Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin ETFs Surge as Ethereum Bleeds: Institutional Confidence Widens Crypto Divide

Bitcoin ETF inflows surged to $446 million from October 20–24, 2025, as BlackRock's IBIT led with $324 million, pushing total assets near $150 billion, according to a Coinotag report. This contrasts sharply with Ethereum ETFs, which faced $244 million in outflows during the same period, with Fidelity's FETH losing $95.25 million, per a FinanceFeeds analysis. The disparity underscores Bitcoin's dominance in the spot ETF space, driven by institutional confidence amid market stabilization and regulatory clarity compared to other cryptocurrencies, as noted in the Coinotag piece.

Solana's first spot ETF in Hong Kong, approved by the Securities and Futures Commission, marks a pivotal expansion for Asian crypto markets. The ChinaAMC Solana ETF, set to trade on October 27 under code 03460, offers RMB and USD counters with a 0.99% fee, the Coinotag report said. This development aligns with growing demand for diversified crypto exposure, as nearly 80% of Standard Chartered Hong Kong clients plan to invest in virtual assets, the same Coinotag article noted. Meanwhile, U.S. regulators face 155 pending crypto ETF applications across 35 assets, with Bitcoin and Solana leading filings at 23 each, according to Coinotag.

Bitcoin's price recovery to $115,000 in late October coincided with easing U.S.-China trade tensions after President Trump scaled back 100% tariff threats, as Coinotag analysis reported. However, ETF inflows for Bitcoin lagged behind gold, which saw $2 billion in outflows last week, the Coinotag piece added. Analysts like Geoff Kendrick of Standard Chartered note that Bitcoin needs to attract $1 billion in ETF inflows to confirm bullish momentum, while gold's 54% year-to-date gains versus Bitcoin's 23% highlight the precious metal's current edge, the article observed.

Ethereum's struggles intensified on October 27, with 9 ETFs recording a net outflow of -30,469 ETH ($126.26 million), led by BlackRock's -25,707 ETH ($106.53 million), per Blockchain News data. This contrasts with Bitcoin's 10 ETFs, which saw a net inflow of +64 BTC ($7.38 million), driven by Fidelity's +523 BTC ($60.03 million); the Blockchain News figures showed the divergence. The divergence reflects shifting investor sentiment, with Bitcoin viewed as a hedge against macroeconomic uncertainty and Ethereum facing pressure from regulatory scrutiny and staking yield volatility, as noted by FinanceFeeds.

Gold's recent rebound to $3,938 per troy ounce, following a four-day losing streak, underscores its role as a safe haven amid trade war anxieties, according to an FXStreet analysis. The metal's performance hinges on the Trump-Xi meeting, with failure to secure a trade deal potentially reigniting demand for gold, FXStreet added. Meanwhile, Bitcoin's price remains tied to ETF flows and geopolitical developments, with CoinShares reporting a record $921 million net inflow for digital assets in the week ending October 25, as Coinotag reported.

The crypto market's bifurcation—Bitcoin's institutional adoption versus Ethereum's regulatory challenges—highlights evolving dynamics as ETFs reshape investor access. With 23 pending Solana ETF applications in the U.S. and Hong Kong's regulatory push, the asset class is poised for broader institutional integration, though short-term volatility remains tied to macroeconomic and geopolitical catalysts, the Coinotag coverage concludes.