Bitcoin Ends Q3 2026 with Strongest Gains Since 2017

Bitcoin (BTC) wrapped up its best third quarter since 2017, with gains in the low-to-mid 40 percent range, according to data from CoinGlass. The performance marked a significant turnaround from two consecutive quarterly losses earlier in 2026 and defied the trend of weaker seasonal performance for the cryptocurrency.

The momentum carried into early October as buyers absorbed a dense band of sell orders near $85,000. On-chain analytics firm Glassnode reported that the sell wall was cleared after nearly a week of testing, with some orders filled and others withdrawn. This reduced offer liquidity overhead, potentially paving the way for further price increases. The next visible cluster of sell orders was identified near $87,000, roughly half the size of the previous resistance.

Derivatives desk QCP Capital noted that spot prices reached $86,913, the highest level since September 23, and later traded near $85,900. This represented a 14.6 percent increase from the September 15 low of $74,968. Perpetual funding rates near an annualized 5.4 percent suggested that the advance was driven by cash demand rather than leveraged positioning.

Support was marked at $82,500, a level held three times that week, while resistance was identified at $87,400, described as the gateway toward $90,000. The macroeconomic landscape was also impacted by weaker-than-expected US hiring data, which reinforced expectations for the Federal Reserve to hold interest rates steady in late October. However, analysts cautioned that weak labor figures could signal growth concerns rather than simply supporting risk assets.