XRP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>) is up 3% to $2.46 on Monday, recovering from a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/ripple-xrp-price-prediction">three-week slump</a> that wiped out almost 30% of its value as derivatives activity spiked sharply.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Whales Return As XRP Outflows Finally Slow</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="252" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20074021/image-499-1024x252.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1121879" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20074021/image-499-1024x252.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20074021/image-499-300x74.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20074021/image-499-768x189.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20074021/image-499-1536x378.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20074021/image-499.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<a href="https://www.coinglass.com/currencies/XRP/spot">XRP Netflows (Source: Coinglass)</a>



After two weeks of relentless redemptions, XRP's bleeding phase appears to be cooling.&nbsp;



Data from Coinglass shows cumulative spot outflows of more than $350 million in the first half of October have now reversed into modest inflows totaling $9 million this week.



Whale accumulation has returned, with $6.4 million in inflows recorded on Oct. 20 alone, hinting that large holders are repositioning ahead of upcoming ETF-related developments. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">XRP Futures And Options Activity Explodes To Record Levels</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2048" height="956" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20074116/xrp-derivatives-20th-oct.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1121881" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20074116/xrp-derivatives-20th-oct.png 2048w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20074116/xrp-derivatives-20th-oct-300x140.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20074116/xrp-derivatives-20th-oct-1024x478.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20074116/xrp-derivatives-20th-oct-768x359.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20074116/xrp-derivatives-20th-oct-1536x717.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /></figure>



<a href="https://www.coinglass.com/currencies/XRP/futures">XRP Derivative Analysis (Source: Coinglass)</a>



Open interest in XRP futures rose 3.8% over the past day to $3.68 billion, while options open interest spiked nearly 91% to about $500 million.



Daily options volume also jumped 132%, marking one of the steepest activity surges since July.&nbsp;



Binance's long-short ratio remains above 2.6, showing traders are leaning bullish despite broader market caution.



Traders say this setup mirrors a "coiled volatility" phase, where leveraged positions amplify both breakout potential and downside risk if the price fails to hold key support.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Technical Picture At A Crossroads</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2048" height="1387" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20074128/xrp-20th-oct.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1121882" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20074128/xrp-20th-oct.png 2048w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20074128/xrp-20th-oct-300x203.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20074128/xrp-20th-oct-1024x694.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20074128/xrp-20th-oct-768x520.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20074128/xrp-20th-oct-1536x1040.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /></figure>



<a href="https://in.tradingview.com/symbols/XRPUSD/">XRP Price Analysis (Source: TradingView)</a>



Technical Analysis: On the daily chart, XRP trades inside a contracting triangle pattern with clear resistance between $2.75 and $2.80, coinciding with the 50-day and 100-day EMAs.&nbsp;



The $2.35 level serves as critical trendline support.



A sustained breakout above $2.80 would likely open the path toward $3.20, aligning with the upper Bollinger Band and descending trendline from the July high.&nbsp;



Conversely, a failure to maintain $2.35 could trigger a drop toward $2.10, where historical demand reemerges.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">ETF Decision Could Be Catalyst For XRP's Next Big Move</h3>



Market watchers note that XRP's volatility contraction, coupled with surging derivatives positioning, points to an imminent decisive move.



If whale inflows persist and the long-awaited ETF <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48252823/xrp-awaits-etf-decisions-is-a-push-to-3-coming">decision</a> resumes after the U.S. government shutdown, XRP could reclaim its bullish momentum toward $3.20–$3.30.&nbsp;



For now, technicals remain balanced — firm support at $2.35 against mounting speculative bets that could either fuel a breakout or intensify a reversal.



Read Next: 



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Image: Shutterstock

XRP Spikes 3%: Are $9 Million In Whale Inflows Driving The Reversal?

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Snapshot:</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>With network hashrates hitting all-time highs and transaction fee income sinking, Bitcoin miners are being squeezed from both ends. </li>



<li>A growing share of BTC is now sitting idle in ETFs and corporate balance sheets, creating a liquidity drought that threatens the long-term sustainability of Bitcoin's miner-enabled economy.</li>
</ul>



Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) miners are discovering an uncomfortable truth: more work doesn&#8217;t necessarily mean more reward. Network difficulty – the metric that governs how hard it is to unlock new coins – has hit fresh highs, just as activity on the blockchain slows to a crawl. The result is a system running at full tilt that offers its key stakeholders less and less.



The economics are deteriorating. Jefferies <a href="https://x.com/SAFEX_Exchange/status/1967947164124057812" rel="nofollow">estimates</a> that miner profitability slipped by around 5% between July and September. Transaction-fee income, once a decent supplement to block rewards, has fallen <a href="https://ycharts.com/indicators/bitcoin_total_transaction_fees_per_day" rel="nofollow">below $500,000 a day</a>. With Bitcoin's price retreating from its mid-August highs and electricity costs rising at twice the pace of consumer inflation, margins are being eroded from both ends. What was once a feverish marketplace now resembles a half-abandoned factory: the machinery still hums, but <a href="https://x.com/AvgJoesCrypto/status/1966917724228968898" rel="nofollow">commerce is thin</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">More hash, less cash</h2>



Rising hashrates normally point to rising <a href="https://mempool.space" rel="nofollow">network security</a>. They can also signal desperation. Miners have sunk vast sums into specialized ASICS hardware, much of it financed with debt. Investors expect the machines to keep humming, but as hashrates surge, so does competition for dwindling returns. Each participant hopes rivals will quit first; few can afford to blink. This is less a gold rush than a stand-off in a trench.



Electricity, the industry's largest cost component, rose by <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm" rel="nofollow">6.2% year-on-year</a> in August. With Bitcoin itself drifting lower, miners are increasingly reliant on fee income to plug the gap. Yet that stream is drying up as coins disappear into treasuries and financial products.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A hoarded currency</h2>



Satoshi's original white paper imagined a peer-to-peer cash system. Today, nearly 5% of all coins are <a href="https://www.coingecko.com/en/treasuries/bitcoin" rel="nofollow">held by corporate treasuries and ETFs</a> – over 1m tokens that generate no activity, no fees, and no economic circulation. Listed firms brag about their Bitcoin reserves as a badge of technological daring. ETF sponsors sell it to retail investors as "digital gold". In practice, hoarded Bitcoin behaves more like museum bullion than circulating money.



