Bitcoin gains 31 percent mainly during APAC and US hours

Performance by trading session

According to data provider Velo, the trading day for Bitcoin is divided into three eight-hour global sessions: the Asia-Pacific (APAC) session from 00:00 to 08:00 UTC, the European session from 08:00 to 16:00 UTC, and the US session from 16:00 to 00:00 UTC. The bulk of Bitcoin’s approximately 31 percent price increase since February has occurred during APAC and US trading hours. The APAC session delivered a 13 percent return, the US session contributed about 11.5 percent, while the European session lagged behind at just 6.5 percent.

An interesting shift has been observed in the US session’s influence. Although it was not a leading factor for an extended period, the US hours began to drive the uptrend sharply at the start of April. During February and March, US trading hours often showed sideways or weak movement, but this pattern reversed as April got underway, making US hours increasingly significant for strong price rallies.

Overall, both APAC and US time zones have clearly outperformed in terms of liquidity and market activity. These findings suggest that timing trades during these sessions may present better opportunities for market participants aiming to optimize their strategies and manage risk more efficiently.

Top hours and days to trade

Analysis on optimal trading times indicates that the period between 00:00 and 01:00 UTC produced the best average returns, with a 0.10 percent gain per hour over the past three months. Experts point out that this slot coincides with the overlap of late US trading and early APAC activity, making it a prime window for new liquidity entering the market.

According to the data, the most profitable hour of the day aligns with midnight, the point at which two major global markets intersect.

The second-best hourly performance occurred at 15:00 UTC, during the midpoint of the European session. Conversely, the weakest results were recorded at 06:00 UTC in the morning, showing that not all hours are equally favorable for trading.

When looking at days of the week, Monday stands out as the most lucrative, averaging a 1.5 percent gain in the past three months. Wednesday follows with about 0.65 percent, and Friday comes in at a modestly positive 0.3 percent. Thursdays saw the poorest showing, with an average drop of 0.55 percent, while weekend trading averaged a loss of 0.25 percent. The overall weekly average was a 0.4 percent rise.

Key insights for investors

Based on this pattern, the beginning of the week and trading times during the APAC and US sessions offer the most promise to those seeking to benefit from market momentum. However, market experts stress that these historical trends do not guarantee future results and should be considered only as general guidance for strategic decisions.