mean a permanent rotation of capital towards riskier assets.