Bitcoin slips below $86k as ETF outflows cap recovery efforts

Key takeaways

  • Bitcoin has dropped below $86,000 on Tuesday after gaining more than 12% across three consecutive positive weeks.
  • U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs recorded an outflow of $90 million following last week’s massive inflow. 
  • Resistance stands at $87,599 and near $90,000, while $85,000 remains immediate support.

Bitcoin consolidates after three weeks of gains

Bitcoin held below $86,000 on Tuesday, preserving a recovery of more than 12% since mid-September as ETF demand and shifting interest-rate expectations supported sentiment.

The cryptocurrency has recorded three consecutive weekly gains and is approaching resistance that could determine whether buyers extend the advance toward $90,000.

Its technical structure remains constructive across daily and weekly charts. However, some daily momentum readings have moderated, suggesting consolidation near recent highs rather than an uninterrupted climb.

Holding the nearby $85,000 support level would help preserve that bullish structure. A break below it would increase the possibility of a deeper correction.

U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs recorded $241.09 million in net inflows last week, according to SoSoValue data.

The result marked a third consecutive positive week, showing that demand through these products continued alongside bitcoin’s price recovery.

However, the week began negatively, with the funds recording an outflow of $90 million on Monday. 

Repeated inflows provide a supportive backdrop, although they do not guarantee further gains. Their significance will depend on whether buying persists and how it compares with selling elsewhere in the market.

An acceleration in inflows would strengthen the demand picture as bitcoin approaches overhead resistance. Conversely, weaker flows could leave the recovery more dependent on other buyers.

For now, ETF activity remains one of the factors supporting the recent advance.

Weak payrolls reduce October hike expectations

Investors also scaled back expectations for another Federal Reserve rate increase after Friday’s weaker-than-expected U.S. employment report.

September nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, falling short of the expected 90,000 increase. August’s gain was revised down to 133,000 from 162,000.

Following the report, CME FedWatch placed the probability of an October rate hike at 18.3% on Monday, down from approximately 70% the previous week.

Reduced expectations for tightening can support risk assets by easing concerns about more restrictive financial conditions.

However, lower hike odds are not a promise of easier policy. They reflect market pricing that can change as additional economic data becomes available.

Bitcoin technical forecast: Weekly resistance stands between BTC and $90,000

On the weekly chart, bitcoin faces initial resistance at $87,599, the 50% retracement between the August 2024 low of $49,000 and the October 2025 record high of $126,199.

A successful close above that level would bring the 100-week simple moving average at approximately $89,832 into focus, followed by the psychological $90,000 threshold.

Weekly momentum supports the recovery. The Relative Strength Index is around 62 and rising, while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence shows expanding positive histogram bars.

If resistance holds and a broader correction develops, the cited downside references include the $78,490 Fibonacci level and the 50-day SMA near $77,201.

The daily chart shows bitcoin above its 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day exponential moving averages, reinforcing the near-term bullish bias.

BTC/USD Daily Chart

The daily RSI stands near 67, indicating strong momentum just below conventional overbought territory. Meanwhile, the MACD histogram has eased toward zero, suggesting upward pressure is slowing.

Immediate support lies at $85,000. A daily close below that floor would weaken the consolidation structure and expose the 50-day EMA near $79,189.

Further below, the 100-day EMA at $75,367 and the 200-day EMA near $74,994 form a deeper support area. More distant horizontal levels sit at $66,500 and $62,300.

Bitcoin’s recovery remains intact, but clearing $87,599 would provide stronger confirmation that buyers can carry the move toward $90,000.

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Zcash dips below $1,348 as ETF outflows ease and NU7 enters testing

Key takeaways

  • Zcash trades around $1,348 on Tuesday, holding modest gains that began Sunday.
  • NU7 is active on the public testnet, with a mainnet decision scheduled for Oct. 20 and deployment targeted for Nov. 5.
  • Improving momentum supports recovery prospects, but ZEC must clear resistance around $1,377–$1,384. 

