Analysis: In 2026, Bitcoin's Gains Concentrated in North American Trading Hours, Asian Session Drags Down Overall Performance

Odaily Bitcoin briefly touched $96,000, accumulating a gain of nearly 10% since the beginning of 2026. This upward trend has been primarily driven by strong performance during North American trading hours. According to Velo data, Bitcoin's cumulative return during North American hours is approximately 8%. In contrast, the European session recorded only a modest gain of about 3%, while the Asian trading session has been a drag on the overall performance.

This trend is in stark contrast to the situation at the end of 2025. At that time, Bitcoin had accumulated a decline of up to 20% during North American trading hours by the end of November, hitting a low near $80,000. In the fourth quarter, Bitcoin often faced selling pressure when US markets opened, and spot Bitcoin ETFs experienced outflows almost daily. Currently, the strongest returns appear shortly after the US market opens, whereas this period was precisely when Bitcoin showed its weakest performance over the past six months. (CoinDesk)