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Crypto Frenzy: Bitcoin Wavers at $120K, Altcoins Roar, Regulators Act, and NFTs Rebound (July 22–23, 2025)
30 October 2025
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8 mins read

Bitcoin’s October 2025 Rollercoaster: Hits $126K, 17% Crash, and Fed-Fueled Comeback

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  • Record High & Crash: Bitcoin surged to a new all-time high (~$126,223) on Oct. 5, 2025 [1], but then plunged about 15–17% to ~$104.8K on Oct. 10 amid US–China trade tensions and a tariff scare [2]. That one-day sell-off triggered the largest crypto liquidation ever (over $19 billion in leveraged positions) [3].
  • Current Price: As of Oct. 29–30, Bitcoin is trading around $110–113K [4] [5]. After bouncing back 10%+ from mid-month lows, BTC remains slightly below its early-Oct peak.
  • Macroeconomic Drivers: The Federal Reserve cut rates by 25 bps on Oct. 29 (to 3.75–4.00%) – largely in line with expectations – and noted that U.S. growth is being held back by the ongoing government shutdown [6] [7]. Bitcoin showed only a modest 3% dip on the announcement [8]. Meanwhile, talk of a U.S.–China trade truce (after an initial tariff threat) helped risk markets recover in late Oct, lifting stocks and Bitcoin alike [9] [10].
  • ETF Inflows & Adoption: Crypto ETFs saw record inflows: roughly $5.95 billion flowed into digital-asset funds in the week to Oct. 4 [11] (about $3.5B into Bitcoin ETFs). US Bitcoin ETFs now manage over $100 billion (BlackRock’s IBIT alone ~$100B) [12]. Institutional adoption has also spiked: 172 public companies now hold Bitcoin (about 1.02 M BTC, 4.8% of supply, ~$117B) [13] [14]. Bitwise Asset Management calls this surge in corporate holdings “absolutely remarkable,” noting firms are increasingly treating BTC as a long-term store-of-value hedge [15].
  • Regulatory Environment: U.S. regulators remain crypto-friendly. In January 2025 SEC approved the first spot-Bitcoin ETFs, and in late October, new altcoin ETFs hit the market. For example, Canary Capital launched the first US spot ETFs on Litecoin and Hedera, and Bitwise launched a Solana ETF, using a streamlined approval process [16]. Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley praised the outlook as “never been more constructive,” noting SEC Chair Paul Atkins’ crypto-task force is clearly opening up the asset class [17]. Globally, Switzerland and Germany also set records for crypto-ETF flows [18].
  • Analyst Forecasts: Expert opinions are split. Goldman-standard forecasters see more upside: Standard Chartered’s Geoffrey Kendrick sticks to a $200K year-end BTC target [19], and Citigroup projects ~$133K by end-2025 (and ~$181K by late 2026) [20]. Even bitcoin bull Robert Kiyosaki has tweeted a $200K target by end-2025 [21]. By contrast, bearish analysts warn of a correction: Ledn’s Jon Glover (using Elliott-wave analysis) boldly declared “THE BULL RUN IN BITCOIN IS OVER!,” predicting BTC could fall into the $70–80K range for a protracted bear market [22] [23]. Citi itself notes a recessionary scenario could push BTC as low as ~$83K [24].
  • Altcoins & Market Trends: Major altcoins largely tracked Bitcoin. Ethereum has rebounded above ~$4,000 (from mid-Oct lows) [25], Solana is near ~$195 [26], and XRP about $2.62 [27]. However, smaller tokens swung more violently: e.g. Avalanche and Dogecoin crashed 60–70% in early Oct [28]. Overall crypto market cap is now ~$3.8–3.9 trillion [29]. Market sentiment (the Crypto Fear & Greed index) plunged into “Extreme Fear” during the crash but has since normalized to neutral levels [30]. Notably, Bitcoin is moving more in lockstep with equities: a Citi report confirmed that the recent sell-off “revealed bitcoin’s growing equity sensitivity,” underscoring the tight stock–crypto correlation [31] [32].

