Bitcoin News Today: Regulatory Shifts Drive Bitcoin ETF Boom as Ethereum Falters

Bitcoin ETFs surged to a $4.21 billion inflow in October, driven by institutional demand and regulatory developments, while Ethereum ETFs faced mixed flows amid market uncertainty, according to a Coinpedia report. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is reviewing 155 crypto exchange-traded product (ETP) filings for 35 cryptocurrencies, signaling a pivotal phase for crypto ETF approvals in 2025, Coinotag reports. This regulatory activity coincided with Bitcoin's price nearing $114,000 in late October, fueled by renewed investor confidence in spot ETFs, Coinotag noted.

Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded a $477.2 million net inflow on October 21, ending four consecutive days of outflows and reflecting steady demand from institutional investors, according to Coinotag breaking news. BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) led the inflow with $210.9 million, followed by Ark 21Shares and Fidelity, which added $162.85 million and $34.15 million, respectively, Coinpedia reported. Cumulative inflows for Bitcoin ETFs reached $62 billion, with net assets hitting $151.58 billion—6.85% of Bitcoin's market cap, per Coinpedia. This surge contrasts with Ethereum ETFs, which saw $141.66 million in inflows on the same day but faced $18.77 million in outflows the following week, Coinpedia reported.

The divergent performance highlights broader market dynamics. While Bitcoin ETFs have attracted consistent inflows, Ethereum ETFs experienced volatility, including a $145.68 million outflow on October 20, TradingView noted. Ethereum's price stabilized at $3,864.57 as of October 22, but technical indicators like the MACD and SuperTrend suggest bearish momentum, according to an FXStreet report. Analysts attribute Ethereum's mixed performance to macroeconomic uncertainty and the absence of key catalysts, despite inflows signaling cautious optimism, as noted by FXStreet.

Regulatory developments further shaped the landscape. The SEC's review of 155 ETP filings—covering assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and altcoins—has been delayed by a government shutdown, Coinotag reported. However, SEC Chair Paul Atkins has proposed a generic listing standard to expedite approvals, potentially streamlining future ETP launches. This regulatory focus has intensified as institutional adoption grows, with corporate treasuries holding over $113 billion in Bitcoin and spot crypto ETFs attracting more than $118 billion in Q3 2025 inflows.

Market sentiment remains divided. Bitcoin's price stabilized near $108,000 in early November after a brief rebound from $114,000, with analysts noting parallels to gold's recent 8% single-day drop, according to FXStreet. Meanwhile, Ethereum's Fusaka upgrade, set for December 3, 2025, aims to improve network efficiency with a gas cap of 16.78 million units, TradingView reported. Despite these developments, crypto liquidations reached $657.37 million on October 22, impacting over 164,000 traders, underscoring lingering volatility.

The ETF inflows have also influenced broader market trends. Bitcoin's market cap hit $2.15 trillion as of October 21, while Ethereum's reached $466.49 billion, per Coinpedia. However, daily trading volumes for both assets declined in early November, with Bitcoin ETF trading value dropping to $3.34 billion and Ethereum's falling to $1.41 billion, as reported by Coinotag's breaking coverage. These figures suggest cautious positioning amid regulatory and macroeconomic uncertainties.

As the SEC navigates its ETP review, market participants await clarity on approval timelines and standards. The outcome could determine whether crypto ETFs achieve mainstream adoption, bridging traditional finance with digital assets, Coinotag observed. For now, Bitcoin's ETF-driven rally contrasts with Ethereum's choppy trajectory, reflecting divergent investor strategies in a market still grappling with regulatory and technical challenges.