Zcash is consolidating below $1,348 on Tuesday, maintaining modest gains from Sunday as investors assess slower ETF withdrawals and progress toward the network’s next upgrade.

The privacy-focused cryptocurrency faces a mixed near-term picture. Momentum indicators are improving, but its price remains below two important moving averages on the four-hour chart.

Meanwhile, smaller withdrawals from Grayscale’s Zcash-focused fund suggest redemption pressure has moderated. 

However, outflows remain negative, meaning the latest figures indicate reduced selling through that channel rather than renewed net buying.

The combination provides a more supportive backdrop for recovery, although a sustained price breakout has yet to materialize.

NU7 tests faster blocks and revised mining rewards

Zcash’s NU7 upgrade is now active on the public testnet. Developers are scheduled to decide on mainnet activation on Oct. 20, with Nov. 5 remaining the target deployment date.

The upgrade reduces targeted block spacing from 75 seconds to 25 seconds. Producing blocks more frequently could shorten confirmation waits, although it does not guarantee that every transaction will complete three times faster. 

Actual block intervals and the confirmation requirements set by individual services still matter.

NU7 also introduces a Network Sustainability Mechanism that redirects 60% of transaction fees toward future mining rewards. Another change limits shielded actions to help reduce network spam.

If activated on mainnet, the upgrade would disable legacy Sprout version 4 transactions. Users with funds remaining in that pool would need to move them beforehand to retain the ability to spend them through the existing system.

These changes remain in testing. Their potential benefits have not yet been deployed across the live Zcash network.

Grayscale’s ZCSH fund recorded approximately $3.57 million in net outflows on Monday, according to SoSoValue data.

That followed $93.56 million in total withdrawals last week, including three sessions with more than $25 million in outflows each.

Monday’s smaller withdrawal represents an improvement from those individual sessions. However, comparing one trading day with an entire week does not establish how the current week will finish.

The latest data suggests less immediate pressure from redemptions, while leaving the direction of future flows uncertain. A return to sustained inflows would provide stronger evidence that demand through the fund is recovering.

Improving momentum meets overhead resistance

On the four-hour chart, ZEC remains below its 50-period and 100-period exponential moving averages at approximately $1,377 and $1,384.

That cluster forms the immediate resistance zone. A sustained move above both averages would improve the near-term structure and bring $1,422, the broken Sept. 18 low, into focus.

Beyond that level, the Sept. 23 high at $1,679 represents a more distant upside reference.

Momentum indicators offer some encouragement. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence has crossed above its signal line, with its histogram expanding into positive territory.

The Relative Strength Index is near 50, indicating broadly neutral momentum. The supplied analysis also identifies a bullish divergence, suggesting selling momentum may be weakening, though price confirmation remains necessary.

ZEC/USD Daily Chart

The rising 200-period EMA near $1,281 provides the immediate support reference beneath the current consolidation.

Holding that level would preserve the possibility that recent weakness is a correction within the broader recovery. A sustained break below it would weaken that interpretation and expose the next cited support near $1,050.

For now, Zcash remains between a rising support average and overhead resistance. Slower ETF withdrawals and improving momentum help the recovery case, but clearing $1,377–$1,384 would provide a more concrete bullish signal.

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PI dips below $0.090 as bearish momentum builds despite rising OI

Key takeaways

  • PI trades near $0.0865 on Monday, extending its decline for a fifth consecutive day.
  • Futures open interest rises to $10.15 million from $9.78 million, indicating increased outstanding exposure.
  • Support sits at $0.0827 and $0.0801, with initial recovery resistance at $0.0911.

Pi Network extends losses despite broader market optimism

Pi Network continues to weaken on Monday, trading below $0.090 as its losing streak stretches to five consecutive days. At approximately $0.0865, the token remains under pressure despite relatively upbeat sentiment across the wider cryptocurrency market.

