Tag: crypto

Crypto update: Bitcoin ETFs see $300M inflow as investors ‘buy the dip’
- US Bitcoin ETFs saw nearly $300 million in net inflows on Tuesday.
- The inflows snapped a two-week streak of redemptions from the products.
- Fidelity’s FBTC led the way with $165.9 million, followed by Ark’s ARKB.
US-based Bitcoin ETFs have snapped a two-week streak of redemptions, pulling in nearly $300 million in net inflows on Tuesday as investors took advantage of lower prices to rotate back into cryptocurrency-linked products.

The renewed buying interest, which follows a period of significant outflows, suggests that institutional investors are viewing the recent market dip as a buying opportunity, reaffirming their long-term conviction in the asset despite short-term volatility.

A decisive reversal after weeks of outflows

Early data from SoSoValue shows a significant reversal of last week’s trend, which saw over $1.17 billion withdrawn from digital asset investment products.

Fidelity’s FBTC led the charge with $165.9 million in fresh capital, while Ark 21Shares’ ARKB added $102.5 million.

Notably, even Grayscale’s GBTC, which has experienced consistent outflows for months, posted a net inflow of $24.1 million.

This return of capital to US products contrasts with the European market, which has continued to see steady inflows, suggesting a more consistent long-term positioning from investors outside the United States.

Altcoins continue to attract capital

While Bitcoin and Ether products have been subject to macro-driven volatility, certain altcoins have continued to attract steady investment.

According to data from CoinShares, Solana-linked products notched another $118 million in inflows last week, bringing its impressive nine-week total to $2.1 billion.

This pattern indicates that investors are differentiating between core assets sensitive to macro pressures and emerging networks with strong on-chain momentum.

Fundamentals remain strong as supply milestone nears

Despite the recent price turbulence, market experts maintain that Bitcoin’s underlying fundamentals remain robust.

Thomas Perfumo, a global economist at Kraken, highlighted an upcoming supply milestone as a key factor in the long-term investment case.

“In approximately seven days, Bitcoin’s circulating supply will cross 19.95 million coins, 95% of its max supply of 21 million coins,” he wrote in a note provided to CoinDesk.

Perfumo said this event underscores Bitcoin’s programmable scarcity and its enduring role as a “credibly neutral, globally accessible store of value.”

Gold nears record highs amid fiscal warnings

In the broader macroeconomic landscape, gold continued to trade near record highs at $4,134.6 per ounce.

The precious metal’s strength is being fueled by growing concerns over US fiscal stability.

Economist James Thorne has warned that the US has crossed a fiscal “Rubicon” that could trigger a “Bretton Woods 2.0” style reset, potentially revaluing gold to manage soaring debt levels.

The impact of surging bullion prices is already being felt, with major producer Barrick Mining reporting a $1.3 billion quarterly profit and a dividend hike.

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November 12, 2025
Bittensor (TAO) plunges 16% amid broader crypto sell-off
- Bittensor’s token plunged 16% in 24 hours to hit lows of $389.
- Losses for the top artificial intelligence coin came amid profit-taking following a recent spike.
- Fed’s hawkish stance, the Balancer exploit, and AI-capital rotation has fueled risk-off sentiment.
Bittensor’s native token, TAO, has tumbled 16% over the past 24 hours, dipping to lows of $389 as it outpaced the artificial intelligence sector’s overall decline of 9%.

Losses for Bittensor came as Bitcoin slipped to near $100,000, and the total market capitalization dropped to under $3.4 trillion.

While analysts remain bullish for BTC and the broader market, investors are grappling with a confluence of macroeconomic pressures.

Sector-specific headwinds are also in play and could add to declines driven by panic selling.

Bittensor’s TAO plunges amid profit-taking

Bittensor is a decentralized machine learning protocol that incentivizes collaborative AI model training through its blockchain.

The native token TAO’s price has outperformed recently, tapping into gains for AI-related stocks like Nvidia.

However, the token’s value cratered to $3.89, marking a 16% intraday loss.

Bulls have attempted a recovery, but the price hovers at $400, down from highs of $488.

