Bitcoin has seen a remarkable resurgence, climbing 44% in the third quarter of 2026, marking its best quarterly performance since late 2024. Currently trading at around $84,592, it significantly outstripped gold’s 8.7% gain and the S&P 500's modest 2% increase during the same period.
Initially, Bitcoin struggled early in the year while stocks benefited from AI optimism. However, it has since rebounded, now outperforming major players such as NVIDIA, which saw a mere 11% rise. Despite this strong rally, Bitcoin's price remains 48% below its peak of $126,000 reached in October 2025, hinting that there may still be room for growth.
Other cryptocurrencies also experienced significant gains, with some like Ethereum and XRP rising between 40% to 150%. The price increases have been linked to previously oversold market conditions that attracted new buyers, combined with a short squeeze and favorable regulatory news. Notably, the U.S. SEC's recent decision to allow certain venues to trade tokenized U.S. stocks has provided a boost, with analysts suggesting that Ethereum could especially benefit from this regulatory change.