Strikingly, <a href="https://studio.glassnode.com/charts/transactions.TransfersVolumeMinersNet" rel="nofollow">miners themselves</a> are building up BTC treasuries. MARA Holdings, Riot Platforms, and CleanSpark have all added to their reserves in recent weeks. Whether this is confidence or denial is unclear. Stockpiling coins while complaining about low liquidity is a curious business strategy – but perhaps a rational one in a market that rewards narrative as much as cash flow.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Suppliers under strain</h2>



Miners aren&#8217;t the only players feeling the pinch. Bitmain, the dominant maker of mining rigs, has seen <a href="https://theminermag.com/news/2025-08-14/abtc-bitcoin-bitmain" rel="nofollow">US orders slow</a>. To keep its machines earning, it has ventured into hosting and co-location schemes overseas. Not all have gone to plan. A <a href="https://x.com/TheMinerMag_/status/1965768884604359019" rel="nofollow">lawsuit in Texas</a> against ORB Energy, a bankrupt former client, has exposed contractual knots and allegations of misappropriated Bitcoin. As margins thin, disputes over ownership of hardware and hashpower are becoming more common. A fragile supply chain is showing signs of stress.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Politics enters the mine</h2>



The Trump administration wants the US to be the <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/a-false-start-on-the-road-to-an-all-american-bitcoin/" rel="nofollow">world's mining hub</a>, and Washington is beginning to view Bitcoin infrastructure as strategically sensitive. Bitmain has responded by localizing manufacturing to appease regulators. Yet suspicion lingers. Zachary Nunn, a Republican congressman, has called for a review of <a href="https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025/09/gop-lawmaker-calls-for-probe-of-chinese-bitcoin-mining-firms-00552663" rel="nofollow">foreign-linked mining firms</a> by America's investment-screening body. His concern is not environmental or financial, but geopolitical: if control of mining capacity implies influence over the network, then foreign ownership becomes a matter of national interest. A subculture once obsessed with libertarian autonomy now finds itself treated like a critical utility.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The take away</h2>



The contradiction at the heart of Bitcoin mining is becoming harder to ignore. Miners are essential to the network, yet the network increasingly <a href="https://www.nicehash.com/profitability-calculator" rel="nofollow">fails to reward them</a>. Rising difficulty and falling fees produce an economy where toil does not translate into profit. The coming "halving", which will cut block rewards again, threatens to tighten the noose further.



Some miners hope to diversify into energy trading or grid balancing to cushion the blow. Others bet that price appreciation will outrun operational decline. But hope is not a business model. For now, mining resembles a treadmill: more work, less reward, no exit.



Bitcoin has always marketed itself as digital gold. In the late stages of the first gold rush, the main winners were <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/goldrush-samuel-brannan/" rel="nofollow">suppliers of shovels and tents</a>. In Bitcoin's version, even they are starting to struggle.



Benzinga Disclaimer: This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga&#8217;s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

Bitcoin Miners Struggle As Corporate Hoarding Dries Up Fee Revenue — Nearly 1 Million BTC Now Locked In Treasuries, Undermining Network Economics

The weekend was buzzing with significant developments in the cryptocurrency world. From Ripple Labs&#8217; ambitious $1 billion fundraising initiative to bold Bitcoin predictions by Mexico&#8217;s third-richest person and a crypto-focused political agenda, the crypto space continues to evolve at a rapid pace.



Here&#8217;s a quick recap of the top stories.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ripple Labs Spearheads $1 Billion Fundraise</h2>



Blockchain firm&nbsp;Ripple Labs&nbsp;is reportedly leading a $1 billion fundraising effort to establish a treasury focused on XRP. The funds, to be raised via a special purpose acquisition company, will be transferred to a newly formed digital-asset treasury. Ripple Labs will also contribute some of its own XRP to the treasury.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48269320/ripple-labs-is-leading-a-1-billion-fundraise-to-establish-xrp-centered-treasury-report">Read the full article here.</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bitcoin To Outperform Gold, Predicts Mexico&#8217;s Third Richest Person</h2>



Ricardo Salinas Pliego, Mexico&#8217;s third-richest person, has made a bold prediction that Bitcoin will increase by at least fourteen times and ultimately surpass gold in value. Salinas made this forecast in response to gold&#8217;s historic achievement of reaching a market capitalization of $30 trillion.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48267611/bitcoin-will-outperform-gold-after-jumping-14x-predicts-mexicos-3rd-richest-person-bookmark-this-post">Read the full article here.</a>



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48252823/xrp-awaits-etf-decisions-is-a-push-to-3-coming" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">XRP Awaits ETF Decisions: Is A Push To $3 Coming?</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tom Lee And Arthur Hayes Remain Bullish On Bitcoin, Ethereum</h2>



Tom Lee, chair of BitMine Immersion Technologies Inc, and BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes have reiterated their bullish year-end targets for Bitcoin and Ethereum. They highlighted Bitcoin&#8217;s recent all-time highs and discussed the market dynamics in a recent episode of the Bankless podcast.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48231985/tom-lee-stays-bullish-bitcoin-to-250000-ethereum-to-10000-in-2025">Read the full article here.</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Peter Schiff Warns Of Imminent Bitcoin, Ethereum Crash</h2>



Veteran gold advocate Peter Schiff has warned of an impending collapse across the broader crypto market as Bitcoin broke to $106,000. Schiff noted that Bitcoin has lost 34% of its value relative to gold since its August all-time high, suggesting a potential deepening of the downtrend.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48283226/peter-schiff-says-bitcoin-ethereum-crash-is-imminent-but-how-much-worse-can-it-get">Read the full article here.</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Donald Trump And Nigel Farage: The New Crypto Champions?</h2>



The race for crypto dominance has entered politics, with U.S. President Donald Trump and Reform U.K.'s leader Nigel Farage both pitching bold visions to make their nations the global hub for digital assets. Farage outlined plans to create a "state-owned Bitcoin reserve" and introduce a new crypto bill to cut capital gains tax and allow taxes to be paid in digital assets.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48250159/donald-trump-said-they-call-me-the-bitcoin-president-is-britains-nigel-farage-about-to-become-a-crypto-champion">Read the full article here.</a>



