Current Cryptocurrency News as of 29 October 2025: Bitcoin, Altcoins, Market Trends, and Investor Projections
The cryptocurrency market displays confident growth as the week progresses: Bitcoin is trading near record values, with leading altcoins following suit. Investor sentiment is cautiously optimistic amidst improving macroeconomic conditions and the anticipation of a significant decision from the United States Federal Reserve regarding interest rates, which is due to be announced today. The total market capitalisation of cryptocurrencies has reached approximately $3.9 trillion, effectively recovering from the declines witnessed at the beginning of October. The Fear and Greed Index has emerged from the 'fear zone' and risen to a neutral level (51 out of 100), reflecting a decrease in apprehensions and an increase in interest towards riskier assets.
Bitcoin Approaches New Heights
The flagship cryptocurrency, Bitcoin (BTC), has made a strong recovery following a dip in mid-October and is currently trading around $114,000. In recent days, the price of BTC has surpassed $116,000 for the first time since 10 October, when the market experienced a significant fall. This decline was triggered by a statement from US President Donald Trump regarding the imposition of 100% tariffs on Chinese goods, which led to rampant sell-offs. However, clarifications from the White House indicating that China might avoid these tariffs helped Bitcoin swiftly regain its lost ground.
Currently, the price of BTC sits at approximately 10% below its all-time high (around $126,000, reached in early October). The market is consolidating: the price range has narrowed to levels between $105,000 and $113,000, with resistance observed around $115,000 and strong support at the psychological level of $100,000. Over the past week, Bitcoin has gained around 5% and appears poised to finish October in positive territory. Bitcoin's dominance in market capitalisation stands at approximately 59%, marking the highest level in recent years and underscoring Bitcoin's pivotal influence on the entire cryptocurrency market.
Ethereum and Altcoins Gaining Momentum
The second-largest crypto asset, Ethereum (ETH), is also exhibiting positive dynamics. The ETH price is holding steady around $4,200, rebounding from the lows of previous weeks (last week, Ethereum rose to $4,250). Although the current levels are approximately 15% below its all-time high (nearly $5,000 in August), Ethereum has increased by over 60% year-on-year. Ethereum remains a key platform for the decentralised finance (DeFi) ecosystem and blockchain applications (including NFTs), sustaining high demand for its token. Following the network's transition to a Proof-of-Stake algorithm in 2022, Ethereum has become more energy-efficient, and its emission model makes it potentially deflationary under high demand conditions.
Most other altcoins are also in the 'green zone'. Some lesser-known tokens have exhibited double-digit gains within a day (for instance, Pi Network surged by over 30%), suggesting a resurgence of speculative activity. There are few distinct underperformers in the market – even riskier coins are maintaining their positions. Major altcoins like Binance Coin (BNB), XRP, Cardano (ADA), Solana (SOL), and others are growing steadily alongside the leaders. The meme cryptocurrency Dogecoin (DOGE) continues to hold its place among the largest coins.
Macroeconomic and Regulatory Factors
External conditions continue to influence the sentiments within the cryptocurrency market. A pivotal event today will be the US Federal Reserve's meeting on 29 October: it is anticipated that the regulator will announce a reduction in the key interest rate – the first such decrease in several years. This decision would signal a shift towards a more accommodative monetary policy. Analysts forecast that a softened tone from the Fed will provide an additional impetus for price increases in crypto assets, as lower rates enhance the appeal of riskier investments. However, should the central bank refrain from easing or deliver stern statements, the market could experience surges in volatility and profit-taking.
A recent example of the impact of policy occurred in early October when Trump's statements regarding tariffs on Chinese imports instigated panic selling, resulting in a sharp decline for Bitcoin and other assets. Subsequently, hints at a compromise (the US's willingness to delay the imposition of tariffs) facilitated a market rebound. Overall, the Trump administration is currently pursuing a more favourable policy for the crypto industry: during the first year of the new presidential term, laws have been enacted that enhance legal certainty, and pardons have been issued for a number of industry participants. Alongside the launch of the European regulatory framework MiCA and the supportive stance of countries like the UAE and Singapore, this creates a positive backdrop for the continued evolution of the market.