Meanwhile, trading volume surged 17% to $712 million, a scenario that reflects the heightened panic selling.

Like across the broader market, this comes as retail and institutional holders liquidate positions on jitters around the waning AI-driven rally.

The plunge appears exacerbated by profit-taking following the launch of Europe’s first staked TAO exchange-traded product (ETP) by Safello.

It initially sparked a major rally, but bulls have since failed to sustain momentum.

Broader crypto market sell-off

The cryptocurrency ecosystem has suffered a substantial loss, with over $250 billion evaporating in market value within 24 hours, culminating in a 5.8% contraction in overall market capitalisation to $3.4 trillion.

Bittensor’s underperformance against Bitcoin, down 6% to near $100,000, and top altcoins, in relative terms, highlights TAO’s vulnerability in a risk-off environment.

#BTC is at a critical level.

Multiple closes below the 50W would confirm the top being in as it always has each cycle.

Regardless of whether the top is in, or if we go slightly higher, I still think 2026 will be a bear market, just like all prior midterm years. pic.twitter.com/4T9fAsQchs

— Benjamin Cowen (@intocryptoverse) November 4, 2025

Sentiment is in the fear zone.

This outlook sees Ethereum down 8% to $3,340, breaching key support at $3,550 and erasing 18% over the week.

Solana and XRP have also posted key losses, and liquidations across derivatives markets exceeded $1.13 billion.

A lot of the downbeat sentiment is the reaction to Federal Reserve officials’ remarks that have cut bets for a December rate cut.

Meanwhile, Wall Street jitters have seen US spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs log four consecutive days of outflows.

The Balancer crypto hack incident also dented sentiment.

“The latest $128M Balancer exploit is a reminder of something fundamental: most smart contracts today rely on audit-based hope. Developers write complex code, auditors review it, and everyone hopes there are no hidden logic flaws. But hope isn’t assurance,”Bitcoin finance platform Blockstream noted on X.

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November 4, 2025
Bitcoin holds $110k as cautious calm returns to crypto markets
- Bitcoin is trading steadily around $110,300 as markets consolidate.
- Traders have largely paused adding new risk after the recent Fed meeting.
- Bitcoin dominance has risen to approximately 60% of the total crypto market.
With Bitcoin holding steady above the key $110,000 level as traders consolidate positions and reassess risk following last week’s hawkish signals from the US Federal Reserve, a cautious calm settled over cryptocurrency markets at the start of the week.

While the market has stabilized after a volatile period, underlying data from the derivatives and credit markets suggests that a “wait-and-see” approach is now the dominant strategy, with investors looking for a fresh catalyst to dictate the next major move.

As the business week began in Hong Kong, Bitcoin was trading around $110,300, while Ether held near $3,880. Both assets remain down significantly over the past 30 days, by 10% and 14% respectively.

According to market maker FlowDesk, clients have largely “paused adding new risk” after the Fed meeting, with market activity dominated by short-term trading and portfolio rebalancing.

Despite the caution, FlowDesk noted that traders showed net buying in tokens with strong underlying fundamentals like BTC, HYPE, and SYRUP, even as Solana-linked assets lagged.

This deleveraging has left many traders “underexposed if the market rebounds,” suggesting a cleaner market position, the firm wrote.

Fear lingers in the derivatives market

While spot markets appear calm, the derivatives space still shows signs of fear. According to CoinGlass data, approximately $155 million in crypto derivatives were liquidated in the past 24 hours.

The split, with $97 million in long positions and $58 million in shorts being wiped out, points to a moderate flush of overleveraged bullish bets rather than broad panic selling.

FlowDesk observed “elevated put skew and lingering caution despite calmer volatility,” indicating that traders are still buying downside protection.

This cautious positioning, dominated by put buying and call selling, could present an opportunity if the market stabilizes.

“Cheap risk reversals could appeal if spot markets stabilize,” FlowDesk wrote, adding that volatility will likely “drift lower into year-end.”

Gold holds gains despite hawkish Fed

In the broader macroeconomic picture, gold is holding onto its recent gains despite headwinds from the Fed.

The precious metal closed Friday at about $4,003 per ounce, posting a 3.7% gain in October for its third consecutive monthly rise.