Price Rollercoaster and Macro Drivers

Bitcoin’s wild swings have been driven by both technical and macro factors. In early October, massive ETF inflows and positive sentiment (easing US-China trade rhetoric, a dovish Fed pivot) sent BTC roaring to ~$126,000 on Oct. 5 [33]. But on Oct. 10, President Trump announced 100% tariffs on Chinese imports, triggering a broad risk-off move. Bitcoin plunged below $105,000 (a ~15% drop) in one day [34], wiping out over $19 billion of leveraged crypto positions (the largest 24-hour liquidation ever) [35]. Altcoins crashed even harder – for example, Avalanche and Dogecoin each fell around 60–70% from recent highs [36] – before recovering alongside BTC.

This mid-month crash “cleaned out the excessive leverage and reset the risk in the market, for now,” said crypto analyst Nic Puckrin [37]. On-chain expert Willy Woo noted that despite the volatility, Bitcoin’s investor flows “have been holding up well,” helping it weather the storm better than many anticipated [38]. He observed that money seems to be rotating out of smaller altcoins and into BTC rather than exiting crypto altogether [39]. Equities also suffered on Oct. 10 (the S&P 500 fell ~2%), and Citi analysts confirm that Bitcoin’s recent moves have become closely tied to stocks (Bitcoin’s “equity sensitivity” is rising [40]).

By mid-October, improving news (Trump downplayed tariff threats) and anticipation of Federal Reserve rate cuts turned sentiment. Traders fully expected the Fed to cut 25 bps at its Oct. 29 meeting, which it did [41]. Remarkably, Bitcoin barely blinked. ForkLog reports that BTC traded around $111,500 post-cut [42], down only ~3% in the prior 24 hours. Fed Chair Powell emphasized that inflation remains above target and that the economy is weakened by the government shutdown [43], signaling caution about future cuts. Some observers, like analyst Axel Adler Jr., even see this as a bullish setup: the Fed’s move may spark a new Bitcoin rally in the weeks ahead [44]. In short, Bitcoin’s late-October bounce (back above ~$110K) reflects a mix of Fed easing and easing trade worries, though downside risks remain if global growth disappoints.

ETFs and Institutional Demand

A key story this month has been explosive fund inflows. Global crypto ETFs drew a record $5.95 billion in the week ended Oct. 4 [45] – roughly $3.55 B of that into Bitcoin funds [46]. That surge helped vault Bitcoin to its Oct. 5 ATH [47]. The U.S. led by far (about $5.0B of the inflows), with Switzerland and Germany posting their own records [48]. CoinShares’ James Butterfill remarked that this “highlights the growing recognition of digital assets as an alternative in times of uncertainty” [49]. Deutsche Bank has even predicted that by 2030 most central banks will hold Bitcoin alongside gold on their balance sheets [50].

In the U.S., BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) alone now holds ~$100B of BTC [51], generating over $200M in annual fees. Overall, Bitcoin and Ether ETFs manage more than $170B globally [52]. These ETF flows remain robust: despite the recent pullback, analysts note that net demand (minus short bets) is still high. For example, CoinDesk reports that on Oct. 16–17 the 11 major U.S. BTC ETFs saw about $536 million in net outflows [53], the largest one-day redemption since August – yet ETF executives attribute this to typical profit-taking and futures positioning rather than a drop in conviction. Citi reiterated after the drawdown that their year-end BTC target of $133K stands [54] [55].

Corporate Bitcoin accumulation is also surging. Bitwise’s Q3 report shows 172 public companies now hold BTC (up from 124 in Q2), collectively owning ~1.02M BTC (~$117B) [56] [57]. Michael Saylor’s MicroStrategy leads with ~640k BTC, followed distantly by Marathon (~53k). Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley called this trend “absolutely remarkable,” noting that institutions and even ordinary investors are “increasingly turning to Bitcoin as a long-term store of value and inflation hedge” [58]. This corporate demand is roughly double the new BTC supply minted by miners, which could become a major price catalyst if it continues.