The broader Fear and Greed Index stands at 67, according to CoinMarketCap, placing sentiment in greed territory. That reading suggests market participants retain an appetite for risk, but the optimism has yet to translate into a sustained recovery for PI.

The divergence highlights the importance of the token’s own price structure. While the wider market mood provides context, PI’s declining price and subdued momentum indicators suggest buyers have struggled to regain control.

Its next move will depend on whether nearby support attracts sufficient demand to interrupt the decline or selling pressure pushes the token toward its recent lows.

CoinAnk data shows PI futures open interest at $10.15 million, up from $9.78 million the previous day. The increase of approximately 3.8% indicates a modest buildup in outstanding derivatives exposure while the spot price continues to fall.

Open interest measures the notional value of active contracts. Its increase points to continued participation, but does not reveal whether that positioning is predominantly bullish or bearish.

Consequently, the latest rise should not be treated as confirmation of stronger buying demand. New short positions, additional long exposure or a combination of both could contribute to the increase.

For traders holding leveraged long positions, continued spot weakness presents a risk. Rising open interest alongside falling prices makes the direction and resilience of that exposure relevant, although the supplied figures do not establish which side dominates.

Moving averages and momentum favor sellers

PI remains below its major daily exponential moving averages, reinforcing the bearish technical picture.

The 50-day EMA stands at $0.0911, above the current price and acting as the first recovery hurdle. The 100-day EMA sits near $0.0991, while the 200-day EMA is considerably higher at $0.1219.

This arrangement shows that PI has yet to reclaim either its shorter-term trend reference or the averages associated with its broader price direction.

Momentum indicators also lean bearish. The Relative Strength Index reads approximately 43, below the neutral midpoint of 50. That suggests weaker buying momentum, though the indicator has not reached conventional oversold territory.

Meanwhile, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence remains slightly negative. Together, the RSI and MACD readings support a cautious near-term outlook, with sellers retaining the technical advantage.

Immediate support lies at $0.0827, corresponding to the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement measured between $0.1341 and $0.0704. The July 31 low at $0.0801 provides another nearby reference.

PI/USD Daily Chart

If PI loses those levels, the $0.0704 swing low becomes the next downside area to monitor. A move toward that level would represent a deeper extension of the current decline rather than confirmation that a rebound is underway.

For a recovery, buyers first need to overcome the 50-day EMA at $0.0911. Beyond it, resistance clusters around the 50% Fibonacci retracement at $0.0990 and the 100-day EMA at $0.0991.

Reclaiming those barriers would improve the technical picture. Until then, rising derivatives participation offers limited reassurance against the token’s persistent price weakness.

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Dogecoin tops $0.096 as ETF inflows and derivatives signal improving sentiment

Key takeaways

  • Spot DOGE ETFs attracted $327,360, extending their inflow streak to three weeks.
  • CoinGlass’ long-to-short ratio reached 1.01, indicating a slight bullish tilt.
  • Holding the 200-day EMA near $0.093 preserves the recovery outlook, with resistance at $0.102.

Dogecoin is extending its recovery on Monday, trading above $0.096 as continued ETF inflows and improving derivatives positioning support sentiment.

The meme coin found support around a key technical zone last week and remains above its major daily moving averages. However, momentum indicators present a mixed picture, suggesting buyers retain an advantage without establishing a decisive acceleration.

The immediate test is whether DOGE can defend its 200-day exponential moving average near $0.093 and generate enough demand to challenge resistance at $0.102.

DOGE ETFs extend their inflow streak

Spot Dogecoin ETFs recorded $327,360 in net inflows last week, according to SoSoValue data.

The positive total marked a third consecutive week of inflows, showing that investors continued adding exposure through the products.

Although the streak supports the demand picture, ETF flows represent only one part of Dogecoin’s market. The figures do not establish that every allocation came from an institutional investor or that buying through the funds will outweigh selling elsewhere.