Despite hawkish comments from the Federal Reserve and a stronger dollar that have reduced the odds of a December rate cut, haven demand for gold remains strong.

Persistent geopolitical tensions and ongoing U.S. fiscal uncertainty have continued to support the metal’s appeal as a stable asset.

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November 3, 2025
Crypto update: Bitcoin tumbles below $111K as Powell dashes December rate cut hopes
- Bitcoin fell below $111,000 after Fed Chair Powell’s hawkish comments.
- Powell said a December interest rate cut is “not a foregone conclusion.”
- Major cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, XRP, and Solana also posted losses.
Bitcoin and the wider cryptocurrency market took a sharp downturn after US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled that a highly anticipated December interest rate cut was not guaranteed, reversing market sentiment that had priced in further easing.

The hawkish remarks immediately spooked investors, sending Bitcoin below a key support level and triggering a broad sell-off across digital assets.

While the Fed did deliver an expected quarter-point rate cut, Powell’s commentary on the future path of monetary policy became the dominant driver of the market’s negative reaction.

Powell pours cold water on December rate cut hopes

At the conclusion of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, Powell announced a 0.25% point reduction in the policy rate to a range of 3.75-4.00%.

However, he quickly tempered market optimism by adopting a cautious stance on future moves, stating a December cut “is not a foregone conclusion.”

Powell explained that the central bank needs more economic data, particularly after the recent government shutdown obscured key indicators.

“We may need to slow the pace of policy (rate) adjustments. I hope to obtain more data by December,” he said at the press conference.

He also revealed a growing divide within the committee.

“More and more Fed members want to delay rate cuts,” Powell continued, adding, “After two consecutive rate cuts, some members are taking a wait-and-see stance.

The view that we should wait at least one cycle is spreading.”

Bitcoin leads broad market plunge

The market’s reaction to Powell’s unexpected caution was swift and decisive.

Bitcoin, which had been trading steadily around the $113,000 level before the press conference, broke below its $110,000 support moments after his remarks, hitting an intraday low in the $109,000 range.

As of Thursday, the token was still struggling around $110,000, down roughly 2% from the previous day.

The weakness was felt across the entire crypto ecosystem.

According to CoinMarketCap, other major cryptocurrencies also posted significant losses:
- Ethereum (ETH) fell 1.93% to $3,899.87.
- XRP dropped 2.74% to $2.53.
- Solana (SOL) declined 1.04% to $192.37.
A silver lining? Fed to end quantitative tightening

However, Powell’s press conference was not entirely hawkish. He also formally announced the end of the Fed’s asset reduction program, known as Quantitative Tightening (QT), which could increase liquidity in the financial system.

“We have decided to end QT as of December 1,” Powell stated. He explained that the Fed’s balance sheet had shrunk by $2.2 trillion over three and a half years.

“We now believe we are close to sufficient reserves,” he said, signaling a shift toward balance sheet normalization.

With Fed in rearview, all eyes turn to US-China summit

With the Fed’s immediate policy path now clarified, investors are pivoting their attention to the next major potential catalyst: the US-China summit.

Following the crypto market plunge, traders are looking to the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping as a possible source of positive news that could trigger a rebound.

The high-stakes meeting is scheduled for Thursday morning at the ‘Naraemaru’ facility at Gimhae Airport Air Force base.

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October 30, 2025
Australia tightens crypto rules: check out all the details
- Crypto firms offering financial products must obtain an AFSL by 30 June.
- Bitcoin and NFTs are said to be excluded from the financial product category.
- The Treasury has finished consultations on new crypto legislation.
Australia has tightened its regulatory framework for digital assets, introducing updated guidelines that define how crypto service providers will be classified and licensed.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) announced revisions to its Information Sheet 225.

Firms offering services tied to financial products will now need to apply for an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL) and join the Australian Financial Complaints Authority by June 30.

The updated document aims to streamline compliance requirements, strengthen investor protection, and bring digital asset providers under the same regulatory standards as traditional financial institutions.

This marks a significant shift in Australia’s approach to overseeing crypto-related businesses and ensuring greater market transparency.

