Bitcoin Holds Near $86,000 to Pace Best September Performance Since 2012

Bitcoin traded near $86,140 on September 23 after reaching an eight-month peak of $87,350, maintaining support above $86,000. Up 10.9% month-to-date, the token is pacing its strongest September since 2012 and tracking its first consecutive July-to-September winning streak since then, following gains of 4.8% in July and 25.2% in August. The advance has been underpinned by roughly $999 million in net inflows to U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds on September 21 and a derivatives short squeeze. Despite climbing 13.8% over seven days, Bitcoin remains flat year-to-date and 31% below its $126,080 record high.