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48260371/trump-family-reportedly-1-billion-in-profit-from-crypto-ventures" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Family Reportedly Makes $1 Billion In Profit From Crypto Ventures</a></li>
</ul>



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Image via Shutterstock

Weekend Round-Up: Ripple's $1 Billion Fundraise, Bitcoin's Bold Predictions And Crypto's Political Champions

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48292531/bitcoins-odds-of-dipping-below-100000-this-month-stand-at-52-says-polymarket">Prediction market Polymarket</a> now gives higher odds of confirmed alien existence this year than Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) reaching $200,000, a data quirk that's sparking debate across crypto and prediction circles.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Polymarket Bets On Extraterrestrials Over Bitcoin</h3>



According to Polymarket data, traders <a href="https://polymarket.com/event/will-the-us-confirm-that-aliens-exist-in-2025?tid=1760752009400">assign</a> a 6% probability that the United States confirms extraterrestrial life in 2025, versus just 5% odds that Bitcoin hits $200,000 before year-end.



In other words, the market currently believes an alien sighting is slightly more plausible than a doubling in Bitcoin's price over the next ten weeks.&nbsp;



Polymarket's "alien confirmation" contract has attracted nearly $4 million in trading volume, with prices trending lower since midyear.



It's the only market where Elon Musk, Satoshi Nakamoto, and little green men compete for the same headline.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bitcoin Price Struggles To Hold Key $107,000 Support</h3>



Bitcoin trades near $108,000, hovering above its $104,000–$105,000 demand zone after slipping below major EMAs clustered around $113,700–$114,400. 



The breakdown from $126,000 earlier this month pushed price under both its ascending trendline and long-term structural support, leaving the chart vulnerable to a retest of $96,000–$92,000.



The RSI at 36 shows mildly oversold conditions, but selling momentum remains intact.&nbsp;



For bulls, reclaiming the $113,000–$114,500 resistance zone is key to restoring any near-term optimism.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">On-Chain Data Shows Bitcoin Outflows Easing&nbsp;</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="248" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/18135558/image-477-1024x248.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1120874" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/18135558/image-477-1024x248.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/18135558/image-477-300x73.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/18135558/image-477-768x186.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/18135558/image-477-1536x371.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/18135558/image-477.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<a href="https://www.coinglass.com/currencies/BTC/spot">BTC Netflows (Source: Coinglass)</a>



Fresh exchange data suggests outflows remain heavy but are showing signs of moderation.&nbsp;



On October 18, netflows recorded a $46.05 million outflow, smaller than the billion-dollar wave seen earlier in the week, according to Coinglass.



The figure comes after nearly $1.6 billion in cumulative outflows across five sessions, a sequence that pressured Bitcoin into its current consolidation zone.&nbsp;



ETF volumes have cooled, and funding rates remain slightly negative, reinforcing defensive positioning across derivatives markets.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Why It Matters</h3>



Polymarket's alien-versus-Bitcoin odds show how speculation thrives when fundamentals weaken.



This bizarre pricing highlights traders' growing preference for narratives over numbers.



It reveals a market psychology where disbelief in assets rivals belief in the extraordinary.



Such sentiment extremes often precede major pivots in both risk appetite and asset direction.



Read next: 



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</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Aliens Are More Likely Than $200,000 Bitcoin In 2025, Polymarket Odds Say

YouTube sensation&nbsp;MrBeast&nbsp;has submitted a trademark application for a cryptocurrency exchange and payment service, expanding his footprint in the digital finance landscape.



Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, has filed a trademark for MrBeast Financial. The application suggests that the trademark will be utilized for a downloadable app providing cryptocurrency exchange and payment processing services.



The <a href="https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=99440901&amp;caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&amp;caseType=DEFAULT&amp;searchType=statusSearch">application </a>also includes services like investment banking,&nbsp;insurance, financial wellness education, microfinance&nbsp;lending, and the &#8220;financial&nbsp;exchange of cryptocurrency via decentralized&nbsp;exchanges (DEXs).&#8221;



However, to link his financial brand&nbsp;to a crypto exchange or&nbsp;payments platform, MrBeast will&nbsp;have to register as a&nbsp;Money Services Business with FinCEN and&nbsp;obtain&nbsp;approval from the SEC or Commodities and&nbsp;Futures Trading Commission.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/entertainment/25/09/47907253/inside-mrbeasts-5-billion-generosity-machine-and-the-hidden-costs-behind-it">Inside MrBeast&#8217;s $5 Billion Generosity Machine — and the Hidden Costs Behind It</a>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">MrBeast just filed trademark to offer crypto services through his new venture MrBeast Financial. FYI, the guy has 446 million subscribers. <a href="https://t.co/f1RKDMHN9N">pic.twitter.com/f1RKDMHN9N</a>&mdash; Lark Davis (@TheCryptoLark) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheCryptoLark/status/1979159791080526299?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



With a massive following of 446 million subscribers on YouTube, MrBeast is not new to the crypto universe. He has been active in the sector&nbsp;since at least 2021, investing&nbsp;in startups and making significant NFT acquisitions.



The recent trademark application was submitted&nbsp;last week by Donaldson's Beast&nbsp;Holdings parent company and is still awaiting assignment to an examiner. 



If approved, it will add to the&nbsp;portfolio of 52 different trademarks&nbsp;owned by his company.



MrBeast&#8217;s move into the crypto space is a significant development, given his massive online following. His venture into cryptocurrency exchange and payment services could potentially influence his millions of subscribers and further mainstream the use of digital currencies. 



However, the regulatory hurdles he needs to overcome underline the complexities and challenges of operating within the crypto industry.



Read Next



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Image via Shutterstock

YouTube Celebrity MrBeast Dives Deeper Into Crypto With New Trademark Filing

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) has a 52% chance of falling below $100,000 this month, according to data from prediction platform Polymarket.



Bitcoin&#8217;s price has been on a downward trend, returning to levels unseen in months. Polymarket&#8217;s&nbsp;data reveals a growing belief&nbsp;among traders that Bitcoin&nbsp;could be on the brink&nbsp;of a major correction.



The bearish prediction has sparked discussions across the crypto community, with the data also showing&nbsp;a 39% surge in bearish&nbsp;sentiment. 



