Bitcoin rose 42.9% in the third quarter of 2026, climbing from about $58,500 to a September close near $83,000-$86,000 and ending a three-quarter losing streak. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted approximately $6.3 billion during the quarter, including $2.4 billion in the week ending September 25, while Strategy’s holdings reached about 847,666 BTC. Ether also advanced as strategists pointed to improving crypto momentum. Bitcoin traded near $85,000 as October began, supported by easing bond yields, a decline in 2-year real yields, expectations that the Federal Reserve will hold rates steady in October and historically strong seasonal performance. More than 75% of market participants expected policymakers to keep rates unchanged, while Fundstrat’s Sean Farrell warned that sovereign-bond and credit stress could still trigger a short-term drawdown. Citi analyst Alex Saunders raised his base-case Bitcoin forecast to $113,000 from $82,000. Ethereum gained roughly 7% in September and entered October ahead of the scheduled October 6 public testnet for its Glamsterdam upgrade.