The move aims to bring greater oversight to the rapidly evolving crypto industry while maintaining flexibility for tokens like Bitcoin, which will not be treated as financial products under the new guidance.

Bitcoin excluded, but stablecoins under scrutiny

Under the revised guidelines, ASIC clarified that cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, gaming non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and tokenised event tickets do not fall under the financial product category.

However, stablecoins, wrapped tokens, tokenised securities, and yield-bearing products like staking services and tokenised real estate will require licensing.

ASIC also confirmed in-principle regulatory relief for stablecoin and wrapped token distributors to help transition into compliance ahead of broader legislative reforms.

The updated framework outlines that services offering financial returns or lock-up periods will be classified as financial products, ensuring investors in yield-based assets are protected under existing finance laws.

Industry welcomes clarity but warns of implementation challenges

The update has been broadly welcomed across the blockchain sector for providing long-awaited clarity.

Industry groups and legal experts said the move provides visibility on ASIC’s approach to regulating the digital asset ecosystem.

However, they warned that the transition could create logistical hurdles due to limited local expertise, banking restrictions, and insurance access.

Blockchain APAC’s CEO noted that ASIC’s approach of implementing policy ahead of final legislation brings short-term certainty but also leaves room for interpretation.

These “structural bottlenecks,” including resource and compliance constraints, could shift risks from legal to operational levels if not addressed promptly.

Transition underway as crypto firms prepare for licensing

Industry players are now restructuring their operations to align with the new rules.

The Digital Economy Council of Australia called the update a significant step toward mainstream regulation but expressed concern about ASIC’s capacity to process a large volume of licensing applications in time.

The move follows the Albanese government’s proposal in March for a unified framework that places crypto exchanges under existing financial services laws.

The Treasury concluded consultations last week on draft legislation that would formalise this transition, further aligning Australia’s crypto oversight with global regulatory trends.

The update marks a turning point for Australia’s digital asset market, setting a roadmap for compliance while signalling the government’s intention to balance innovation with investor protection.

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October 29, 2025
Crypto wrap: Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB, Solana, and XRP muted after CPI report
- Cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB, Solana, and XRP traded higher and then pared gains.
- Sentiment improved with the release of the US Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, but prices failed to rally.
- Analysts say the CPI data makes a Federal Reserve rate cut on October 29 “highly probable”.
Major cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB, Solana, and XRP have maintained steady prices despite Wall Street’s robust reaction to a key economic data release.

As such, the cryptocurrency market was largely muted on Friday October 24, 2025, with an initial price spike following the release of the US Consumer Price Index (CPI) report failing to flip into notable gains.

While several coins traded in the green, the subdued action meant the global crypto market capitalization, per CoinGecko, remained at $3.81 trillion.

Sentiment was still largely negative as the Fear & Greed index hovered at 32 and was in fear territory.

Meanwhile, global daily trading volume slipped to $153 billion.

Bitcoin, Ethereum prices as investors react to CPI data

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the US CPI inflation report for September on Friday.

Data showed inflation was cooler than expected, with headline CPI at 0.3% and core inflation at 0.2%.

Meanwhile, both year-over-year measures for headline and core came in at 3%.

Economist Mohamed El-Erian commented on what the data says:

“This report makes a Federal Reserve rate cut next week highly probable. What happens beyond that, however, will depend on subsequent data, primarily confirmation of a softening labor market and continued disinflation.”

Stocks however, soared amid the report and a host of other bullish factors.

Bitcoin traded to highs of $111,842 before quickly retreating to $110,500.

Ethereum on the other hand, rose slightly to near $4,000 before revisiting $3,870 and settling just above $3,900.

Despite the cooling inflation data, analysts see a 99% likelihood of a Federal Reserve rate cut on October 29.

This will feed into risk asset appeal and both BTC and ETH could rally past key supply walls around $115k and $4,250.

BNB steady after Changpeng Zhao pardon

BNB, the native token of Binance, has maintained its price at $1,106, with negligible movement post-CPI.

The token is benefiting from Binance’s dominance in spot trading, and the news of President Donald Trump’s pardon of founder Changpeng Zhao buoyed the broader market.

