For the first time in 45 weeks, Bitcoin has closed above its 50-week moving average, following a 29% price increase over the past 35 days.
According to data from Galaxy Research, Bitcoin finished the week ending September 20, 2026, at $81,159, compared with a 50-week moving average of $78,786. That placed the weekly close approximately 3% above the long-term average. Bitcoin’s 200-week moving average stood at $65,487, about 23.9% below the latest weekly closing price.
The September 20 close ended a prolonged period below the 50-week average. Bitcoin’s previous weekly close above the indicator occurred on November 9, 2025, followed by 44 consecutive weekly closes below it.
Bitcoin Gains 29% in 35 Days
The moving-average reclaim follows a substantial recovery in Bitcoin’s price. $BTC has risen approximately 29% over 35 days, climbing from around $62,900 in mid-August to more than $81,000 by September 20.
August accounted for much of the increase. Galaxy Research data shows Bitcoin began the month near $62,899 and ended around $78,852, representing an increase of approximately 25.4%.
The recovery followed a lengthy decline from Bitcoin’s 2025 highs. The Galaxy chart shows $BTC trading above $120,000 during 2025 before falling below $100,000 and eventually reaching the low-$60,000 range in 2026.
Historical Record of the 50-Week Average
Galaxy Research’s historical analysis found that Bitcoin’s 50-week moving average has frequently acted as resistance during previous bear-market periods.
Galaxy’s historical review found 13 occasions since 2011 when Bitcoin regained its 50-week moving average, with $BTC avoiding a new market low in 11 cases.
Several recoveries preceded major advances: roughly 600-fold after 2011, 100-fold following the 2014–15 downturn, 22-fold after the 2018 decline, and eightfold from the 2022 low. These figures describe Bitcoin’s historical performance following previous major market declines.
The 2021–2022 cycle was the exception, when Bitcoin temporarily moved back above the average before later setting a lower low.
As of September 20, Bitcoin’s $81,159 weekly close stands above both the $78,786 50-week moving average and the $65,487 200-week moving average, marking the first weekly recovery above the 50-week level since November 2025.