Cryptocurrency News October 24, 2025 - Bitcoin, Ethereum, and DeFi Growth

Current Cryptocurrency News as of October 24, 2025: Bitcoin Holds Key Level of $110K, Ethereum Volatility Post-ETF Launch, Altcoins on the Rise, Top 10 Popular Cryptocurrencies

As of the morning of October 24, 2025, the cryptocurrency market is showing relative stability following the tumultuous growth of the previous months. The price of Bitcoin, which peaked at around $125,000 in August, is currently holding in the vicinity of $110,000, maintaining the overall cryptocurrency market capitalization around the $4 trillion mark. Following Bitcoin, the largest altcoins, led by Ethereum, are demonstrating high volatility; despite recent corrections, many digital assets in the top 10 continue to show growth compared to the beginning of the year. Investors, including institutional players, maintain active interest in cryptocurrencies against the backdrop of moderately positive sentiment, a favorable macroeconomic environment, and gradual improvements in industry regulation.

Bitcoin Holds Key Level

In mid-August, Bitcoin (BTC) reached an all-time high, hitting about $125,000 (the previous record of approximately $123,000 was registered a month earlier). After a brief spike above $125,000, a moderate correction followed, and Bitcoin is now trading around $110,000. Nevertheless, the current BTC price is significantly above the start-of-year levels and approximately aligns with the values from a week ago. The market capitalization of BTC now exceeds $2.3 trillion, accounting for about 57% of the total cryptocurrency market capitalization.

Experts note that the ongoing high valuation of Bitcoin is supported by a combination of macroeconomic and regulatory factors. In the United States, there is a more favorable cryptocurrency policy: the Trump administration initiated the establishment of a strategic Bitcoin reserve in the spring and allowed 401(k) retirement plans to invest a portion of their funds in digital assets. Additionally, U.S. lawmakers are advancing the first comprehensive cryptocurrency regulatory law, which will provide even greater clarity for the market in the future. These steps have boosted investor confidence in BTC as a safe asset. Additional impetus for the market is provided by demand from large public companies—such as MicroStrategy, led by Michael Saylor, which continues to increase its BTC reserves, signaling institutional interest. Meanwhile, other regions are creating favorable conditions: the European Union is implementing the MiCA regulatory framework, which establishes uniform rules for the crypto industry and encourages the influx of institutional capital.

Ethereum Volatile Post-ETF

Ethereum (ETH) also showed significant growth earlier, although its price dynamics were accompanied by heightened volatility. At its peak, Ethereum's price soared to approximately $4,900, closely approaching its all-time high of $4,890 set in November 2021. Over the past weeks, ETH has traded within a range around $4,000, experiencing alternating rises and pullbacks; its current value is approximately $3,900. Ethereum remains the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, valued at around $500 billion.

Institutional interest in Ethereum also remains high. In the U.S., the first spot ETFs for Ethereum emerged in 2024, and this fall regulators approved new investment products based on Ethereum (including a fund linked to ETH staking). These actions have significantly broadened access to Ethereum for large players and increased its attractiveness as an asset. As a result, capital inflow into Ethereum continues: over the past weeks, total capital inflow into Ether ETFs has reached several billion dollars, significantly outpacing the same figure for Bitcoin funds. Strong institutional interest indicates confidence in the long-term prospects of the smart contract platform, especially following the successful launch of exchange-traded funds based on Ethereum.

Altcoins on the Rise

The broader altcoin market supports the overall upward trend. Prices of most major cryptocurrencies excluding Bitcoin have risen by 5-10% over the past weeks. The total market capitalization of altcoins (excluding BTC) exceeds $1.7 trillion, reflecting the inflow of new funds into the sector. Bitcoin's dominance in the market has slightly declined as investors actively diversify their holdings towards alternative digital assets.

Several altcoins are approaching their own record levels. For instance, XRP, the token from Ripple, is trading near multi-year highs after significant growth this year. Investors reacted positively to the resolution of a long-standing legal dispute in the U.S. regarding XRP's legal status, which has returned this altcoin to the top three in market capitalization. Additionally, Ripple's plans to enter the banking market (including an application for a banking license) enhance optimism regarding XRP's long-term demand. Solana (SOL) also stands out: its price reached a peak not seen since 2022 in early October—fueled by expectations surrounding the launch of an ETF on SOL and the growth of the ecosystem of projects based on this high-performance blockchain platform.

Ripple Seeks Banking License

The cryptocurrency XRP has once again come into the spotlight due to activities by Ripple. Recently, Ripple applied for a banking license, which is now under review by regulators. If approved, the company will become one of the first in the industry to achieve full bank status, potentially opening new opportunities for integrating digital assets into the traditional financial system. The market reacted sharply to this news: in the last 24 hours, XRP has increased by more than 10%, climbing to around $3—the highest level since early 2018. Many analysts believe that Ripple's entry into the banking sector will boost confidence in its technology and expand the use of XRP in global payments.

Institutional Participation Grows

One of the key trends in the cryptocurrency market remains the increasing institutional involvement. The launch of the first spot ETFs for Bitcoin and Ethereum in the U.S. has significantly simplified access for large players to digital assets. Even after the recent correction, capital inflow into crypto funds remains active. Total investments in Ethereum ETFs over the past months amount to billions of dollars, while investments in Bitcoin funds total hundreds of millions, indicating continued interest in cryptocurrencies from asset managers, hedge funds, and even pension plans. Traditional financial institutions continue to view cryptocurrencies as a promising asset class and are steadily increasing their allocation in investment portfolios.