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">BREAKING: Bitcoin projected to crash below $100k this month. <a href="https://t.co/dqusTfTElS">pic.twitter.com/dqusTfTElS</a>&mdash; Polymarket (@Polymarket) <a href="https://twitter.com/Polymarket/status/1979153959374733515?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



As per <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/bitcoin/">data</a>, Bitcoin&#8217;s price has shown no signs of recovery, with bulls exiting the market amid increasing uncertainties.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48033619/bitcoin-soars-to-unprecedented-heights-breaking-125000-barrier">Bitcoin Soars To Unprecedented Heights, Breaking $125,000 Barrier</a>



Earlier in October, Bitcoin had hit a new all-time high of $126,198, but it failed to maintain&nbsp;its bullish momentum into the&nbsp;second week of the month. The market flipped bearish following a significant crash on October 10.



Despite the discouraging price trend,&nbsp;institutional investors like Michael Saylor's&nbsp;Strategy continue to accumulate Bitcoin, albeit at a reduced volume due to the declining price trend. 



Analysts warn&nbsp;that if Bitcoin breaks below&nbsp;the $100,000 level, it could&nbsp;trigger further liquidations, adding more&nbsp;selling pressure to an already&nbsp;fragile market.



At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at $106,969.04, down by almost 5% in the last seven days. 



Read Next



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/08/47174876/could-bitcoin-really-hit-280000-in-2025-this-legendary-trader-thinks-so" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Could Bitcoin Really Hit $280,000 in 2025? This Legendary Trader Thinks So</a>

Bitcoin's Odds Of Dipping Below $100,000 This Month Stand At 52%, Says Polymarket

Litecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ltc/usd">LTC</a>) could soon see its exchange-traded fund debut on Wall Street, but creator Charlie Lee said it was a "headache" and wished he hadn't gone through with it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Don&#8217;t Do Anything Else But Buy Bitcoin, Says Lee</h2>



During an interview with&nbsp;CoinDesk&nbsp;that aired Sept. 30,&nbsp;Lee was asked for advice he would give to his younger self.



My advice for myself would just to be, I think this would be surprising to a lot of people, but which is to buy Bitcoin, store it away, don&#8217;t sell anything and don&#8217;t do anything else related to crypto. Just sit on it and be anonymous,&#8221; Lee replied.



Lee, a former Google employee, disclosed that creating Litecoin did not make him&nbsp;more money and was &#8220;a lot of headache.&#8221;



&#8220;I really envy Satoshi [Nakamoto] sometimes for what he was able to do, hopefully still alive. But being able to walk away and still no one knows who you are is powerful,&#8221; he added.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="If Bitcoin Is for the &#039;Kings,&#039; Is Litecoin for the People? &#x7C; CoinDesk Spotlight With Charlie Lee" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_-E8cmEcmEM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>







<h2 class="wp-block-heading">&#8216;Silver To Bitcoin&#8217;s Gold&#8217;</h2>



Lee revealed that the idea behind creating LTC in 2011 was to create a &#8220;silver&#8221; to Bitcoin&#8217;s (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) &#8220;gold.&#8221;



&#8220;And it&#8217;s the case right now where there are a lot of people using Litecoin because it&#8217;s easier to use. It has faster transactions, lower fees, so for everyday purchases,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Bitcoin is currency for kings and Litecoin is currency for the people.&#8221;



It&#8217;s worth noting that LTC is the most used cryptocurrency for transactions, <a href="https://www.bitpay.com/stats">according </a>to cryptocurrency service provider BitPay, accounting for over 30% of the market in August.



 See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44621245/gold-backed-cryptos-match-yellow-metals-highs-following-trumps-liberation-day-shock"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/bitcoin-price-prediction-oct-14">Bitcoin (BTC) Price Predictions: 2025, 2026, 2030</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Anticipation For LTC ETFs</h2>



Litecoin, whose core technology is also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/22/01/22155866/exclusive-dogecoin-co-creator-billy-markus-on-the-negatives-of-cryptocurrency-nfts-and-elo">employed</a> in Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>), has evolved into a speculative and investment tool today, with a market capitalization of over $7 billion.



Moreover, leading asset managers such as&nbsp;Grayscale,&nbsp;CoinShares&nbsp;and Canary Capital have filed applications to bring LTC ETFs to Wall Street, positioning it on par with&nbsp;Bitcoin&nbsp;and&nbsp;Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>).



Price Action: At the time of writing, LTC was exchanging hands at $2.97, up 3.85% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>. Year-to-date, the coin was down 8.68%.



BTC traded down 1.06% to $111.057 at last check.



Photo Courtesy: alfernec on Shutterstock.com



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48229271/scott-bessent-says-its-china-versus-the-world-then-whys-bitcoin-down-to-111000">Scott Bessent Says It&#8217;s &#8216;China Versus The World&#8217;—Then Why&#8217;s Bitcoin Down To $111,000?</a></li>
</ul>

Charlie Lee Created The Crypto That Powers Dogecoin, But Recently Confessed It Was A 'Headache' — He Wished He Did This Instead

When you send or accept cryptocurrency, it's easy to think you're sidestepping the hidden costs of traditional finance. But behind every "instant" transfer lies a maze of gas fees, withdrawal charges, and profit margins that look a lot like the very system <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/what-is-defi">crypto promised to disrupt</a>.



Investor Kevin O'Leary recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48272356/mr-wonderful-kevin-oleary-warns-crypto-investors-about-ethereums-scalability-issues-after-transaction-fees-spike-to-nine-month-highs">railed against the problem</a>. "Ethereum, the largest blockchain in the world, got congested and fees skyrocketed past $1,000 just to process small transactions," he said. "That's like paying a thousand-dollar toll to drive on a one-lane." 



His warning underscores the growing tension between crypto's promise of low-cost, decentralized finance and the reality of volatile transaction fees that can make even routine transfers prohibitively expensive. And as stablecoin adoption accelerates, those costs—and who profits from them—are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48134643/forget-bitcoin-ethereum-citis-stablecoin-bet-could-spark-a-1-9-trillion-boom-by-2030">Forget Bitcoin &amp; Ethereum — Citi&#8217;s Stablecoin Bet Could Spark A $1.9 Trillion Boom By 2030</a></li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What's Happening?</h3>



The new middlemen of crypto—exchanges, wallet providers, and blockchain networks—are quietly building complicated fee structures that rival those of traditional banks. Exchanges like Coinbase (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/COIN">COIN</a>) and Binance charge transaction spreads and withdrawal fees; wallet apps add service or "network" charges; and blockchain networks, such as Ethereum, collect gas fees that fluctuate wildly with demand. 



