Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin's October Slide Sparks Institutional Bullishness Amid Retail Retreat

Bitcoin's Seven-Year "Uptober" Streak Ends as Market Shifts Spark Volatility

Bitcoin (BTC) ended its seven-year streak of positive October returns in 2025, dropping roughly 10% from a peak near $126,300 to around $110,000 by month-end, according to a Coinpedia report. The decline, attributed to profit-taking and macroeconomic pressures, marked a departure from the cryptocurrency's historical October performance. Analysts, however, view the dip as a healthy correction, with optimism for a November rebound fueled by potential Federal Reserve rate cuts and easing geopolitical tensions, according to an AmbCrypto analysis.

The sell-off coincided with broader market liquidation, as Zcash (ZEC) surges drew liquidity away from Bitcoin, pushing it to a low of $105,000, according to a TradingView note. Despite the volatility, Bitcoin has gained 16% year-to-date, and its 0.54% daily rise following Prenetics' $11 million Bitcoin purchase signaled resilience, as reported by a Bitget report. The health science firm, which now holds 378 BTC valued at $41 million, cited Bitcoin's growing institutional adoption as a strategic move amid a $44 million equity raise, the Bitget report added.

Retail investor sentiment, however, has cooled. Active Bitcoin addresses fell 26% to 872,000 in October 2025, while transaction fees plummeted to $0.56 from $8.44, reflecting reduced network activity, AmbCrypto noted. Open interest surged 10% to $8.65 billion, but combined volume and value decay suggested bearish positioning, with traders anticipating further pullbacks, the AmbCrypto analysis said.

Institutional confidence remains a key counterbalance. MARA Holdings, a major Bitcoin miner, reported a record $123 million third-quarter profit, driven by higher Bitcoin prices and operational efficiency, according to a Weex report. The firm also announced a collaboration with MPLX LP to build integrated power generation and data center campuses in West Texas, aiming to leverage low-cost energy for Bitcoin mining and AI computing, per a MarketScreener release. Meanwhile, Prenetics' treasury expansion and Prenetics CEO Danny Yeung's public endorsement of Bitcoin as a "strategic asset" underscored growing corporate adoption, the Bitget report added.

Macro factors are shaping the outlook. The Federal Reserve's October rate cut and hints of a potential December reduction have bolstered risk assets, while geopolitical risks, including China's crypto restrictions and U.S.-China trade dynamics, remain in focus, AmbCrypto observed. Historical data shows November has been one of Bitcoin's strongest months, with a median 8.81% return since 2013, offering hope for a rebound, the AmbCrypto analysis highlighted.

Whale activity further highlighted market dynamics. A whale deposited 3.5 million USDC into HyperLiquid, shorting BTC and ETH with 20x leverage, while another purchased 4.6 million ASTER tokens, signaling speculative bets amid uncertainty, a Weex report noted. These moves reflect a market balancing short-term volatility with long-term institutional demand.

As the crypto sector navigates this inflection point, eyes turn to December's Fed meeting and potential ETF approvals for renewed momentum.