Congratulations to my friend @cz_binance. Trump has corrected a grave injustice. The weaponization of the justice department against our industry and its entrepreneurs should have never happened. It was and still is a deep wound that will take a long time to heal https://t.co/OirXN3fSZC

— Charles Hoskinson (@IOHK_Charles) October 23, 2025

BNB price moved from lows of $1,048 to near $1,150 on October 24 before settling near the psychological $1,000 mark.

Solana and XRP steady but below key levels

Both Solana and XRP held steady at $190 and $2.49, respectively.

Network activity, partnerships and acquisitions have complemented sentiment built around spot ETF anticipation and treasury strategy moves.

However, SOL and XRP are below the key buy zones of $200 and $3.00, respectively.

Confidence could skyrocket if bulls take out bears at these levels.

News that Ripple is one of the crypto titans bankrolling donations for Trump’s White House ballroom project see XRP get further limelight.

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October 24, 2025
Bitcoin climbs to $111K as a pardon for Binance’s ‘CZ’ fuels a broad crypto rally
- The crypto market is rallying, with Bitcoin climbing 2.7 percent to over $110,700.
- The rally was fueled by a presidential pardon for the Binance founder “CZ.”
- The pardon for Changpeng Zhao sent the price of BNB soaring by over 5 percent.
The cryptocurrency market was firmly in rally mode on Thursday, with Bitcoin climbing back toward $111,000 in a powerful rebound that was fueled by sizable gains in the US stock market and a stunning presidential pardon for the founder of the crypto exchange Binance, Changpeng “CZ” Zhao.

The broad-based rally marks another day of sharp, back-and-forth price action in a market that has been defined by extreme volatility in recent weeks.

A presidential pardon sparks a relief rally

The primary catalyst for the market’s improved tone was the unexpected news of President Trump’s pardon for the Binance founder.

The move, which suggests a continuing friendly regulatory environment for the crypto industry in the US, had an immediate and powerful impact.

The price of BNB, the native token of the Binance ecosystem, surged by more than 5 percent on the news.

The positive sentiment spread across the broader crypto sector, with Bitcoin rising 2.7 percent over the past 24 hours to $110,700, and other major tokens like Ether, DOGE, and ADA all posting gains in the 2 to 3 percent range.

Crypto-related stocks, which had suffered heavy losses in Wednesday’s sell-off, also bounced back strongly, with the Bitcoin miner Hut 8 climbing 7.3 percent after tumbling 17 percent in the previous session.

A classic whipsaw pattern continues

The powerful rebound comes just one day after a sharp decline that had pushed Bitcoin’s price below $107,000.

That drop, in turn, had followed a steep rise on Tuesday that had seen the leading cryptocurrency climb as high as $114,000.

This volatile, back-and-forth action is a classic whipsaw pattern, a market condition that often punishes traders who try to chase the trend.

All eyes on a pivotal inflation report

With the pardon now digested, the market’s focus is turning to the next major potential catalyst: the US government’s September Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, which is still set to be released on Friday morning despite the ongoing government shutdown.

This will likely be the last piece of important economic data that the Federal Reserve will see before its crucial rate-setting meeting next week.

The market is currently in full expectation of a 25-basis-point cut at that meeting, with another quarter-point reduction priced in for the final meeting of the year in December.

The CPI report will be the final and most important test of that conviction.

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October 24, 2025
Crypto update: Bitcoin and Ethereum are stable as market’s focus shifts to US inflation data
- Crypto markets have entered a holding pattern, with Bitcoin near $108,164.
- Traders are awaiting a key US inflation (CPI) report due out on Friday.
- Hopes are rising for a de-escalation in the US-China trade war.
Cryptocurrency markets have entered a midweek holding pattern, with prices for Bitcoin and other major digital assets remaining relatively flat as traders brace for a pivotal US inflation report and look for signs of a de-escalation in the US-China trade dispute.

Bitcoin is trading around $108,164, up slightly from Monday but still down 2% for the week. Ether is changing hands near $3,815.

The stabilization reflects what the analytics firm QCP Capital has described as a “narrow-range equilibrium,” a period of calm before a potential storm.