In effect, users pay layers of tolls just to move their digital dollars from one address to another. As a result, there's a growing concern about hidden fees and the profit-driven ecosystem around them. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Why Does It Matter?</h3>



You&#8217;re paying more. By comparison, a traditional cross-border bank transfer through systems like SWIFT or Western Union <a href="https://trolley.com/learning-center/reducing-cross-border-payment-fees-a-guide-for-finance-teams/">typically costs $15–$50</a> and takes a few days. It&#8217;s annoying, but the banks disclose the fees upfront. 



Stablecoins, like USDC, which are pegged to the value of the U.S. dollar, promise quicker transfers, but the reality is users often pay multiple layers of fees: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/ethereum-gas-fees">Network gas fees</a>.</li>



<li>Exchange transaction or withdrawal fees.</li>



<li>Additional charges to convert USDC back into dollars. </li>
</ul>



These costs can accumulate quickly. Sometimes they exceed the price of a traditional wire transfer, all while remaining opaque and unpredictable until the transaction is completed.



As more consumers shift toward digital assets, such as stablecoins, for remittances, investments, and everyday payments, fees associated with blockchain transactions, exchanges, and wallet withdrawals can quickly add up, often without users realizing the full extent of their costs.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Who's Involved?</h3>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Crypto Exchanges: Platforms like Coinbase, Binance, Gemini and Kraken facilitate the buying, selling, and transferring of stablecoins, often charging fees for each transaction. According <a href="https://alphapoint.com/blog/how-much-are-crypto-exchange-fees/#:~:text=Unfortunately%2C%20Coinbase%20trading%20fees%20are%20among%20the,to%200.05%25%20for%20transactions%20over%20$400%20million.">to</a> AlphaPoint, Coinbase&#8217;s trading fees are among the highest. </li>



<li>Blockchain Networks: Ethereum, which hosts stablecoins like USDC, imposes gas fees for every transaction, which fluctuate based on network congestion.</li>



<li>Wallet Providers: Companies offering digital wallets to store and send stablecoins, such as MetaMask or Coinbase&#8217;s Base app, may also charge fees for withdrawals or transfers.</li>



<li>Regulators: Government agencies, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), are beginning to focus on stablecoin regulation (i.e. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46508890/trump-signs-genius-act-ending-biden-era-crypto-probes-and-backing-industry-titans">the GENIUS Act</a>). Plus, U.S. crypto exchanges are requiring Social Security Numbers as part of their KYC (know your customer) procedures, in an effort to appease regulators. </li>



<li>The Trump Family: Subtract the rules and regulations, and you get bigger profits — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48260371/trump-family-reportedly-1-billion-in-profit-from-crypto-ventures">for them</a>. Suppose World Liberty Financial, pitched as a bridge between traditional finance and blockchain, grows at the scale President Trump and his sons hope. In that case, they&#8217;ll be collecting fees on a range of services (lending, borrowing, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48242166/eric-trump-teases-tokenization-plans-related-to-one-specific-building-chance-to-own-part-of-trump-tower">tokenization</a> and stablecoin issuance). </li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What's The Backstory?</h3>



Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>), or cryptocurrencies in general, were meant to be less like banks, but the ecosystem built around them has recreated many of the same frictions—just in a different scheme.



Bitcoin, launched in 2009, promised peer-to-peer money free from centralized control, while Ethereum, launched in 2015, aimed to expand that freedom to programmable contracts and decentralized applications. In theory, both offered a way to send money and execute financial transactions without banks taking a cut. 



In practice, though, the ecosystem around them—exchanges, wallets, and blockchain validators—has recreated many of the same frictions. 



Gas fees, network congestion, and conversion charges mean that even "instant" stablecoin transfers can carry costs rivaling traditional banking, leaving users to navigate a new set of tolls in place of the old ones.. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What's The Market Reaction?</h3>



Users are frustrated, and rightfully so. Little has changed since one Reddit user&#8217;s <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/CryptoCurrency/comments/1c9hxqg/network_fees_are_a_bad_look_for_crypto_right_now/">complaint</a> was logged in 2023, calling fees &#8220;a terrible look for crypto.&#8221;



After trying to move just $60, the charge was $40. PayPal&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PYPL">PYPL</a>) Venmo, in contrast, is free, they said. 



&#8220;This is supposed to be the democratic currency owned by the common good and it should be almost free to transact with it at all times,&#8221; the user stated. &#8220;Imagine trying to [buy] a house and the network fees just happen to be &#8216;out of control&#8217; that week.&#8221;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What Happens Next?</h3>



As stablecoins and Ethereum-based transactions grow, the spotlight on fees and transparency is only getting brighter. Even O'Leary, an investor usually bullish on crypto, has warned that Ethereum congestion can drive up gas fees.



Lawmakers like Elizabeth Warren have also criticized opaque fee structures and the lack of consumer protections. Rarely do figures with such opposing perspectives find common ground. 



The next chapter for stablecoins may hinge on clearer regulation, smarter technology, and more accountability from exchanges and wallet providers—because until the costs come down, the dream of cheap, decentralized finance remains just that.



