Market Movement:

  • Bitcoin dropped below $110,000, triggering outflows from BlackRock's IBIT ETF, which saw a $290.8 million outflow on Thursday.
  • Ethereum and Solana ETFs attracted $200 million during their short debut week, indicating positive short-term inflows.
  • Total value lost to hacks in October was $18.18 million, marking an 85.7% decline from September’s $127.06 million, signaling reduced market risk.

Key Events:

  • Coinbase exceeded Q3 revenue expectations with $1.9 billion, driven by rebounding trading volumes and Ethereum L2 Base services.
  • BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF IBIT experienced a $290.8 million outflow as Bitcoin fell below $110,000, though it maintains $88 billion in cumulative inflows.
  • Grayscale forecasts 11 altcoins including XRP, Cardano, Avalanche, Chainlink, Bitcoin Cash, Shiba Inu, and Polkadot are set for SEC-approved expansion, indicating sector growth potential.

Trading Signals:

  • October’s decentralized exchange (DEX) trading volume surged past $1.36 trillion, up from $759 billion in August, with Hyperliquid leading at $299 billion and Lighter at $265.4 billion.
  • BlackRock’s IBIT ETF experienced significant outflows of $290.8 million, contrasting with positive inflows into spot Solana ETFs totaling $200 million.
  • The total stolen funds from crypto hacks in October dropped sharply to $18.18 million across 15 incidents, indicating reduced exploit activity.

Narrative Shifts:

  • Market focus is shifting toward on-chain finance, with DEX volumes reaching record highs, reflecting increased investor confidence in decentralized platforms.
  • Institutional interest remains strong as Coinbase’s Q3 results beat estimates, while ETF inflows and outflows highlight ongoing sector rotation.
  • Grayscale’s bullish outlook on altcoins and SEC expansion plans suggest a broader sector momentum toward regulated crypto assets.

Risk Alerts:

  • The sharp decline in hack-related losses to $18.18 million indicates reduced exploit activity but highlights ongoing cybersecurity threats.
  • ETF outflows, especially from BlackRock’s IBIT, reflect potential volatility and investor caution amid price fluctuations below $110,000.

Opportunities:

  • The upcoming SEC qualification for 11 altcoins presents growth opportunities in XRP, Cardano, Avalanche, Chainlink, and others.
  • The record DEX trading volume of $1.36 trillion signals a shift toward on-chain trading platforms, offering opportunities for liquidity providers.
  • Coinbase’s strong Q3 performance and Ethereum L2 Base expansion suggest potential upside in infrastructure and trading services.

Flows & Positioning

Coinbase's Q3 Performance and Bitcoin ETF Outflows

Coinbase reported a robust Q3 performance with $1.9 billion in revenue, exceeding expectations due to increased trading volumes and profitable services, including its Ethereum Layer 2 solution, Base. This strong financial showing comes amid a challenging environment for Bitcoin, which recently dipped below $110,000, contributing to significant outflows from BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF, IBIT, totaling $290.8 million. Despite these outflows, IBIT's cumulative inflows remain substantial at $88 billion, indicating ongoing institutional interest in Bitcoin. Coinbase's success highlights its strategic positioning as a key player in the crypto market, particularly as it continues to attract institutional clients.

Surge in DEX Trading Volumes and Institutional Interest

October witnessed a historic surge in trading volumes on decentralized exchanges (DEXs), surpassing $1.36 trillion, a significant increase from August's $759 billion peak. This shift indicates a growing investor confidence in on-chain finance, with platforms like Hyperliquid and Lighter leading the charge, processing $299 billion and $265.4 billion, respectively. As traditional exchanges face challenges, this trend towards DEXs may reshape market dynamics, attracting more institutional players seeking to capitalize on the volatility and liquidity of on-chain trading. The shift reflects a broader movement within the crypto ecosystem towards decentralized finance solutions.

XRP's Price Stability Amid ETF Optimism

XRP is currently holding above $2.50, showing resilience despite mixed market sentiment. The anticipation surrounding Bitwise's XRP spot ETF, which could attract significant institutional inflows, is contributing to a bullish outlook, although traders remain cautious ahead of a major token unlock event on November 1. Market analysts suggest that XRP's price movement will be influenced by the balance between ETF-driven optimism and the potential supply pressure from the escrow unlock. Should the ETF receive regulatory approval, it could significantly enhance liquidity and market depth for XRP.

Bitcoin's Price Action and Institutional Accumulation

Bitcoin is currently trading around $110,150, reflecting a modest gain of 0.72% over the past 24 hours. Analysts are closely watching the $100,000 support level, as a dip below this threshold could negatively impact market sentiment. Conversely, bullish momentum remains strong, with institutional players like Strategy Inc. confirming their commitment to Bitcoin accumulation. Strategy Inc. holds 640,808 BTC, valued at approximately $70.9 billion, and reported a 26% yield on its Bitcoin treasury in Q3.

This institutional backing reinforces confidence in Bitcoin's long-term trajectory, suggesting that the market may be poised for a rebound if it can maintain above critical support levels.

Corporate & Capital Markets

Coinbase Acquires BVNK for $2.5B

Coinbase is racing for stablecoin infrastructure, having entered into a deal to acquire BVNK for $2.5 billion. This move is seen as a significant step in the evolution of crypto services, potentially positioning Coinbase as a major player in the stablecoin market.

Ripple Plans to Monetize 35.9B XRP in Escrow

Ripple has announced a new plan to monetize 35.9 billion XRP held in escrow. This strategy is aimed at addressing inflation concerns and restoring confidence in the XRP ecosystem.

Lenskart IPO Planned for Early Next Month

Lenskart is planning to list its IPO early next month in Mumbai. This move indicates a significant step for the company in the public market.

On-Chain & Network

Crypto Hacks Decline Significantly in October 2025

The cryptocurrency market saw a notable decrease in the total value lost to hacks and exploits, with only $18.18 million stolen across 15 incidents in October 2025. This figure marks an 85.7% decline from the $127.06 million reported in September. The largest hacks of the month were attributed to Garden Finance, Typus Finance, and Abracadabra, which together accounted for $16.2 million of the total stolen funds, indicating a concentrated risk in specific projects.

Cardano's DeFi Growth and Governance Strength Highlighted

Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, addressed criticisms regarding the network’s total value locked (TVL) and its relatively slow growth in decentralized finance (DeFi). He emphasized that while Cardano's DeFi activity lags behind leading blockchains like Ethereum and Solana, the numbers do not fully reflect the network's broader participation and governance capabilities. Hoskinson also challenged the notion that the introduction of major stablecoins like USDT or USDC would automatically enhance Cardano's DeFi ecosystem, suggesting a more nuanced approach is necessary for growth.

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