Crypto market news: BTC near $112K, ETH drops below $4,200 as fear grips traders

  • Bitcoin hovers above $112K, with bulls defending key support.
  • Ethereum drops 7% weekly as ETF outflows pressure sentiment.
  • Institutions stay invested, betting on a stronger Q4 recovery.

Crypto markets are still reeling from a fierce “Red September” selloff that has sent jitters through traders and investors alike.

There is a strong undercurrent of caution right now with investors watching the macro headlines, especially the Fed’s latest moves, and feeling heat from a resurgent US dollar and mounting regulatory uncertainties.

The fear factor is high among retail traders, especially with meme coins back in panic territory, but interestingly, big institutions haven’t cleared out.

That says a lot about the market’s long-term resilience.

For all the volatility, veteran investors seem to believe this selloff could be paving the way for a healthier Q4, especially if some regulatory clarity and macro relief finally show up.

Major crypto movers

Bitcoin’s been tossed around all week, trying to hold firm just above the $112,000 mark.

Despite all the drama, BTC’s daily change has been pretty muted, but it’s still down roughly 2% over the past seven days.

The tension is palpable; there’s talk that a slip below $112,000 could trigger another rapid drop, but so far, bulls are digging in their heels.

Ethereum is also fighting for higher ground, currently near $4,200.

Its weekly loss is steeper than Bitcoin’s, about 7% and analysts see ETF outflows and seasonal September trading patterns in play.

For Solana, it’s a similar story, with sellers driving the price toward $216, the coin shedding more than 2% in the latest session, and short-term holders running for cover.

XRP has been a mild outlier, eking out some gains where most heavyweights reversed. It bounced up to around $2.86 and stayed resilient after threatening a breakdown below key support.

DOGE, however, lost some of its shine, dropping just over 1% today as meme coin enthusiasm fizzled after the big liquidations.

Even with all the noise, the big coins aren’t in catastrophic territory, but the road to recovery is littered with caution tape.

Market update: News and broader trends

This latest bout of selling is being blamed on a handful of big-picture trends.

First and foremost, traders point to the Fed’s mixed messaging, a rate cut that should excite risk assets paradoxically made the US dollar even stronger, making it tougher for speculative bets on crypto to thrive.

Huge liquidations have unfolded, with more than $1.65 billion in leveraged longs forced out of the market.

Meme coins bore the brunt of the panic, but strong institutional flows suggest bigger players are sticking to their long game.

Regulatory uncertainty is a running theme, debates in the US and Europe over tougher anti-money laundering rules and crypto tax policies have stoked investor anxiety.

There are also worries over trade tensions and new tariffs added to US imports from India, Taiwan, and Canada, further muddying the waters and keeping risk appetite subdued.

Yet there’s a strange sense of optimism simmering.

Many believe the panic has set the stage for a more sustainable rally later in the year, especially if macro and regulatory conditions stabilize.

Institutional adoption, fresh network upgrades, and the possibility of new Bitcoin-related policies, perhaps even news from President Trump’s upcoming speech, are keeping hope alive that the tide could turn before year-end.

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Crypto market calm after Monday’s crash: what’s going on?

  • Ether fell as much as 9% in a single session on Monday, wiping out $500 million in bets.
  • Bitcoin traded 0.8% lower, with nervous positioning seen in options.
  • $23 billion in Bitcoin and Ether contracts are due to expire on Friday.

A sharp crash on Monday wiped more than $1.5 billion from leveraged cryptocurrency positions, underscoring how fragile digital asset markets remain.

The sudden liquidation wave, one of the largest this year, unfolded without a clear catalyst and hit Ether especially hard.

By Tuesday morning in Asia, the dust had begun to settle, but prices remained under pressure and traders were braced for more turbulence as a record options expiry approached.

Monday’s crash triggers heavy liquidations

On Monday, Ether led the declines with losses of up to 9%, sparking the unwinding of nearly $500 million in bullish bets.

Bitcoin also retreated, falling sharply before stabilising with a smaller 0.8% decline.

In total, more than $1.5 billion in leveraged positions were forced out across exchanges, making it one of the year’s biggest liquidation events after months of speculative rallies.

Analysts said the drop showed how quickly leverage combined with thin liquidity can turn into widespread selling.

Tuesday’s session shows nervous stability

By Tuesday morning in Asia, the market was calmer, though sentiment remained cautious.

Ether trimmed its losses to around 0.9%, while Bitcoin also traded 0.8% lower.