Now Read:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48269320/ripple-labs-is-leading-a-1-billion-fundraise-to-establish-xrp-centered-treasury-report">Ripple Labs Is Leading A $1 Billion Fundraise To Establish XRP-Centered Treasury</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Crypto Replaced Banks With Middlemen In New Costumes: Here's How

Bitcoin rebounded on Friday afternoon after setting an early intraday low below $104,000.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Ticker</td><td>Price</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin</td><td>(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>$106,795.15</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum</td><td>(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>)</td><td>$3,837.38</td></tr><tr><td>Solana</td><td>(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>)</td><td>$183.59</td></tr><tr><td>XRP</td><td>(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>)</td><td>$2.30</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin</td><td>(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</td><td>$0.1850</td></tr><tr><td>Shiba Inu</td><td>(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>)</td><td>$0.059750</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Notable Statistics:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Coinglass data shows 255,556 traders were liquidated in the past 24 hours for $985.30 million.        </li>



<li>In the past 24 hours, top losers include Aave (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/aave/usd">AAVE</a>), Aster (CRYPTO: ASTER) and Monero (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xmr/usd">XMR</a>).</li>
</ul>



Notable Developments:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48280591/is-bitcoin-at-106000-cheap-heres-how-you-can-tell">Is Bitcoin At $106,000 &#8216;Cheap&#8217;? Here&#8217;s How You Can Tell</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48283226/peter-schiff-says-bitcoin-ethereum-crash-is-imminent-but-how-much-worse-can-it-get">Peter Schiff Says Bitcoin, Ethereum Crash Is &#8216;Imminent&#8217;—But How Much Worse Can It Get?</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48269320/ripple-labs-is-leading-a-1-billion-fundraise-to-establish-xrp-centered-treasury-report">Ripple Labs Is Leading A $1 Billion Fundraise To Establish XRP-Centered Treasury: Report</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48275894/bitfarms-stock-falls-as-convertible-notes-swell-to-500-million">Bitfarms Stock Falls As Convertible Notes Swell To $500 Million</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48270634/anthony-scaramucci-was-willing-to-risk-his-business-for-bitcoin-during-the-2022-crypto-winter">Anthony Scaramucci Was &#8216;Willing&#8217; To Risk His Business For Bitcoin During The 2022 Crypto Winter</a></li>
</ul>



Trader Notes: MuroCrypto <a href="https://x.com/MuroCrypto/status/1979237373629059156">noted</a> Bitcoin closing above $108,500 would signal a bullish setup, while staying below keeps the outlook bearish. 



Current conditions, however, suggest that the bullish scenario remains possible.



Rekt Capital <a href="https://x.com/rektcapital/status/1979218018895851584">observed</a> that Bitcoin has been oscillating within its macro range this month. The market experienced a fake breakout above the range high, followed by a fake breakdown below the range low, reflecting ongoing indecision.



Castillo Trading highlighted that Bitcoin's weekly chart remains fairly bullish, adding that it would be surprising if the current move marks a market top.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Still a fairly bullish weekly chart for <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> Would be shocked if that's how "the top" transpires. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> <a href="https://t.co/NuIst1ePgu">pic.twitter.com/NuIst1ePgu</a>&mdash; Castillo Trading (@CastilloTrading) <a href="https://twitter.com/CastilloTrading/status/1979244959095226626?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Crypto Tony <a href="https://x.com/CryptoTony__/status/1979226147201351870">suggested </a>a long position could be considered if the $107,800 resistance zone flips into support but cautioned that it could also be a bearish retest, emphasizing the need for patience.



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48274260/bitcoin-plunges-to-105000-is-this-a-black-friday-in-the-making">Bitcoin Plunges To $105,000: Is This A Black Friday In The Making?</a></li>
</ul>



Image: shutterstock

Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin Rebound Ahead Of Weekend — Analysts Say Bullish Case Still Intact

Cardone Capital, led by U.S. real estate mogul Grant Cardone, confirmed the purchase of an additional 200 Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) this week, extending its aggressive accumulation during one of the crypto market's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48280591/is-bitcoin-at-106000-cheap-heres-how-you-can-tell">sharpest corrections of the year.</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Cardone Goes All-In With Fresh 200 Bitcoin Purchase</h3>



Cardone's latest acquisition follows last week's 300 BTC purchase, bringing the company's total to 500 BTC. 



The move, <a href="https://x.com/GrantCardone/status/1978867490311528620">disclosed</a> via Cardone's X account on Friday, underscores his long-term conviction in Bitcoin despite heightened market volatility.



Speaking with Bitcoin Magazine, Cardone <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVvEGoAH2No&amp;t=27s">explained</a> that traditional saving "erodes wealth over time" and framed Bitcoin as a superior store of value when paired with income-producing assets.&nbsp;



"I got to keep [my money] stored some place. Saving it doesn't keep it because it's going down in value," he said.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">‘Renters Pay The Bitcoin Bill' Model Gains Traction</h3>



Cardone has developed a hybrid strategy that uses real estate cash flow to fund Bitcoin purchases, positioning renters as indirect contributors to digital-asset accumulation.&nbsp;



"Basically, our renters are buying the investors in a building Bitcoin," he said, describing a structure that currently allocates around 15% of fund assets to Bitcoin, with a long-term goal of achieving a 50/50 balance between real estate and digital assets.



This model, which Cardone calls a "real-world Bitcoin dollar-cost averaging system," has attracted attention from both property investors and crypto advocates for merging tangible cash flow with blockchain exposure.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bridging Property Millions Into A $BTC Fortune</h3>



The billionaire investor emphasized that his approach maintains liquidity while building long-term exposure to Bitcoin.&nbsp;



"Bitcoin is an exciting store of value, but cash flow is essential," Cardone said, arguing that income from tenants can serve as a natural hedge against volatility.



He added that most investors entering Cardone Capital's funds "don't know anything about Bitcoin," making the structure a gateway to passive exposure.&nbsp;



The firm's integration of digital assets mirrors a growing institutional trend, where firms use operational income or reserves to accumulate Bitcoin during pullbacks.



Read next:  



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/price-target/25/10/48278826/bny-mellon-ready-to-accelerate-as-profit-margins-climb">BNY Mellon Ready To Accelerate As Profit Margins Climb</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Grant Cardone Buys 500 Bitcoin In The Dip: 'I Got To Keep My Money Stored Some Place'

Bitcoin's (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) downturn may be only beginning, according to veteran gold advocate Peter Schiff, who warns of an impending collapse across the broader crypto market as Bitcoin broke <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/bitcoin-price-prediction">to $106,000 today</a>.



What Happened: In his latest posts on X, Schiff <a href="https://x.com/PeterSchiff/status/1979178930662728082">noted</a> that Bitcoin has lost 34% of its value relative to gold since its August all-time high, underscoring the digital asset's sharp underperformance compared to the traditional safe-haven metal.



He suggested that Bitcoin's weakening relative strength signals that the downtrend could deepen further before any sustained recovery begins.



