Bitcoin slips in September after best August since 2017

The seasonal contrast between a strong August and a weak September highlights how cyclical narratives still drive positioning in crypto markets. The 'Rektember' label can become self-reinforcing if traders front-run expected declines, but the fact that August broke a multi-year pattern suggests historical averages are not a hard ceiling. The key signal is whether selling pressure intensifies purely from seasonality or if underlying demand shifts, which would determine if this month merely rhymes with past Septembers or marks a genuine departure. Watching volume and spot flows versus derivative activity will clarify if the slide is sentiment-led or fundamentals-driven.