A singular focus on the US inflation report

The market’s primary focus is now firmly on Friday’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, the only major US economic data release not delayed by the ongoing government shutdown.

In a recent note, QCP said the CPI is the “singular anchor” for policy expectations and broader risk sentiment.

A softer-than-expected reading, the firm noted, could “re-anchor the soft-landing trade” and provide support for Bitcoin as expectations for looser monetary policy improve.

Hopes are rising for a US-China détente

Adding to the market’s complex picture are the shifting dynamics of the US-China trade war.

Sentiment has improved after a weekend of whiplash, in which President Trump first threatened a massive new wave of tariffs only to later soften his stance, stating that “the USA wants to help China, not hurt it.”

This has led prediction markets to re-evaluate the risks. Traders on Polymarket now assign a 77% probability that a tariff agreement will be reached by November 10, while the odds of Trump’s threatened 100% tariffs taking effect have fallen to just 16 percent.

A cleaner slate after a brutal liquidation flush

This fragile calm comes just days after a brutal market-wide sell-off that saw nearly $20 billion in leveraged positions liquidated.

That massive flush has reset the market, creating a cleaner slate for macro traders as they head into the crucial CPI event.

The key question now is whether the “soft landing” narrative will be confirmed by Friday’s inflation data, or if the volatility that has defined the market in recent weeks will be reignited.

What to watch in the markets

For Bitcoin, analysts at Standard Chartered have noted that while sellers are limiting any immediate breakout potential, a dip below $100,000 could represent a “last chance to buy” before the next major leg higher.

For Ethereum, the picture is more divided.

A recent $650 million transfer by the Ethereum Foundation triggered a wave of profit-taking and liquidations, leaving analysts split between a potential breakout toward $5,000 and a possible slide toward $2,850 if the key support level at $3,470 fails to hold.

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October 23, 2025
Crypto slump worsens as Bitcoin slips amid a broad market sell-off
- The crypto market’s October slump has worsened, with a 3% drop.
- Bitcoin slipped below $110,000 and Ethereum fell below $3,900.
- The market has lost roughly $370 billion in value this month alone.
The cryptocurrency market’s brutal October slump has worsened, with a fresh 3% drop sending Bitcoin below the key $110,000 level and dragging most major altcoins deep into the red.

The broad-based drawdown is the latest chapter in one of the harshest months of the year for the digital asset space, as a potent combination of thinning institutional support, technical disruptions, and simmering macroeconomic tensions creates a powerful “risk-off” wave.

The scale of the recent carnage is immense. The market has now erased roughly $370 billion in value this month alone, with as much as $19 billion in leveraged positions being liquidated.

Futures open interest has also been decimated, with $65 billion wiped out, resetting market activity to the levels of early 2025.

Institutional support thins as ETF outflows accelerate

A key driver of the recent weakness has been a dramatic and worrying reversal in institutional sentiment.

After months of powerful inflows, spot Bitcoin ETFs have become a source of intense selling pressure, posting a staggering $1.23 billion in weekly net outflows.

This included a massive $366 million outflow on Friday alone, a move that removed a critical layer of buying support from an already fragile market.

A perfect storm: an AWS outage and a SpaceX scare

This fundamental weakness was compounded by a perfect storm of technical and psychological blows.

A major outage at Amazon Web Services (AWS) disrupted access to a number of leading crypto venues, including the US giant Coinbase and several DeFi front-ends.

The disruption widened spreads and accelerated forced liquidations, with over $240 million in long positions being wiped out in just 24 hours, a move that briefly pushed Bitcoin toward $107,500.

Market nerves were frayed further after on-chain trackers flagged a large transfer of 2,395 BTC ($268 million) from a wallet associated with SpaceX.

While analysts suggested the flows were likely internal custody reshuffles, the timing sparked a wave of “Is Musk selling?” headlines, adding another layer of fear to an already anxious market.

What to watch next as the market hangs in the balance

Technically, the market is now at a critical inflection point. Bitcoin is facing a thick layer of resistance between $112,000 and $115,500, with key support levels now sitting at $108,000 and $105,000.

