Bitcoin News Today: BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF Dominance Undermines Altcoin Resilience

BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF dominated U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF inflows in 2025, injecting $28.1 billion into the sector and preventing a net outflow of $1.27 billion without its participation, according to a Coinotag analysis. This concentration of capital has raised concerns among analysts about the fragility of the ETF ecosystem, particularly for altcoins like Solana and XRP, which may struggle to attract significant inflows without institutional heavyweights like BlackRock, a Cointelegraph report warns. The asset manager's influence is underscored by its $13.5 trillion in assets under management, enabling it to drive Bitcoin's price momentum amid macroeconomic volatility, as noted in a Coinotag piece.

Recent data highlights the scale of this dominance. Year-to-date, U.S. Bitcoin ETFs recorded $26.9 billion in inflows, with BlackRock's fund accounting for nearly all of it, the Coinotag analysis found. In October alone, weekly inflows hit $3.55 billion, pushing Bitcoin's price above $126,000, according to a TradingView report. However, the cryptocurrency faced resistance at $116,000 in late October as short-term holders cashed in profits, temporarily halting its upward trajectory, a Coinotag report observed. Despite this, ETF flows remain a bullish indicator, with $149.3 million in inflows on October 27 signaling sustained institutional interest, the Coinotag report added.

Altcoin ETFs face an uphill battle. Projections suggest initial inflows of $3-8 billion for Solana and XRP ETFs, but these figures hinge on BlackRock's involvement, the Coinotag analysis said. Analysts like Vetle Lunde of K33 Research caution that without the firm's participation, altcoin ETFs may underperform compared to Bitcoin's explosive launch, K33 Research warned. Ethereum, however, shows more resilience. Its ETFs have accumulated $11.84 billion in inflows by October, with $1.14 billion coming from non-BlackRock funds, reflecting broader institutional adoption, the Coinotag piece noted. The NYSE has also listed new ETFs for Solana, Litecoin, and Hedera, signaling a diversification of crypto investment options, the Coinotag piece added.

Geopolitical factors further complicate the outlook. Bitcoin dipped to $113,760 as markets braced for a Federal Reserve rate cut and high-stakes talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to an Investing.com report. Trump's earlier threats of 100% tariffs on Chinese imports had triggered a market selloff in October, though recent rhetoric suggests potential de-escalation, an FXStreet forecast noted. Meanwhile, institutional accumulation continues, with firms like Strategy and American Bitcoin adding thousands of BTC to their reserves, FXStreet reported.

Investors are advised to monitor ETF flows, on-chain metrics, and geopolitical developments closely. While Bitcoin's current price may be undervalued by 11% relative to ETF inflows, the Coinotag report found, altcoin ETFs face structural challenges without BlackRock's backing. As the crypto market matures, diversification and regulatory clarity will be critical to sustaining growth beyond the dominance of a single player.