Bitcoin monthly returns
Every month of BTC/USD since 2013, from month-end closes on Bitstamp. Green = the month closed higher, red = lower; the stronger the colour, the bigger the move. Updated daily.
Oct 2026 so far (price as of 21 Oct 2026, 20:03 UTC): +1.1%. Over 13 past years Oct averaged +19.8% (median +14.6%) and closed higher in 10 of 13. Is "Uptober" more than luck? Our test says no.
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | -10.1% | -14.8% | +1.8% | +11.9% | -3.6% | -20.4% | +7.3% | +25.1% | +6.4% | +1.1%* | -3.5%* | ||
| 2025 | +9.7% | -17.7% | -2.1% | +14.1% | +11.1% | +2.4% | +8.0% | -6.5% | +5.4% | -4.0% | -17.5% | -3.2% | -6.3% |
| 2024 | +0.7% | +43.7% | +16.6% | -14.9% | +11.3% | -7.1% | +3.1% | -8.7% | +7.4% | +10.9% | +37.3% | -3.2% | +121.0% |
| 2023 | +39.9% | 0.0% | +23.1% | +2.7% | -6.9% | +11.9% | -4.1% | -11.3% | +4.0% | +28.5% | +8.8% | +12.0% | +155.7% |
| 2022 | -16.7% | +12.2% | +5.4% | -17.3% | -15.6% | -37.3% | +17.1% | -14.0% | -3.2% | +5.5% | -16.2% | -3.7% | -64.2% |
| 2021 | +14.3% | +36.5% | +29.9% | -1.7% | -35.4% | -6.2% | +18.4% | +13.7% | -7.0% | +40.0% | -7.1% | -18.9% | +59.4% |
| 2020 | +30.1% | -8.6% | -24.7% | +34.4% | +9.5% | -3.3% | +24.3% | +2.6% | -7.5% | +28.2% | +42.6% | +47.2% | +304.5% |
| 2019 | -7.6% | +11.1% | +8.0% | +28.6% | +62.2% | +25.9% | -6.3% | -4.9% | -13.5% | +10.3% | -17.5% | -5.1% | +94.1% |
| 2018 | -26.9% | +1.6% | -32.8% | +33.4% | -18.9% | -14.8% | +21.0% | -9.2% | -6.0% | -4.5% | -37.0% | -7.0% | -73.4% |
| 2017 | -0.2% | +23.6% | -10.1% | +26.2% | +70.2% | +7.3% | +15.8% | +65.8% | -8.6% | +48.7% | +54.6% | +39.5% | +1336.4% |
| 2016 | -14.5% | +18.1% | -4.7% | +8.1% | +18.6% | +25.6% | -6.6% | -8.5% | +6.6% | +14.6% | +6.5% | +30.2% | +124.3% |
| 2015 | -32.4% | +16.9% | -3.6% | -3.3% | -3.1% | +14.7% | +8.3% | -19.2% | +2.8% | +31.3% | +21.4% | +14.4% | +34.2% |
| 2014 | +9.7% | -31.3% | -17.6% | -1.3% | +39.9% | +2.1% | -9.2% | -17.7% | -18.4% | -13.6% | +11.5% | -14.9% | -56.1% |
| 2013 | +54.5% | +63.9% | +186.8% | +45.5% | -8.6% | -30.0% | +9.8% | +30.2% | -1.4% | +61.2% | +450.0% | -34.6% | +5428.7% |
| Average | +3.6% | +11.1% | +12.6% | +11.9% | +9.3% | -2.1% | +7.6% | +2.7% | -2.4% | +19.8% | +41.3% | +4.1% | |
| Median | +0.2% | +11.6% | -0.1% | +10.0% | +3.2% | -0.6% | +8.2% | -7.5% | -2.3% | +14.6% | +8.8% | -3.2% | |
| Up years | 7/14 | 10/14 | 7/14 | 9/14 | 7/14 | 7/14 | 10/14 | 5/14 | 6/14 | 10/13 | 8/13 | 5/13 |
* month or year in progress, at the latest price (refreshed every 6 hours). Averages and medians use completed months only. January 2013 is measured from the close of 31 December 2012.
Is there really a best month?
October has the best median and was positive in most years, which is where "Uptober" comes from. With only 13 Octobers, though, a month this good shows up regularly even when the month labels are shuffled at random. Our pre-registered test found no month that stands out from chance once you account for checking all twelve. Read the test.
FAQ
What is the best month for bitcoin?
By median since 2013, October (+14.6%, positive in 10 of 13 years). By average, November - but mostly because of +450% in November 2013. None of them passes a test against chance.
What is the worst month for bitcoin?
September and June have the lowest averages, both slightly negative. Neither is statistically distinguishable from chance - and the last four Septembers closed higher.
How are the returns calculated?
Close of the last day of the month divided by the close of the last day of the previous month, minus one, from Bitstamp daily BTC/USD candles. The current month uses the latest daily close.