Regulatory Developments

The overall regulatory backdrop has been exceptionally supportive. The SEC under Chair Paul Atkins has approved spot Bitcoin ETFs and signaled openness to more crypto products. Bitwise’s Horsley noted that regulators have been “very clear with their intentions of opening up the asset class,” and said the outlook for digital assets “has never been more constructive” [59]. In late October, crypto firms took advantage of a procedural quirk during the U.S. government shutdown: Canary Capital launched the first U.S. spot ETFs on Litecoin and Hedera [60], and Bitwise launched a Solana ETF, all without the usual 19-month filing window. These first altcoin ETFs in the U.S. mark a milestone and have given investors new ways to access crypto tokens via the easily traded ETF wrapper [61].

Globally, crypto ETF licensing is spreading. Switzerland and Germany set new inflow records for crypto funds in early Oct [62]. On the other hand, not every coin has its own fund yet – even Binance is seeking SEC approval for a BNB (BNB) ETF. Inside Congress, some legislators (e.g. Sen. Warren) have cautioned about crypto in retirement accounts, but overall the push remains on creating regulated crypto investment vehicles.

Expert Forecasts and Analysis

Predictions for Bitcoin’s future are sharply split. On the bullish side, Standard Chartered (digital assets research head Geoff Kendrick) reaffirmed a $200K target for end-2025 [63], likening the ongoing re-rating to gold’s rally after ETFs were introduced. Citi’s analysts foresee roughly $133K by year-end (with a bull case of ~$180K in 12 months) [64]. Pantera Capital and BitMEX reports also hint at $130K–$150K in 2026 based on stock-to-flow and halving cycles. These forecasters point to continuing ETF inflows, stable regulatory policy under the current U.S. administration, and major milestones (e.g. MiCA in Europe taking effect) as tailwinds.

Even high-profile investors echo the optimism. Delta Fund’s Kavita Gupta expects Bitcoin to climb to $125–130K (and Ethereum to ~$4,500) as confidence returns to markets [65]. Billionaire Robert Kiyosaki has gone further, publicly predicting BTC could double to ~$200K by end-2025 [66], arguing that emotional discipline (“EQ over IQ”) will drive long-term gains.

By contrast, risk-sentiment analysts urge caution. Ledn’s Jon Glover (using Elliott-wave technicals) argues that Bitcoin’s five-wave bull cycle peaked just above $126K and that a new bear market has begun [67]. He warned the price could test $70–80K over the next year [68], bluntly declaring “THE BULL RUN IN BITCOIN IS OVER!” [69]. Other technicians note that BTC is now vulnerable near $115–125K resistance unless fresh catalysts emerge. Citi’s bear-case concurs: if a severe recession hits, they see Bitcoin drifting toward the low-$80K range [70].

Amid these views, market sentiment swings matter. Currently, most indicators are neutral to bullish. The Crypto Fear & Greed index has recovered to around 50 (neutral) from deep fear in mid-Oct [71]. On-chain metrics (exchange balances dropping, active addresses stable) suggest investors remain engaged. But volatility is still high – coindicators warn that options expiries and macro risk events could reignite big swings.

Altcoins and Wider Crypto Market

Bitcoin’s ups and downs have rippled through the wider crypto market. Ethereum, the #2 coin, has mostly followed BTC: it dipped below $3,500 in the crash, but has rallied back to ~$4,000 (up ~3–4% over the last week) [72]. Solana recovered to roughly $195 (about double its summer low) [73]. XRP trades around $2.62 [74], and other large tokens (Cardano, Polkadot, etc.) are generally 5–15% below early-Oct peaks. Crypto’s total market cap is near $3.8–3.9 trillion [75], close to its all-time high.

As usual, risk-on sentiment has buoyed smaller coins. Although many mid-cap tokens sold off harder in the crash, many are now rallying – for example, meme tokens and DeFi-related coins have gained on renewed retail interest. That said, analysts caution the altcoin space is still relatively immature and oversold segments can retrace sharply. In fact, Bloomberg Intelligence recently noted that a market-cap-weighted index of the 50 smallest crypto tokens was signaling that speculative capital was leaving the fringes, even as new altcoin ETFs launch [76].