Continued positive flows would reinforce the recovery case, particularly if allocations increase. Conversely, a slowdown or reversal would weaken one of the supporting factors behind the current advance.

For now, the main signal is consistency: the funds have maintained net buying for three straight weeks.

CoinGlass’ Dogecoin long-to-short ratio stood at 1.01 on Monday, moving slightly above the neutral threshold of one.

The reading indicates a marginal tilt toward long positions within the dataset. It is an improvement in sentiment, but its proximity to one suggests positioning remains nearly balanced rather than overwhelmingly bullish.

DOGE’s funding rate also supports that interpretation. After turning positive on September 10, it reached 0.0092% on Monday.

Positive funding means long traders are paying short traders, generally reflecting stronger demand for bullish exposure in perpetual futures.

However, funding is a positioning indicator rather than a prediction. If price weakens, leveraged longs can come under pressure despite positive sentiment.

Together, the two readings suggest improving confidence, while leaving room for caution about the strength of traders’ conviction.

The 200-Day EMA anchors the recovery

Dogecoin’s near-term technical outlook remains constructive while price holds above the 200-day EMA at approximately $0.093.

The shorter moving averages sit below that level, with the 50-day EMA near $0.088 and the 100-day EMA around $0.086.

Trading above all three averages supports the current recovery structure. The 200-day EMA is particularly relevant because it forms the nearest major support beneath the reported price.

The Relative Strength Index stands near 58, indicating positive momentum without an overbought reading.

The Moving Average Convergence Divergence indicator, however, has slipped marginally into negative territory. That points to fading upward momentum and suggests DOGE may need further consolidation before attempting a stronger advance.

The first notable upside barrier is $0.102, approximately 6% above $0.096. A sustained move above that level would strengthen the case for extending the recovery. 

DOGE/USD Daily Chart

Buyers would need to maintain the breakout rather than briefly push through resistance before retreating.

On the downside, losing $0.093 would bring the $0.088 horizontal support and nearby 50-day EMA into focus. The next moving-average support lies around $0.086, with a more distant structural floor at $0.070.

DOGE’s outlook therefore remains cautiously bullish. Continued ETF buying and supportive derivatives positioning could help, but defending $0.093 and clearing $0.102 are the key price tests.

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Earning without trading: Inside ApeX Omni’s vaults, protocol yield, and staking stack

  • ApeX offers vaults, staking, and bots for passive yield.
  • Protocol Vaults earn from daily liquidation-fee revenue.
  • Grid bots automate trades across USDT perpetual markets.

Most of the attention a perpetual exchange gets goes to the people trading 100x.

Most of the capital on one does not belong to them.

ApeX Omni has quietly built a second layer for everyone else: a set of products where the return comes from the platform’s own activity, from other traders’ skill, or from a rules-based bot, and where the user’s job is to allocate rather than to trade.

Four pieces make up that layer, and each one has a specific source of yield worth understanding before committing capital.

Community vaults: Back a trader instead of becoming one

ApeX Vaults connect skilled traders with capital providers in a decentralised, transparent structure.

A vault creator designs and executes the strategy; investors allocate funds and earn a proportional share of the profits without placing a single trade.

The creator earns up to 10% of the profits generated for investors, charged only on realised gains, so the incentive is aligned with investor outcomes rather than with activity.

The rules were opened up in April 2025: individual investment caps were removed, creators can attract unlimited investor capital, and the minimum deposit to launch a vault fell to 100 USDT.

Every vault discloses its historical daily, weekly, and monthly returns, current open positions and exposure, maximum drawdown, profit-and-loss attribution, and the creator’s track record, and top performers surface through the platform’s ranking tools.

Redemptions are available after a 24-hour holding period from the time of investment.

For creators running systematic strategies, a dedicated Vault Key enables full API trading on the vault’s capital, so bots and algorithmic systems can manage entries, exits, and rebalancing with the same speed and reliability as regular Omni Perps trading.