In another <a href="https://x.com/PeterSchiff/status/1979141335232790587">post</a>, Schiff predicted a severe downturn for both Bitcoin and Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>), warning that the next phase of the bear market could trigger a cascade of failures throughout the crypto industry. 



He expects the crash to result in massive financial losses, bankruptcies, loan defaults, and widespread layoffs across crypto firms and service providers.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48274260/bitcoin-plunges-to-105000-is-this-a-black-friday-in-the-making">Bitcoin Plunges To $105,000: Is This A Black Friday In The Making?</a>



Why It Matters: Schiff's outlook implies a potential systemic crisis, where the collapse of major digital assets could destabilize exchanges, lenders, and DeFi protocols, leading to a broader market decimation extending beyond individual tokens.



He also tied his warning to the macro backdrop, <a href="https://x.com/PeterSchiff/status/1979131985860633019">noting</a> that U.S. investors are bracing for a replay of the 2008 financial crisis as regional bank stocks plunge amid loan losses and economic weakness.



However, Schiff argued that the real threat lies in a dollar crisis, fuelled by monetary instability and eroding global trust in the greenback's value.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48271640/bitcoin-plummets-5-ethereum-xrp-dogecoin-tumble-over-6-as-crypto-liquidations-top-1-billion">Bitcoin Plummets 5%, Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin Tumble Over 6% As Crypto Liquidations Top $1 Billion</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Peter Schiff Says Bitcoin, Ethereum Crash Is 'Imminent'—But How Much Worse Can It Get?

Wall Street shrugged off credit concerns that battered bank stocks on Wednesday, with large-cap indices posting slight gains by midday trading in New York, setting up for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets">a positive weekly close.</a>



 • AXP is among today&#8217;s top performers. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AXP" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Watch the momentum here.</a>



The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.2% to 6,650 points, nearly erasing Thursday's losses, while both the Nasdaq 100 and the Dow Jones edged 0.3% higher.



After suffering their worst day since April on Wednesday, financials and bank stocks rebounded. The SPDR Regional Banking ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/KRE">KRE</a>) climbed 1.1%, while the Financials Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/XLF">XLF</a>) added 0.5%.



President Donald Trump said the U.S. is "going to do fine with China," indicating that the extra 100% tariff on Chinese goods he threatened to impose at the start of November was "not sustainable," but added that Beijing had "forced him into this position" and the levies "could stand."



American Express Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AXP">AXP</a>) was the day's top gainer, with shares jumping 6.2% on stronger-than-expected earnings and upbeat guidance.



Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ORCL">ORCL</a>) dropped more than 6%, leading losses within the S&amp;P 500, after the company announced highly ambitious growth targets for its AI cloud division — a move that drew skepticism from Wall Street analysts.



Gold's relentless rally came to a halt Friday, with the yellow metal plunging 3% to $4,200 per ounce amid profit-taking. Silver slumped 5.9% to $50.90.



Risk-off sentiment extended to crypto markets. Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) fell 1.6% to $106,000, marking its fourth straight session of losses, while Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) dropped 2.5% to $3,800.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Friday&#8217;s Performance In Major U.S. Indices, ETFs</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Major Indices </td><td>Price</td><td>1-day %</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>46,036.97</td><td>0.3%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>24,695.46</td><td>0.3%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>6,632.91</td><td>0.2%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2,435.86</td><td>-1.2%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated by 1:10 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>



According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The&nbsp;Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/VOO">VOO</a>) edged 0.2% higher to $608.21.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/DIA">DIA</a>) rose 0.2% to $460.52.</li>



<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/QQQ">QQQ</a>) inched 0.2% up to $601.32.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/IWM">IWM</a>) dropped 1.2% $242.22.</li>



<li>The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/XLP">XLP</a>) outperformed, up 0.5%; the Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/XLU">XLU</a>) lagged, down 0.6%.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Friday&#8217;s Earnings Movers</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>American Express Company up 6.3%</li>



<li>Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/IBKR">IBKR</a>) down 3.1%</li>



<li>CSX Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CSX">CSX</a>) up 2.8%</li>



<li>Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TFC">TFC</a>) up 3.4%</li>



<li>SLB N.V. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SLB">SLB</a>) down 2.5%</li>



<li>State Street Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/STT">STT</a>) down 3.3%</li>



<li>Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FITB">FITB</a>) up 1.1%</li>



<li>Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/HBAN">HBAN</a>) up 0.7%</li>



<li>Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/RF">RF</a>) down 0.2%</li>



<li>Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ALLY">ALLY</a>) up 2.1%</li>



<li>Comerica Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CMA">CMA</a>) up 1.4%</li>



<li>Webster Financial Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WBS">WBS</a>) down 0.4%</li>
</ul>



Read now:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/10/48275960/wealthy-households-expected-to-drive-nearly-all-gains-of-christmas-spending">A Rare Holiday Spending Boom Is Coming—But Only For The Wealthy</a></li>
</ul>

Stocks Shrug Off Bank Fears, AMEX Jumps: What's Moving Markets Friday?

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has indicated uncertainty regarding whether recent filings for highly leveraged ETFs, such as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/specialty-etfs/25/10/48239861/bitcoin-ethereum-tesla-on-5x-steroids-volatilityshares-seeks-sec-approval-for-its-wildest-ride-yet?utm_source=coingecko&amp;utm_campaign=partner_feed&amp;utm_medium=partner_feed&amp;utm_content=site">Volatility Shares&#8217; planned 5x products</a>, would be approved, raising new questions about leverage limits in the U.S. market.



 • MSTR stock is moving in positive territory. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSTR" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Watch the momentum here.</a>



Since the U.S. government shutdown, the SEC has seen a flood of 3x and 5x leveraged equities seeking ETF registration statements, said Brian Daly, director of the SEC&#8217;s division of investment management, according to Reuters. Daly said that it is uncertain whether these ETFs would be in compliance with the Derivatives Rule (Rule 18f-4), which primarily caps leverage at 2x.



Volatility Shares submitted on Wednesday for 27 extremely<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs"> leveraged ETFs</a>, which include the first-ever to propose a 5x ETF in the U.S. market. The 5x target implies that the fund would seek to quintuple the day&#8217;s return on an underlying stock or asset, a dramatic increase from the 2x limit previously sanctioned for single-stock leveraged ETFs. Among the new leveraged ETFs are those tied to Bitcoin, Tesla and Strategy.



