Bitcoin’s Best Quarter Returns as $18 Billion Floods Crypto ETFs in Q3

TLDR

• Bitcoin has averaged 79% gains in Q4 since 2013 and entered the final quarter of 2025 with favorable conditions
• U.S. spot bitcoin and ethereum ETFs saw over $18 billion in combined inflows during Q3 2025
• The Federal Reserve cut interest rates to their lowest level in nearly three years, boosting risk appetite
• Public companies now hold more than 5% of bitcoin’s total supply, with over 50 firms holding altcoins
• Ethereum gained 66.7% in Q3, Solana rose 35%, XRP increased 37% year-to-date, and Cardano climbed 41.1%

Bitcoin closed the third quarter of 2025 at $114,000, posting an 8% gain. The cryptocurrency entered Q4 with historical data showing an average return of 79% during this period since 2013.

The Federal Reserve’s rate cuts brought interest rates to their lowest point in nearly three years. This shift in monetary policy created conditions that typically favor risk assets like cryptocurrencies.

Institutional adoption increased during Q3. U.S. spot bitcoin and ethereum ETFs recorded combined inflows exceeding $18 billion. Public companies now control more than 5% of bitcoin’s total supply.

Over 50 publicly traded companies now hold altcoins on their balance sheets. Of these firms, 40 added non-bitcoin tokens during Q3 alone.

Ethereum and Layer-1 Protocols Show Strength

Ethereum posted a 66.7% gain in Q3, reaching a new all-time high near $5,000. The increase came from treasury accumulation and ETF inflows. The network’s Fusaka upgrade is scheduled for November, targeting improvements in scalability and efficiency.

Solana gained 35% during the quarter. The blockchain recorded high ecosystem revenue and attracted large corporate purchases. New exchange-traded products launched, and the Alpenglow upgrade is in development.

XRP delivered a year-to-date gain of nearly 37%. The Securities and Exchange Commission and Ripple withdrew their appeals in their legal case. Ripple’s stablecoin RLUSD is expanding globally, potentially drawing more DeFi protocols to the XRP Ledger.

Index Performance and Market Breadth

Cardano rose 41.1% in Q3, outperforming several competing blockchains. The network showed growth in stablecoin usage, derivatives volume, and decentralized exchange activity. A decision on a spot Cardano ETF is pending.

Bitcoin ended Q3 at $114,000 with expectations for further rate cuts. Treasury adoption among public companies drove much of the quarter’s price movement.

Ethereum’s November upgrade aims to improve network scalability. Solana continues developing its Alpenglow upgrade to enhance performance for decentralized applications.

Generic listing standards for crypto ETFs await approval. Multi-asset and staking-based exchange-traded products are under development and could launch in coming months.

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