Bitcoin News Today: ETFs Outpace Whales: Crypto Price Dynamics Shift as Institutions Take Control

According to a TradingView report, crypto investment products attracted $921 million in weekly net inflows as of October 23, 2025, driven by robust demand for Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Spot Bitcoin ETFs alone saw $446 million in inflows, with cumulative assets reaching $149.96 billion—6.78% of Bitcoin's market cap. The surge reflects growing institutional confidence in crypto as a stable asset, even amid market volatility.

Data from Reuters also highlighted rising global equity fund inflows as U.S.-China trade tensions eased.

BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) led the charge, securing $107.78 million in daily inflows on October 23, pushing its cumulative inflows to $65.27 billion. Other major players, including Fidelity's FBTC and Bitwise's BITB, added $7.22 million and $17.41 million, respectively. Meanwhile, Ethereum ETFs outperformed Bitcoin in Q3, drawing $8.7 billion in inflows compared to Bitcoin's $7.5 billion, signaling a diversification of institutional capital into the broader crypto ecosystem, as noted in a TradingNews report.

Bitcoin's price stabilized above $110,000, bolstered by ETF-driven liquidity. U.S. spot ETFs now hold 6.4% of Bitcoin's total supply, effectively acting as a primary liquidity engine for the asset. This dynamic has shifted traditional market dynamics: ETF flows now dictate Bitcoin's price direction more than individual whale transactions. For instance, a dormant miner wallet reactivated in October, transferring $16.6 million worth of Bitcoin, highlighting renewed institutional activity, according to TradingNews.

Ethereum's rise in institutional adoption is equally notable. BlackRock's ETHA ETF surged 266.1% in Q3, amassing $16 billion in assets under management, or 58.2% of Ethereum ETF market share. This growth is attributed to Ethereum's staking yields and smart contract innovations, which differentiate it from Bitcoin's pure store-of-value proposition. Analysts note that Ethereum ETFs now offer a dual exposure to yield and network growth, appealing to a broader range of investors, as reported by TradingNews.

The broader market context also favors risk assets. Easing U.S.-China trade tensions and strong U.S. corporate earnings boosted global equity fund inflows to $11.03 billion for the week ending October 22—the largest in three weeks. This risk-on sentiment extended to crypto, with technology sector funds and gold-related equities also attracting capital. However, Bitcoin's dominance remains anchored at 55.7%, underscoring its role as the crypto market's liquidity benchmark, Reuters noted.

Looking ahead, macroeconomic factors suggest continued support for crypto. Bitcoin futures volumes hit $543.3 billion on Binance in October, while the 10-year Treasury yield near 4.3% and cooling U.S. inflation (3.0% YoY) have spurred bets on Federal Reserve rate cuts in early 2026. Glassnode analysts posit that recent ETF outflows may signal a short-term bottom, with historical patterns indicating rebounds after such phases. With ETF inflows stabilizing and whale activity reactivating, Bitcoin is positioned to test $115,800–$118,500 resistance levels, TradingNews observed.

A CryptoNewsLand update emphasized that institutional adoption is reshaping crypto's fundamentals. ETF custodians now control over 800,000 BTC, redefining "whale" influence as institutionalized rather than individual. This shift has amplified ETFs' role in price discovery, with spot ETF inflows directly correlating to Bitcoin's ability to break key resistance levels. As the market transitions into Q4, sustained inflows and macroeconomic stability could propel Bitcoin toward $125,000–$130,000 by early 2026, TradingNews added.