Q4 2017
▲ +226.3%Bitcoin’s UTC close rose from $4,339 on Sep 30, 2017 to $14,156 on Dec 31, 2017, a move of +226.3%.1
Bitcoin’s Biggest Quarterly Moves
The 15 biggest calendar-quarter moves in bitcoin’s UTC close since 2014, out of 48 quarters, from Q4 2017 (+226.3%) to Q4 2024 (+47.5%). Each quarter is measured from the previous quarter-end close to its own, so a quarter is a full three months. 26 of the 48 quarters were gains and 22 were losses.
Data as of · quarters from Q4 2014 through Q3 2026 (to Sep 30, 2026); closes at 00:00 UTC
| Rank | Quarter | Move | Start close | End close | Direction | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Q4 2017 | ▲ +226.3% | $4,339 | $14,156 | Gain | Sep 30, 2017 → Dec 31, 2017 |
| 2 | Q4 2020 | ▲ +168.9% | $10,784 | $29,002 | Gain | Sep 30, 2020 → Dec 31, 2020 |
| 3 | Q2 2019 | ▲ +163.5% | $4,105 | $10,817 | Gain | Mar 31, 2019 → Jun 30, 2019 |
| 4 | Q2 2017 | ▲ +131.5% | $1,072 | $2,481 | Gain | Mar 31, 2017 → Jun 30, 2017 |
| 5 | Q1 2021 | ▲ +103.2% | $29,002 | $58,919 | Gain | Dec 31, 2020 → Mar 31, 2021 |
| 6 | Q4 2015 | ▲ +82.4% | $236 | $431 | Gain | Sep 30, 2015 → Dec 31, 2015 |
| 7 | Q3 2017 | ▲ +74.9% | $2,481 | $4,339 | Gain | Jun 30, 2017 → Sep 30, 2017 |
| 8 | Q1 2023 | ▲ +72.1% | $16,547 | $28,478 | Gain | Dec 31, 2022 → Mar 31, 2023 |
| 9 | Q1 2024 | ▲ +68.8% | $42,265 | $71,334 | Gain | Dec 31, 2023 → Mar 31, 2024 |
| 10 | Q2 2016 | ▲ +61.6% | $417 | $673 | Gain | Mar 31, 2016 → Jun 30, 2016 |
| 11 | Q4 2016 | ▲ +58.1% | $610 | $964 | Gain | Sep 30, 2016 → Dec 31, 2016 |
| 12 | Q4 2023 | ▲ +56.7% | $26,968 | $42,265 | Gain | Sep 30, 2023 → Dec 31, 2023 |
| 13 | Q2 2022 | ▼ −56.6% | $45,539 | $19,785 | Loss | Mar 31, 2022 → Jun 30, 2022 |
| 14 | Q1 2018 | ▼ −50.7% | $14,156 | $6,974 | Loss | Dec 31, 2017 → Mar 31, 2018 |
| 15 | Q4 2024 | ▲ +47.5% | $63,330 | $93,429 | Gain | Sep 30, 2024 → Dec 31, 2024 |
Move = the quarter’s ending close divided by the previous quarter-end close, minus 1. Closes are Yahoo Finance’s BTC-USD daily close at the 00:00 UTC day boundary on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31.1 The ranking is by the size of the move, up or down; the 48 quarters run from Q4 2014 (September 30 to December 31, 2014) because the series starts on September 17, 2014. Q4 2026 is still in progress and is not included. Observed facts, not a forecast.
The top 5
For other cuts of the same price history, see the best and worst months, the biggest weekly moves and the most volatile years.
Q4 2020
▲ +168.9%Bitcoin’s UTC close rose from $10,784 on Sep 30, 2020 to $29,002 on Dec 31, 2020, a move of +168.9%.1
Q2 2019
▲ +163.5%Bitcoin’s UTC close rose from $4,105 on Mar 31, 2019 to $10,817 on Jun 30, 2019, a move of +163.5%.1
Q2 2017
▲ +131.5%Bitcoin’s UTC close rose from $1,072 on Mar 31, 2017 to $2,481 on Jun 30, 2017, a move of +131.5%.1
Q1 2021
▲ +103.2%Bitcoin’s UTC close rose from $29,002 on Dec 31, 2020 to $58,919 on Mar 31, 2021, a move of +103.2%.1
Sources
- Yahoo Finance chart API, BTC-USD daily close (00:00 UTC day boundary), quarter-end closes for March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 from 2014-09-30 to 2026-09-30, retrieved 2026-11-12. The series starts on 2014-09-17.
For information only. Not financial advice. See the terms of use.