Current Cryptocurrency News as of October 28, 2025: Bitcoin Holds Firm, Altcoins Surge, Institutional Investors Re-enter the Market. Analysis of Trends, Macroeconomics, and the Top 10 Popular Cryptocurrencies.
Market Overview: Ongoing Stabilization
As of the morning of October 28, the cryptocurrency market shows signs of further stabilization following recent volatility. Bitcoin remains above the psychologically significant threshold of $110,000 and is attempting to extend its recovery—current levels are approximately 3% higher than a week ago. The total market capitalization of digital assets is approaching $4 trillion again, reflecting a gradual return in demand. Investors are cautiously optimistic: an improving macroeconomic backdrop (in anticipation of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut during its meeting on October 29) and easing geopolitical tensions are fostering a risk appetite. Leading altcoins are also on the mend: most coins in the top 10 are in the “green zone,” recovering 5-10% from mid-month lows.
Bitcoin: Holding Positions and Attempting Growth
The largest cryptocurrency, Bitcoin (BTC), is consolidating around $115,000 after experiencing a correction in mid-October. Earlier this month, BTC briefly peaked at a new all-time high (~$126,000) in light of the buzz surrounding the launch of the first spot ETF in the U.S., but a subsequent pullback occurred (down to ~$106,000 at its lowest). Currently, Bitcoin confidently holds above $110,000, demonstrating resilience: a key support level around $100,000 held firm during the sell-off, bolstering market participants' confidence. Although the current price is still approximately 8-9% below the record peak, the positive dynamics of recent days indicate attempts to return to an upward trend.
The fundamental metrics of the Bitcoin network remain strong. The total hashing power of the network is near all-time highs, reflecting miners' confidence and a lack of capitulation despite the recent price decline. Long-term investors have also capitalized on the correction: on-chain metrics show an increase in balances at major addresses, signaling accumulation during price dips. Ongoing institutional interest also supports BTC: the continued influx of funds into Bitcoin exchange-traded funds and large purchases by institutional players (such as the recent acquisition of 400 BTC by mining company Marathon Digital) affirm Bitcoin's status as "digital gold" and a hedge asset.
Ethereum: Resilience and Network Development
The second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, Ethereum (ETH), is exhibiting a similar recovery pattern. At the beginning of the month, ETH rose to ~$4,500, but the overall market correction lowered its price to around $3,900. Currently, Ethereum trades near ~$4,000, having regained some losses (approximately +4% over the week). Despite volatility, Ethereum firmly maintains its position as the foundational platform for decentralized finance (DeFi) and NFTs, with a market capitalization of around $480 billion.
Institutional interest in Ethereum remains high and even intensifying. On the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, open interest in ETH futures reached an all-time high, indicating expectations among large participants for further growth in Ether. Additionally, regulators have approved a number of investment products based on Ethereum in recent months— including funds tied to staking income from ETH— expanding large investors' access to this asset. Fundamental metrics of the network are also encouraging: the number of active Ethereum addresses consistently exceeds 600,000 daily, and over 35 million ETH (approximately 30% of the total supply) is staked in contracts. These factors uphold community confidence and enhance the perception of Ethereum as a long-term asset with significant growth potential.
Altcoins: Market Rebound and New Drivers
The broader altcoin market is gradually coming back to life after a mass sell-off in mid-October. Most leading coins are showing a strong rebound: investors are re-entering risk assets as uncertainty diminishes. Notably, Solana (SOL) has seen its price return to around $200 per coin due to a combination of overall market growth and positive news. The recent launch of the world's first spot ETF on Solana (on the exchange in Hong Kong) has increased project recognition and attracted additional attention. In this context, SOL has strengthened by approximately 8% in recent days. Overall, top altcoins—from XRP to Dogecoin—are trading positively, synchronously following the recovery of Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Some cryptocurrencies are showing additional growth drivers thanks to fundamental events. For instance, Ripple's token (XRP) is maintaining near multi-year highs (above $2.5) amidst ongoing institutional progress by Ripple: following its 2023 court victory against the SEC, the company is expanding partnerships with banks and is even seeking a banking license, strengthening confidence in XRP in the cross-border payments sector. Cardano (ADA), despite relatively restrained price dynamics (around $0.75 after a pullback), is also gaining attention due to recent technological updates (implementation of the Hydra scaling protocol and others), laying the groundwork for future ecosystem growth. Thus, the altcoin market at the end of October demonstrates a moderately positive sentiment, although volatility remains above average levels.
Market Leaders: Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies
- Bitcoin (BTC) – The first and largest cryptocurrency. Currently, BTC trades around $115,000 per coin, with a market capitalization exceeding $2.1 trillion. Bitcoin sets the tone for the entire crypto market and is viewed by investors as “digital gold”—a reliable asset for long-term value preservation.
- Ethereum (ETH) – The second-largest digital asset (~$4,000, cap. ≈ $480 billion). Ethereum is the primary platform for smart contracts, DeFi applications, and NFTs. The network's transition to a Proof-of-Stake mechanism and the accumulation of over 35 million ETH in staking bolster investor confidence, while the development of Layer 2 solutions enhances the ecosystem's scalability.
- Tether (USDT) – The largest stablecoin pegged to the US dollar 1:1 (market cap ~ $83 billion). USDT consistently trades at $1.00 and serves as a key source of liquidity in the crypto market, widely utilized for trading, settlements, and risk hedging.
- Binance Coin (BNB) – The native token of the largest crypto exchange Binance and the BNB Chain (~$1,150; cap. ~ $180 billion). BNB is used to pay fees and access services within the Binance ecosystem. Despite increased regulatory pressure on the industry, the BNB price has grown significantly over the year, and the coin continues to hold a position among market leaders due to its extensive use cases (exchange services, DeFi, etc.).