Furthermore, regulators are reviewing new applications to launch exchange-traded funds for other cryptocurrencies. In October, decisions from the U.S. SEC are expected on a number of instruments, including the conversion of the XRP trust from Grayscale into an ETF and the spot ETF for Solana—highlighting the expansion of institutional products in the market. Concurrently, in Europe, the offering of crypto instruments is growing: for instance, on October 24, another exchange-traded product (ETP) based on Bitcoin from iShares will begin trading on the London Stock Exchange, indicating strong global demand for cryptocurrency investments.

Market Sentiment and Volatility

The rapid price movements of the past months have been accompanied by increased short-term volatility. The "fear and greed" index for cryptocurrencies currently stands at around 55 points, indicating a state of moderate greed—significantly lower than extreme values observed at the peak of the summer rally. This suggests that following a period of euphoria, investor sentiment has somewhat cooled, and market participants have become more cautious. Historically, such high readings on the greed index have preceded corrections—which has been confirmed in the current cycle. Experts warn that euphoria may be followed by profit-taking: it is important to exercise caution and establish risk limits when trading. The recent correction was indeed accompanied by a wave of forced liquidations on exchanges. During the last pullback, the total liquidation volume in a single day exceeded $500 million— a significant portion of which came from "longs" (margin bets on growth). This episode underscored the risks for traders using excessive leverage.

Forecasts and Expectations

Despite the recent correction, many analysts remain bullish and predict a market resurgence. Major financial organizations maintain high price targets: for instance, Standard Chartered Bank still expects Bitcoin's price to reach $200,000, and Ethereum's to hit $7,500 by the end of 2025. If these expectations materialize, Bitcoin and Ethereum both have the potential for significant growth from current levels. A number of experts believe that the cryptocurrency market is entering a "second phase" of a bull cycle: after reaching new peaks and an intermediate correction, a phase of consolidation is likely, but in the medium term, the trend remains upward, assuming a favorable economic backdrop. It is noteworthy that some market participants had predicted the current price levels in advance—for example, a year ago, the investment fund Pantera Capital forecast approximately $120,000 for BTC by August 2025, and this prediction largely came to fruition. Overall, with sustained institutional interest and stable macro conditions, most specialists expect further increases in cryptocurrency market capitalization by the end of 2025 and into 2026.

Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies

1. Bitcoin (BTC) — the first and largest cryptocurrency. BTC is trading around $110,000 following a correction from its recent record high; market capitalization exceeds $2.3 trillion (≈57% of the entire market).
2. Ethereum (ETH) — the leading altcoin and smart contract platform. ETH is priced at approximately $3,900, below its historical peaks; capitalization around $500 billion (≈13% of the market).
3. Tether (USDT) — the largest stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar 1:1. USDT is widely used for trading and settlements, with a capitalization of about $160 billion; the token maintains a stable price of $1.00.
4. Ripple (XRP) — the token of the Ripple payment network for cross-border settlements. XRP is trading around $2.8, with a market capitalization of about $170 billion. Investors positively assess the legal clarity of XRP's status in the U.S. and Ripple's efforts to obtain a banking license, which supports the token's position in the top three.
5. Binance Coin (BNB) — the coin of the largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance and the native token of the BNB Chain. BNB is valued above $700 (market capitalization around $100 billion). Despite regulatory pressure on Binance, the token remains in the top five due to its wide range of applications on the exchange and in DeFi.
6. Solana (SOL) — a high-performance blockchain platform for decentralized applications. SOL is trading around $200 per coin (market capitalization around $100 billion), recovering to 2022 levels. Interest in Solana is fueled by expectations surrounding the launch of an ETF and the growth of the ecosystem of projects based on it.
7. USD Coin (USDC) — the second-largest stablecoin backed by dollar reserves (Circle). USDC's price is maintained at $1.00, with a capitalization of around $64 billion. USDC is widely used by institutional investors and DeFi protocols due to the transparency of its reserves.
8. Cardano (ADA) — a blockchain platform emphasizing a scientific approach to development. ADA is priced at approximately $1.10 (capitalization ~$35 billion) following a recent price jump. Cardano is attracting attention due to plans to launch its own ETF and its active community, which believes in the project's long-term growth.
9. TRON (TRX) — a platform for smart contracts and multimedia dApps, popular in Asia. TRX is trading around $0.32; market capitalization ~$29 billion. TRON maintains its presence in the top 10 partly due to its use for issuing stablecoins (a significant portion of USDT circulates on the Tron blockchain).
10. Dogecoin (DOGE) — the most well-known meme cryptocurrency, originally created as a joke. DOGE holds near $0.18 (capitalization ~$27 billion), supported by community loyalty and sporadic celebrity attention. Although Dogecoin's volatility is high, it remains in the top ten, demonstrating remarkable resilience of investor interest.

Cryptocurrency Market as of the Morning of October 24, 2025

Major Cryptocurrency Prices:

• Bitcoin (BTC): $110,200
• Ethereum (ETH): $3,910
• XRP (XRP): $3.05
• BNB (BNB): $730
• Solana (SOL): $192
• Tether (USDT): 80.50 ₽

Market Metrics:

• Cryptocurrency Market Capitalization: $3.85 trillion
• Bitcoin's Dominance: 56.3%
• Fear and Greed Index: 55 (Moderate Greed)

Leaders in Change over the Last Day:

• Growth: Chainlink (LINK) — +4.5%
• Drop: Sui (SUI) — -7%

Analysis: Bitcoin and Ethereum are showing relative stability near current levels, while the "greed" index is lower than in previous months, reflecting a partial cooling of market sentiment. The rise of LINK indicates local inflow of investor interest, whereas the drop in SUI may be associated with profit-taking or a lack of positive news regarding the project.