Outlook: October’s events leave Bitcoin at a crossroads. The pullback has shaken out excess leverage and drawn a line under $104K–105K as firm support [77]. Key indicators (ETF flows, corporate buying, neutral market sentiment) suggest Bitcoin is set up for another leg up if global conditions remain stable. A Fed rate cut and U.S.–China trade progress in late October may have set the stage for that. On the other hand, the high volatility and macro uncertainties mean swings of $10K or more remain likely. For now, Bitcoin’s price is consolidating in a wide range (~$105K–$125K), and analysts say a decisive break above or below this band will shape the next leg. Regardless, October 2025 has underscored that Bitcoin remains a top story in global markets – from Wall Street boardrooms to emerging economies – and the coming weeks will reveal whether bulls or bears dominate into year-end.

Sources: Our report is based on the latest reporting and analysis from Reuters, CoinDesk, ForkLog, Bloomberg (including Bloomberg Crypto transcripts), ts2.tech and other crypto news outlets. We cite experts and data on market moves, ETF flows, corporate holdings and regulatory events [78] [79] [80] [81] [82] [83] for all key facts. (For example, Reuters noted the Oct. 10 crash and $19B liquidation [84]; CoinDesk reported the $536M ETF outflow and Citi analysis [85] [86]; ts2.tech highlighted Fed and trade drivers [87] [88].) All price levels are USD.

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References

1. www.reuters.com, 2. www.reuters.com, 3. www.reuters.com, 4. ts2.tech, 5. forklog.com, 6. forklog.com, 7. forklog.com, 8. forklog.com, 9. ts2.tech, 10. www.reuters.com, 11. www.reuters.com, 12. www.investmentnews.com, 13. www.bitget.com, 14. www.bitget.com, 15. www.bitget.com, 16. www.reuters.com, 17. www.investmentnews.com, 18. www.reuters.com, 19. www.reuters.com, 20. www.reuters.com, 21. www.todayonchain.com, 22. economictimes.indiatimes.com, 23. economictimes.indiatimes.com, 24. www.reuters.com, 25. ts2.tech, 26. ts2.tech, 27. ts2.tech, 28. www.reuters.com, 29. ts2.tech, 30. ts2.tech, 31. www.coindesk.com, 32. ts2.tech, 33. www.reuters.com, 34. www.reuters.com, 35. www.reuters.com, 36. www.reuters.com, 37. www.reuters.com, 38. www.reuters.com, 39. www.reuters.com, 40. www.coindesk.com, 41. forklog.com, 42. forklog.com, 43. forklog.com, 44. forklog.com, 45. www.reuters.com, 46. www.reuters.com, 47. www.reuters.com, 48. www.reuters.com, 49. www.reuters.com, 50. www.reuters.com, 51. www.investmentnews.com, 52. www.investmentnews.com, 53. www.coindesk.com, 54. www.coindesk.com, 55. www.reuters.com, 56. www.bitget.com, 57. www.bitget.com, 58. www.bitget.com, 59. www.investmentnews.com, 60. www.reuters.com, 61. www.reuters.com, 62. www.reuters.com, 63. www.reuters.com, 64. www.reuters.com, 65. www.bloomberg.com, 66. www.todayonchain.com, 67. economictimes.indiatimes.com, 68. economictimes.indiatimes.com, 69. economictimes.indiatimes.com, 70. www.reuters.com, 71. ts2.tech, 72. ts2.tech, 73. ts2.tech, 74. ts2.tech, 75. ts2.tech, 76. www.investmentnews.com, 77. ts2.tech, 78. www.reuters.com, 79. www.reuters.com, 80. www.bitget.com, 81. www.investmentnews.com, 82. ts2.tech, 83. economictimes.indiatimes.com, 84. www.reuters.com, 85. www.coindesk.com, 86. www.coindesk.com, 87. ts2.tech, 88. ts2.tech

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CEO of TS2 Space and founder of TS2.tech. Expert in satellites, telecommunications, and emerging technologies, covering trends in space, AI, and connectivity.

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