- Ripple (XRP) – The cryptocurrency of the Ripple payment network for global transfers (~$2.6; cap. ~ $125 billion). Following a significant court victory in 2023 that affirmed XRP's legal status in the U.S., interest from institutional players in the token has noticeably increased. XRP remains among the largest coins, maintaining strong positions in the cross-border payments segment due to fast and low-cost transactions.
- Solana (SOL) – The coin of the high-performance blockchain platform Solana (~$200; cap. ~ $78 billion). Solana offers high transaction speeds and low-operation costs, attracting numerous DeFi and NFT projects to its platform. The recent launch of the first ETF on SOL has increased investor interest in this coin, although its price volatility remains elevated.
- USD Coin (USDC) – The second-most significant stablecoin from Circle (cap. ~ $30 billion). USDC is fully backed by reserves and transparent to auditors. It consistently trades at $1.00 and is widely sought after by both institutional investors and the DeFi sector for reliable entry and exit into digital assets.
- Cardano (ADA) – The cryptocurrency of the Cardano platform, developed via a research-based approach (~$0.75; cap. ~ $26 billion). The project is regularly updated (e.g., the recent implementation of the Hydra protocol for scaling), strengthening the network's technological foundations. Although ADA's price growth has been modest recently, the coin maintains its place among the top ten due to its active community and long-term investor expectations.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) – The most well-known "meme" cryptocurrency (~$0.20; cap. ~ $28 billion). Originally created as a joke, today DOGE is supported by a loyal community and periodic attention from celebrities. Volatility in Dogecoin typically remains very high, yet this coin continues to hold a spot in the top ten, showing remarkable resilience in retail investor interest.
- TRON (TRX) – The token of the TRON blockchain platform (~$0.33; cap. ~ $30 billion). TRON is known for its high network throughput and is widely used for issuing stablecoins (a significant portion of USDT circulates on this blockchain). The popularity of the TRON ecosystem, especially in the Asian region, helps TRX remain among the market leaders by capitalization.
Institutional Investors and Market Sentiment
Following a summer influx of capital, institutional investors took a pause this fall amid market correction; however, by the end of October, interest from large players in cryptocurrencies is once again on the rise. Data from investment funds indicates that last week, after outflows in the first half of the month, a new influx of funds occurred: investors utilized the price decline to acquire Bitcoin and Ethereum at lower levels. The emergence of new exchange-traded products is also stimulating the influx of “smart money.” For instance, the launch of a spot ETF on BTC by BlackRock in early October attracted over $1.5 billion in the initial weeks of the fund’s operation, and following this, products based on altcoins (such as the recent launch of an ETF on Solana) began to appear on global exchanges. Large management companies, including Fidelity and Invesco, are awaiting decisions on their applications to launch their own crypto ETFs, including on Ethereum and other top-10 assets, indicating institutional investors' long-term strategy for entering the crypto sector.
Despite a spike in volatility in mid-month, market sentiment has significantly improved. The "fear and greed" index, which had dropped to the extreme fear zone (below 25 points) during the October collapse, has now risen to around 35, reflecting a shift in sentiment toward more neutral-optimistic. Major players, according to derivative market data, are once again opening long positions: open interest in Bitcoin futures and options has increased after the downturn, although it has not yet reached pre-correction peaks. Overall, institutional investors signal sustained confidence in the long-term potential of cryptocurrencies, viewing the current situation as an opportunity to build positions.
Regulation and Macroeconomics: Influencing Factors
External factors and regulatory news continue to play a significant role in the crypto market. The global regulatory environment is gradually improving: uniform MiCA rules are coming into effect in the European Union, aimed at ensuring transparency and investor protection in the crypto industry. In the U.S., lawmakers are advancing comprehensive cryptocurrency legislation that is expected to define the legal status of digital assets and simplify the launch of spot ETFs. Increased attention is also being placed on stablecoins—the first law regulating stablecoins was passed last summer, creating a foundation for overseeing this segment. Concurrently, security standards are being enhanced in the crypto industry: law enforcement is more actively curbing illegal operations, as evidenced by the recent largest seizure of illegally obtained crypto assets by the U.S. Department of Justice.
By the end of October, the macroeconomic situation is favoring risk assets, including cryptocurrencies. September inflation data in the U.S. came in lower than expected, which strengthened expectations for easing monetary policy. At the upcoming meeting on October 29, the Federal Reserve is expected, according to futures markets, to announce a 0.25% cut in the federal funds rate with a probability of over 90%. This will be the first rate cut of 2025 and a signal of a monetary policy shift, which typically supports prices for crypto assets. Investors are already pricing in this scenario: stock indices and cryptocurrencies have risen in anticipation of the Fed's decision. If the regulator meets these expectations and signals further easing, the crypto market may gain additional momentum for growth by the end of the year. Conversely, (a more hawkish stance or a pause in rate cuts) could lead to a short-term spike in volatility and strengthen the dollar, temporarily dampening enthusiasm in the digital asset market.
Cryptocurrency Market as of the Morning of October 28, 2025
Major cryptocurrency exchange rates:
- Bitcoin (BTC): $115,500
- Ethereum (ETH): $4,050
- XRP (XRP): $2.58
- BNB (BNB): $1,130
- Solana (SOL): $200
- Tether (USDT): ₽81.50
Market Indicators:
- Cryptocurrency market capitalization: ≈ $3.95 trillion
- Bitcoin market share: ~58%
- Fear and Greed Index: 35 (fear)