Protocol vaults: Yield from the platform’s own revenue

The most distinctive product in the stack is the official Protocol Vault, operated by ApeX Protocol itself.

Its yield source is real protocol revenue: 100% of the daily liquidation fees generated by Omni Perp trading across the platform.

Users deposit USDT, receive shares at the current net asset value, and their proportional share of that day’s liquidation-fee income is reflected in the NAV every day at 08:05 UTC.

The structure is deliberately simple. There is no lock-up; any amount can be redeemed at any time with principal and accrued yield returned to the Perp Account.

The minimum purchase is above 10 USDT, the per-user cap is 1,000,000 USDT, and the total vault cap was raised to 20,000,000 USDT in August 2025.

Because the yield is a function of liquidation activity, it rises and falls with how busy the platform’s perpetual markets are, which is exactly what makes it a bet on the venue rather than on any single trade.

New depositors get an accelerated introduction. The New User Initiative pays a 50% APY on a first-time depositor’s first 1,000 USDT for five days, after which principal and bonus interest roll automatically into the regular Protocol Vault.

The offer has no expiry date, applies to any account that has never subscribed to the official Protocol Vault before, and draws from a 300,000 USDT incentive pool that replenishes as each five-day allocation matures.

Staking: A share of fee revenue, paid in APEX

APEX staking distributes a direct share of platform revenue to long-term holders.

Since Staking 4.0 took effect in February 2025, all rewards are paid in APEX tokens funded by weekly buybacks from trading-fee revenue.

Per platform data, the buyback program has repurchased more than 16.5 million APEX to date, and staking distributions have totaled over 3 million USDC and 1.9 million APEX.

Rewards scale with three factors. The amount staked sets the base.

A lock-up multiplier rewards commitment: a 3-month lock earns the baseline, 6 months earns 2x, 12 months 4x, and 24 months 8x.

A trading-activity factor adds up to a further 0.5 for users who trade at least once a day on five days of the weekly epoch.

Epochs run Monday to Monday at 08:00 UTC, rewards begin accruing the day a stake is made, and claims open each Thursday.

Staked APEX also counts toward VIP fee-tier qualification, so the same tokens that earn yield reduce trading costs.

Grid bots: Automation for the sideways market

For users who want exposure to volatility without directional conviction, the Grid Bot automates the oldest range strategy in the book: laddered limit orders that buy low and sell high inside a defined price band.

It runs on every USDT perpetual pair on ApeX Omni, in Neutral, Long, or Short mode, with arithmetic or geometric grid spacing and take-profit and stop-loss levels that trigger as market orders.

Because the bot works primarily through resting limit orders, its fills typically earn maker rates.

Full functionality is available on web and in the mobile app, and multiple bots can run at once across different pairs or ranges.

The honest part

None of these products is risk-free, and the platform’s own documentation is direct about it.

Community vaults carry the creator’s strategy risk, and past performance is disclosed precisely because it does not guarantee future results.

Protocol Vault yield depends on liquidation activity, which varies with market conditions.

Grid bots can be caught outside their range in a strong trend, and leverage applied to a bot amplifies liquidation risk.

Staking rewards depend on platform fee revenue and the staker’s share of the total pool. The right framing is that these are ways to earn from a busy exchange without trading on it, not substitutes for risk management.

About ApeX Protocol

ApeX Protocol is a decentralized, non-custodial trading platform for perpetual derivatives, incubated by Davion Labs.

ApeX Omni is the protocol’s flagship platform, consolidating crypto perpetuals, TradFi perpetuals, prediction markets, and yield products into a single multi-chain interface.

Its mission is straightforward: deliver the speed and depth of a centralized exchange without asking traders to give up custody of their assets.

To explore vaults and staking, visit ApeX Omni or read the documentation at the ApeX Protocol GitBook.

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