Cryptocurrency News, Friday, October 10, 2025: Bitcoin Aims for $130K, Ethereum Nears Record, Altcoins Rise on ETF Hopes, Regulators Support the Market, Institutions Invest
As of the morning of October 10, 2025, the cryptocurrency market continues its upward trajectory following recently updated price highs. Bitcoin's price reached approximately $130,000 this week, pushing the total capitalization of digital assets above $4.5 trillion.
Following Bitcoin, major altcoins, led by Ethereum, are also gaining value: many coins in the top 10 have demonstrated double-digit growth over recent weeks. Investors, including institutional players, are actively increasing their investments in cryptocurrencies amid positive sentiments, favorable macroeconomic signals, and gradual regulatory improvements in the sector.
Meanwhile, regulators in various countries are launching new initiatives to integrate digital assets, while large corporations are increasing their presence in the crypto market, signaling its entrenchment in the mainstream. In today’s review, we will analyze the driving forces of the market, identify key projects in the spotlight, and what investors can expect in the near future.
Market on the Rise: The "Uptober" Effect and Bitcoin's Growth
At the beginning of October, the leading cryptocurrency confirmed its upward trend: by October 9, the price of Bitcoin exceeded $125,000, setting a new record for the year. Growth is supported by seasonal optimism among investors, termed "Uptober," and a steady inflow of funds into spot Bitcoin ETFs. The largest among them, iShares Bitcoin Trust from BlackRock, attracted around $800 million in just one day, reflecting heightened interest from institutional players. An additional driving force is the anticipation of a more dovish monetary policy: expectations of more accommodating stances from the Fed and other central banks are driving demand for risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.
Analysts from leading banks remain optimistic, although they caution about potential volatility. For instance, JPMorgan and Standard Chartered project Bitcoin could rise to $165,000–$200,000 by the end of the year if current trends persist. Bitcoin's dominance in the market remains around 60%, reflecting the concentration of capital in the primary asset. The "altcoin season" index is approaching 70 points—an indication that activity is gradually shifting towards altcoins. A full-scale surge in alternative coins may commence once Bitcoin's share declines, freeing up capital for other projects.
Altcoins Rise Alongside the Leader
Market participants are hopeful for the onset of a traditional "altseason," and several projects are already emerging as leaders in growth rates. For instance, BNB has appreciated approximately 24% over the last month, reaching historical highs. The rise of this coin is supported by the activity in the BNB Chain network: trading volumes on decentralized exchanges in the ecosystem surpassed $37 billion, and the Kazakhstan-based Alem fund included the BNB token in its national reserves. Technical indicators confirm a sustainable trend; however, the RSI above 70 signals overheating—short-term corrections may be possible after such a rapid rally.
The second-largest cryptocurrency, Ethereum (ETH), is also strengthening, nearing its historical maximum. At one point, ETH's price reached ~$4,900, nearly matching the 2021 record ($4,890). The third quarter proved breakthrough for Ethereum, with a price increase of over 65%. Ethereum continues to be the foundation for DeFi protocols and NFT platforms; with the revival of activity in these segments, the network processes a record number of transactions. Investors eagerly await the upcoming network upgrade codenamed Fusaka, aimed at enhancing blockchain scalability and reducing transaction fees.
Solana and XRP in Market Spotlight
By the fall of 2025, the Solana network has established itself among the leaders of alternative blockchain platforms. By the end of the third quarter, the total transaction volume in its DeFi ecosystem exceeded $326 billion, and the total value locked (TVL) reached $8.6 billion. A major protocol upgrade named Alpenglow is expected soon, which is set to enhance network throughput and accelerate transaction finalization. Additional interest from investors is fueled by developments in traditional markets: CME has launched round-the-clock futures for SOL, while discussions are underway in the U.S. regarding the approval of the first spot ETF for Solana. Against this backdrop, the SOL price remains volatile, but analysts note the potential for further growth, provided the macroeconomic situation remains stable.
Positive developments have also affected the XRP token. After years of legal battles, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has effectively recognized XRP as a utility token, removing the threat of a ban on its circulation in the U.S. market. Ripple is preparing to launch new products for major financial institutions, and investors are awaiting regulatory decisions on spot ETF applications for XRP (expected in the second half of October). Legal clarity has bolstered confidence among participants: XRP's price has surpassed $3, gaining over 30% in the last quarter.
Regulatory Landscape: New Rules for Market Stability
For the cryptocurrency sector, legal certainty is as crucial as technological innovations. The GENIUS law has come into force in the U.S., introducing standards for stablecoins and streamlining the listing of new cryptocurrency exchange products. The SEC has eased the requirements for launching ETFs, paving the way for funds based on alternative digital assets. Analysts note that the implementation of these reforms, alongside favorable macroeconomic conditions, could trigger a new phase of market growth.
Additional impetus is provided to the market by initiatives from regulatory bodies in the area of trading infrastructure. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has launched a pilot project allowing tokenized assets and stablecoins to be used as collateral on regulated derivatives exchanges. This will enable traders to use USDC and other digital currencies as collateral, reducing costs and increasing trading liquidity. Industry representatives have positively evaluated this move, emphasizing that for the successful integration of stablecoins, maintaining the decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies is crucial.
Institutional and Corporate Investments
Institutional interest in digital assets continues to strengthen. The Japanese investment firm Metaplanet recently purchased 5,419 BTC worth approximately $632 million, bringing its total portfolio to 25,555 coins (~85% of its annual plan). The company intends to further increase its positions in cryptocurrencies. Such moves by major players reinforce Bitcoin's reputation as a safe-haven asset in the eyes of long-term investors.
