Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) is on pace for its fourth-best third-quarter performance ever, with returns already near 40%.
Bitcoin’s Lucrative Q3
Bitcoin has rallied 38.90% for the period between July and September, according to data from Bitbo.
Only thrice before has the apex cryptocurrency returned more in the third quarter: 87.14% in 2012, 79.8% in 2017 and 49.4% in 2013.
Should Bitcoin add to current gains or simply consolidate, the third quarter of 2026 will go down as its fourth-best in history.
Stage Set for More Upside?
Bitcoin topped $87,000 earlier this month, its highest since late January, as the SEC’s push to build a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency, including tokenized U.S. stocks, outweighed the CLARITY Act’s failure.
The rally’s true starting point was late August, when Bitcoin reclaimed $80,000 for the first time since mid-May. The Treasury doubled its debt buybacks as part of efforts to support the bond market, while falling bond yields and a weaker dollar coincided with renewed interest in Bitcoin.
The rebound was followed by Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR) ending its two-month buying drought. The Bitcoin treasury giant bought 1,665 Bitcoin for $142.7 million last week, its second straight weekly purchase.
As Bitcoin rebounds in a rough year, predictions about its long-term outlook have likewise surged.
Veteran trader Peter Brandt said Bitcoin could trade between $200,000 and $250,000 by early 2029, potentially rising to $600,000 by late 2029. Financial advisor Ric Edelman reiterated that the asset will hit $500,000 by 2030.
Price Action: As of this writing, BTC is up 1.30% in the last 24 hours to $83,923, according to Benzinga Pro. Year to date, the coin has fallen 5.46%.
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