If sanctioned, the suite would consist of 27 products across 3x and 5x leverage levels, effective as of Dec. 29, making them perhaps the riskiest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crypto-tied products</a>&nbsp;offered to American investors.



ETF specialists warn that such extreme leverage poses tremendous risks. Analysts pointed out that among such ETFs that were launched more than three years ago, over half have closed and 17% have lost over 98% of their value over their lives.



Amplifying returns also amplifies losses, and broad-based selling from leveraged ETFs can exacerbate market declines, as seen last week when $26 billion of ETF selling added to a market sell-off triggered by U.S.–China trade tensions.



The filings arrive during a period when the SEC is working with skeletal personnel because of the shutdown, which restricts its capacity to read filings, pursue misconduct, and police markets.



Volatility Shares&#8217; filings, which cover both 3x and 5x ETFs tied to Bitcoin treasury trailblazer Strategy Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSTR">MSTR</a>), are set to take effect 75 days after filing. According to analysts, while this SEC management has been more open to creative approaches, 5x leveraged single-stock ETFs can push regulatory boundaries.



For investors, the developments highlight both the promise and the danger of excessive leverage. While there is potential for outsized gains, the combination of compounding that occurs on a daily basis, volatile underlying assets and limited regulatory scrutiny might make these products among the most risky in U.S. markets.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/10/48277713/is-crisis-brewing-again-regional-bank-etf-flashes-red-as-shutdown-reaches-week-3">Is Crisis Brewing Again? Regional Bank ETF Flashes Red As Shutdown Reaches Week 3</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

5x Tesla, Bitcoin, Strategy ETFs In Doubt As SEC Signals Uncertainty During Shutdown

Bitcoin's (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) weakness is raising concerns that the crypto market is increasingly dominated by short-term trading, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/bitcoin-price-prediction">impacting price performance</a>.



What Happened: In a detailed <a href="https://x.com/Pentosh1/status/1978822437165748353">post</a> on X on Friday, prominent trader Pentoshi highlighted Bitcoin's critical levels:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>$108,000–$109,000 to the downside</li>



<li>$115,000–$116,000 for continuation to new highs</li>
</ul>



He noted that temporary dips below support may be tradable within minutes or hours, but sustained breaches could open the door to $98,000, putting altcoins at risk.



Pentoshi emphasized that Bitcoin can appear "expensive" or "cheap" at the same price, depending on whether it is retesting from above or below. 



He recommends staying neutral and adaptable, ready to trade in either direction based on market behaviour.



Given thinner order books and overall market weakness, he advised reduced trade sizes while awaiting a decisive move. 



Compared to other markets, crypto has been far weaker, with stocks and commodities drifting higher while altcoins remain largely stagnant.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48274260/bitcoin-plunges-to-105000-is-this-a-black-friday-in-the-making">Bitcoin Plunges To $105,000: Is This A Black Friday In The Making?</a>



Why It Matters: Pentoshi explained that the crypto market is dominated by short-term trading cycles. 



Sustained moves in altcoins are rare, with narratives often reversing within two weeks. 



Thin liquidity limits upside potential, while downside risk remains high, with some assets at risk of dropping to zero.



For altcoins to see meaningful gains, key support and resistance levels must be reclaimed, though timing remains uncertain.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/10/48271640/bitcoin-plummets-5-ethereum-xrp-dogecoin-tumble-over-6-as-crypto-liquidations-top-1-billion">Bitcoin Plummets 5%, Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin Tumble Over 6% As Crypto Liquidations Top $1 Billion</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Is Bitcoin At $106,000 'Cheap'? Here's How You Can Tell

Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) and Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>) are fading in momentum, while a little-known meme coin called Ark of Panda (AOP) is seizing the spotlight with surging Binance Alpha volume and a breakout setup that traders say could fuel a 300% run.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Chart Signals Point To Explosive Breakout</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="694" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/17120832/image-467-1024x694.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1120093" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/17120832/image-467-1024x694.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/17120832/image-467-300x203.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/17120832/image-467-768x520.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/17120832/image-467-1536x1040.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/17120832/image-467.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<a href="https://in.tradingview.com/symbols/AOPUSD/">AOP 300% Moonlight Potential (Source: TradingView)</a>



On the hourly chart, AOP is consolidating inside a descending resistance structure while holding firm above its $0.078–$0.077 liquidity base.&nbsp;



The token trades near $0.08, pressing against the downtrend line, with resistance between $0.0825–$0.0830.



RSI has stabilized around 45, while the major EMAs are tightly clustered near $0.081–$0.082, signaling compression ahead of a volatility breakout.



A confirmed move above $0.083 could open a path toward $0.10, followed by possible extensions to $0.15 and $0.20 — a move that would represent a potential 300% rise.&nbsp;



Failure to defend the $0.077 base, however, could expose deeper liquidity zones near $0.074.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Binance Alpha Incentives Trigger $5.8 Billion AOP Volume Surge</h3>



AOP's 24-hour trading volume surpassed $5.8 billion on Binance Alpha, <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/exchanges/binance-alpha/">accounting</a> for roughly 70% of total exchange turnover.&nbsp;



The spike coincided with Binance's short-term incentive program rewarding users with leaderboard points for high-frequency trades and limit order volume.



Quadruple point multipliers for certain order types encouraged rapid turnover, creating a feedback loop that inflated activity.&nbsp;



Analysts caution that while the incentives boosted reported liquidity, they may not reflect sustained demand once the campaign ends.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Whale Supply Concentration Could Spark Violent AOP Price Swings</h3>



Only 300 million tokens are <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/ark-of-panda/">currently</a> in circulation from a 2 billion total supply as per CoinMarketCap.&nbsp;



Concentrated ownership increases volatility potential, with a small number of large holders able to influence short-term price moves.



This thin market structure means even modest selling could trigger outsized corrections, particularly if exchange activity cools once incentive-driven demand fades.



Read next:  



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/price-target/25/10/48278826/bny-mellon-ready-to-accelerate-as-profit-margins-climb">BNY Mellon Ready To Accelerate As Profit Margins Climb</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

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