Institutional Interest and Inflow of Capital
Since 2024, following the approval of the first spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US, interest from large investors in digital assets has significantly increased. In recent weeks, there has been a record inflow of capital into cryptocurrency funds – approximately $450 million in a week, with around $324 million funnelling into BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF. Even amidst recent declines, institutional players have been reluctant to exit the market: the total assets under management by the largest Bitcoin funds remain close to their peaks. This reflects confidence among major players and brings stability to the market. The increasing share of institutional investment also enhances liquidity and gradually reduces volatility, bolstering trust in cryptocurrencies from all categories of investors.
Top 10 Most Popular Cryptocurrencies
Below is a list of the ten most popular and largest cryptocurrencies as of today, along with a brief description of each:
- Bitcoin (BTC) – the first and largest cryptocurrency, often referred to as "digital gold." Bitcoin emerged in 2009 and has since become a recognised means of savings and inflation protection. It has a limited issuance (21 million coins) and continues to dominate the cryptocurrency market.
- Ethereum (ETH) – the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalisation and the leading smart contract platform. It underpins the DeFi ecosystem and numerous blockchain applications (including NFTs). Ether tokens are used for fees and transactions within the network. Following its transition to Proof-of-Stake, Ethereum has become more energy-efficient, and its issuance model makes it a potentially deflationary asset under high demand.
- Tether (USDT) – the largest stablecoin, pegged to the US dollar on a 1:1 basis. USDT serves as a digital equivalent of the dollar and is widely used by traders to hedge against volatility and for settlements between exchanges. Tether’s issuance is backed by reserve assets, maintaining its peg to $1.
- Binance Coin (BNB) – the proprietary token of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, and a core asset of the BNB Chain blockchain. BNB is used to pay for exchange commissions at discounted rates and within the Binance ecosystem applications (including participation in new projects). Due to Binance's scale, BNB ranks among the leaders in market capitalisation.
- USD Coin (USDC) – the second-largest stablecoin, also pegged to the US dollar. It is issued by the Centre consortium (Circle and Coinbase) with an emphasis on transparency of reserves. USDC is widely utilised in the DeFi sector and for settlements between exchanges, maintaining a stable rate around $1.
- XRP (Ripple) – the token of the Ripple payment network, designed for quick and affordable international transfers. It serves as an intermediary currency for exchanges between different fiat currencies, targeting banks and payment systems. Ripple's recent legal victory against the SEC has alleviated regulatory uncertainty and increased interest in XRP.
- Cardano (ADA) – a blockchain platform developed with a focus on a scientific approach and formal verification. It provides functionality for smart contracts and decentralised applications, operating on the Ouroboros Proof-of-Stake algorithm. The ADA cryptocurrency is used for staking and transaction fees; the project attracts investors with its long-term development roadmap and active community.
- Solana (SOL) – a high-speed blockchain network with low fees, popular for DeFi and NFT applications. It is capable of processing thousands of transactions per second, drawing developers of decentralised applications. Despite technical setbacks in 2022, Solana has recovered and returned to being one of the largest crypto assets.
- Dogecoin (DOGE) – the most well-known meme cryptocurrency, which started as a joke but has garnered a large following. It has an unlimited supply with high inflation; however, due to its viral popularity and support from notable entrepreneurs (such as Elon Musk), it continues to maintain high positions in the market. It is used for minor online payments and tips, symbolising the impact of meme culture on the market.
- Tron (TRX) – a blockchain platform with high throughput, widely used for issuing and transferring stablecoins (a significant portion of USDT circulates on the Tron network due to low fees). The TRX token is used for transaction fees and operating decentralised applications within the Tron ecosystem. Tron remains among the market leaders.
Thus, as October 2025 draws to a close, the cryptocurrency market is confidently recovering from recent upheavals. Bitcoin and the leading altcoins are trading near local maxima, while institutional support reinforces confidence in the industry. Investors continue to closely monitor regulatory actions and macroeconomic events – their outcomes will determine whether the current rally develops into a sustainable market growth trajectory by the end of the year.