Simultaneously, the stablecoin market is experiencing a developmental boom. The issuer of the largest stablecoin USDT, Tether, has closed another round of funding, during which its valuation reached $500 billion. Investors are also closely monitoring the emergence of new projects: for instance, the startup Plasma, supported by Tether, launched a stablecoin network with zero fees and issued the token XPL, whose market capitalization is already around $1.7 billion. Overall, since the beginning of the year, the total capitalization of stablecoins has grown by $122 billion; hundreds of new coins are expected to be launched to meet the rising demand for dollar-pegged digital currencies.
Government Support: Russia and Global Initiatives
Russian authorities are taking steps to regulate the crypto industry. Deputy Finance Minister Ivan Chebeskov stated that infrastructure is being established in the country for an experimental legal framework for working with cryptocurrencies and mining. The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Bank of Russia and is aimed at “specially qualified” investors. Although the regulator emphasizes that digital currencies are not recognized as legal tender, the market anticipates the launch of a domestic platform for cryptocurrency transactions. Analysts believe that such an initiative will help legally protect investors and accelerate the development of the mining sector.
On the international stage, the implementation of digital assets continues. Brazil reported that the volume of cryptocurrency transactions in the country exceeded $318.8 billion over the year, while the authorities of Nigeria are developing a national stablecoin with its local SEC for calculations. The competition for leadership in the issuance of national and corporate digital currencies is intensifying worldwide, confirming the global shift towards a digital financial structure.
Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies
As of the morning of October 10, 2025, the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization include the following assets:
- Bitcoin (BTC) — the first and largest cryptocurrency. BTC is trading around $125,000 after another price surge, with a market cap exceeding $2.5 trillion (≈60% of the market). Bitcoin serves as "digital gold" and a hedge against inflation due to its limited supply, but mining is highly energy-intensive.
- Ethereum (ETH) — the leading altcoin and platform for smart contracts. The price of ETH is around $4,800, close to record levels, with a market cap of about $580 billion (≈13% of the market). Following Ethereum's transition to a Proof-of-Stake algorithm, the network has become more energy-efficient and provides a foundation for DeFi and NFT services, although fees remain high under increased load.
- Tether (USDT) — the largest stablecoin, pegged at a 1:1 ratio to the U.S. dollar. USDT is widely used for trading and settlements on cryptocurrency exchanges, with a market cap of around $170 billion; the coin consistently maintains a value of $1.00.
- Ripple (XRP) — the token of the Ripple payment network for cross-border settlements. XRP is trading around $3.20, with a market capitalization of ~ $180 billion. Recent legal clarity regarding XRP's status in the U.S. has boosted demand and returned the token to the top three leaders. Advantages include high speed and low transaction costs; a risk is that a significant portion of coins belongs to structures affiliated with Ripple.
- Binance Coin (BNB) — the coin of the largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance and the native token of the BNB Chain network. BNB's value exceeds $1,000, with a market cap of around $150 billion. Due to its wide range of applications within the Binance ecosystem and on DeFi platforms, this token remains in the top 5 despite regulatory pressure on the exchange.
- Solana (SOL) — a high-performance blockchain platform for decentralized applications. SOL is trading above $200 (market capitalization ~ $90 billion). Solana's advantages include high processing capacity and low fees, attracting DeFi and NFT projects; a risk is that the network has previously faced downtimes, which could undermine developer trust.
- USD Coin (USDC) — the second-largest stablecoin, backed by dollar reserves (issued by Circle). The price of USDC is maintained at $1.00, with a market capitalization of around $65 billion. USDC is actively used by institutional investors and DeFi protocols.
- Cardano (ADA) — a blockchain platform focused on a scientific approach to development. ADA is priced at approximately $0.90 (market cap ~ $30 billion) following a recent price spike. Cardano attracts attention with plans to launch an ETF for its token and an active community that believes in the project’s long-term growth. However, the rollout of new features is relatively slow, which sometimes frustrates some investors.
- TRON (TRX) — a platform for smart contracts and decentralized applications, especially popular in Asia. TRX is trading around $0.35; market value ~ $32 billion. TRON stands out due to its low fees and high transaction speeds, which account for its significant share of stablecoin issuance. However, experts note the risk of centralization within this ecosystem.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) — the most famous meme cryptocurrency, originally created as a joke. DOGE remains around $0.20 (market cap ~ $35 billion), supported by a loyal community. Despite high volatility and the lack of fundamental value, Dogecoin continues to rank in the top 10, demonstrating remarkable investor interest resilience.
Expectations for the Coming Week and Conclusions
In October, the crypto market remains sensitive to macroeconomic factors and regulatory decisions. For instance, strong labor market data in the U.S. has already caused a short-term price pullback and a wave of margin position liquidations on exchanges. Additional volatility could arise from significant token unlocks: for example, recent projects SUI and SPEC released substantial batches of coins simultaneously, leading to temporary price drops in several altcoins.
Investors are cautiously awaiting key events in the coming days. The SEC is expected to make decisions on applications for spot ETFs for XRP and Solana in the second half of October, as well as an upgrade to Fusaka on the Ethereum network. Macroeconomic statistics are equally important: inflation and interest rate data in the U.S. and Europe could influence risk appetite. New regulatory initiatives, such as the CFTC program concerning the use of stablecoins in clearing or the launch of national crypto platforms (for instance, the Russian one), are likely to bolster market confidence. However, rapid price growth is accompanied by higher risks: periods of euphoria are often followed by corrections, making it vital to adhere to risk management principles. For a diversified portfolio, analysts recommend combining major assets (BTC, ETH) with promising altcoins, considering the token unlock schedule, and focusing on the fundamental indicators of projects.