A decisive daily close back above the 50-day moving average (around $113,000) is needed to stabilize the market. Failure to do so keeps the psychological $100,000 zone firmly in play and raises the risk of a much deeper bearish phase.

The near-term catalysts remain firmly in the macroeconomic arena, with the upcoming US CPI print and any fresh hints from the Federal Reserve on interest rates likely to be the next major market-moving events.

For now, a battered and bruised crypto market is left to lick its wounds and wait for the storm to pass.

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October 22, 2025
BlackRock brings Bitcoin ETP to UK as regulator opens door for crypto products
- ETP mirrors bitcoin price and trades via the London Stock Exchange.
- UK aims to become a global hub for regulated digital-asset products.
- FCA allows tokenisation of investment funds using blockchain technology.
The investment giant BlackRock has launched its first bitcoin-linked exchange-traded product (ETP) in the United Kingdom, signalling a major step in bridging traditional finance with the crypto sector.

The move follows the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) decision to ease restrictions on crypto investment vehicles, allowing investors to gain exposure to bitcoin without directly holding it.

The launch not only widens access to digital assets for UK investors but also highlights a growing convergence between global asset managers and regulators in adapting to the evolution of financial markets.

BlackRock’s bitcoin ETP debuts on the London Stock Exchange

The iShares Bitcoin ETP, now listed on the London Stock Exchange, is designed to mirror the price of bitcoin and offer exposure within a regulated structure.

The product allows investors to buy fractions of bitcoin through units starting at about $11, making participation in the asset class more accessible.

Unlike holding bitcoin directly, investors can trade the ETP through standard brokerage accounts, bypassing the complexities of digital wallets or private key management.

The product’s underlying assets are securely held by regulated custodians, ensuring compliance and oversight under the UK’s financial rules.

BlackRock’s UK-listed ETP builds on the firm’s earlier success with its bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the United States, which has accumulated over $85 billion in net assets.

It also adds to its European range, complementing listings in Switzerland, Paris, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt.

FCA’s easing of crypto investment restrictions

The launch comes shortly after the FCA lifted its four-year ban on crypto exchange-traded notes (ETNs) on 9 October 2025.

The regulator stated that UK investors could now access such products through approved exchanges, reflecting a broader acceptance of crypto-linked investment options.

The decision marks a turning point for crypto regulation in the UK.

It suggests a shift from outright restrictions to a more measured approach that balances investor protection with innovation.

The FCA’s announcement followed months of consultation with industry players and international regulators.

Expanding opportunities for asset managers and investors

BlackRock’s move is expected to encourage other global asset managers to follow suit, as the UK repositions itself as a hub for financial innovation post-Brexit.

The FCA’s approval has opened the door for firms such as VanEck, DWS, and WisdomTree to explore similar launches.

For retail investors, the product offers exposure to bitcoin’s price movements through a traditional investment wrapper.

It eliminates the need for managing crypto wallets and navigating unregulated exchanges, while allowing investment through familiar platforms.

The regulator’s decision also aligns with the UK Treasury’s ambition to make the country a global centre for digital assets.

It supports ongoing efforts to integrate blockchain into traditional finance, paving the way for tokenised funds and blockchain-based asset management in the future.

Crypto risks and the future of tokenisation in the UK

Despite the easing of rules, the FCA maintained that its ban on crypto derivatives for retail investors will remain.

While the ETP operates under a regulated structure, exposure to Bitcoin still carries the same volatility and market risks associated with the underlying asset.

In parallel, the UK is exploring broader blockchain adoption across financial services.

On 14 October 2025, the FCA announced new provisions allowing asset managers to use distributed ledger technology for fund tokenisation.

The move is intended to foster innovation and efficiency, signalling that the regulator sees long-term potential in blockchain applications beyond cryptocurrencies.

By facilitating regulated access to bitcoin and promoting tokenisation, the UK is gradually laying the groundwork for a digital financial ecosystem where traditional and decentralised finance coexist.

BlackRock’s ETP marks a key milestone in this transition, setting the stage for more institutional crypto products in one of the world’s leading financial markets.

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October 20, 2025