Options activity pointed to traders positioning for further swings rather than stability, with significant bets placed on Bitcoin falling below $95,000 or rising above $140,000 before the month-end.

The appetite for protection in both directions highlighted just how unsettled sentiment has become.

Expiring contracts add to pressure

Deribit data showed that roughly $23 billion of Bitcoin and Ether options contracts are due to expire on Friday, one of the largest expiries ever recorded.

This event has amplified caution across the market, with traders expecting volatility to dominate in the near term.

Short-term options have grown in popularity as investors look for cheaper exposure to sudden price moves, turning volatility itself into the trade.

Meanwhile, crypto treasury firms that earlier drove demand by raising funds to buy tokens have slowed their purchases.

With share prices falling, these companies have less capacity to raise capital, reducing support for prices and adding to downward pressure.

Leverage and liquidity risks remain

Data from Binance shows open interest in perpetual futures has surged over the past few months, with Ether seeing the strongest speculative activity.

The structure has left the token more exposed to sharp reversals, acting as a higher-beta proxy for digital asset sentiment in periods of stress.

Bitcoin, by contrast, has shown relatively steadier trading thanks to deeper liquidity and its growing role in institutional portfolios.

Even so, analysts caution that the higher levels of leverage in the system compared to last year mean the risk of large swings remains.

With the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates, some expect new inflows to offset selling pressure, but links between Bitcoin and equities suggest macro policy will continue to shape its path.

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Metaplanet adds another 5,419 BTC, achieves 395.1% YTD Bitcoin yield in 2025

  • Metaplanet buys 5,419 BTC, lifting reserves to 25,555 BTC worth $2.7B.
  • The company has funded the BTC purchases through $1B+ share sales and equity offerings.
  • Metaplanet targets 210,000 BTC by 2027, cementing role as Asia’s largest holder.

Metaplanet has once again expanded its Bitcoin (BTC) holdings, purchasing 5,419 BTC in a move worth more than $627 million.

The acquisition, disclosed on September 22, lifts the Tokyo-listed company’s reserves to 25,555 BTC, valued at over $2.7 billion.

With this purchase, the firm has re-entered the top five corporate Bitcoin holders, surpassing rivals such as Tesla and Coinbase, and has firmly established itself as Asia’s largest public holder of the digital asset.

Metaplanet’s largest purchase to date

Notably, the latest acquisition is the biggest single purchase in Metaplanet’s history. The company paid an average of roughly $115,900 per BTC, spending nearly 94 billion yen in total.

The acquisition has increased its cumulative Bitcoin investments to 398.21 billion yen, or about $2.67 billion, with an average purchase price of just over $104,000 per BTC.

The Chief Executive, Simon Gerovich, noted that the company’s Bitcoin Yield has surged to 395.1% year-to-date in 2025.

The rapid pace of accumulation underscores just how aggressive Metaplanet has become in executing what it describes as its “Bitcoin-first” strategy.

In mid-April this year, the firm held just 4,525 BTC. By June, it had already reached 10,000 BTC, months ahead of schedule. From 13,350 BTC at the end of June, Metaplanet has nearly doubled its reserves in less than three months.

From hospitality to a Bitcoin powerhouse

Metaplanet’s transformation has been dramatic. Once engaged in hospitality and media, the company has reinvented itself as a corporate Bitcoin treasury under Gerovich’s leadership.

The company now positions itself as a regional counterpart to Michael Saylor’s Strategy, whose 638,985 BTC holdings dominate the corporate Bitcoin landscape.

The strategy is ambitious. Metaplanet’s immediate target is 10,000 BTC by the end of 2025. By 2026, it aims to hold 100,000 BTC, before scaling to 210,000 BTC by 2027 — roughly 1% of Bitcoin’s fixed supply.

To fund these moves, the firm has leaned heavily on capital markets. Earlier this month, it completed an international share sale that raised more than $1 billion, while in September alone, it issued 385 million new shares to raise $1.4 billion.

Most of the proceeds are earmarked for Bitcoin purchases, linking investor funds directly to its treasury expansion.

Market impact

Despite the bold progress, Metaplanet’s share price dropped 1.64% on the day of the announcement, extending a 28% decline over the past month.

Even so, the stock remains up more than 66% year-to-date, reflecting ongoing investor interest in its role as a proxy for Bitcoin exposure.

The firm’s upgrade to mid-cap status by FTSE Russell this September has also strengthened its visibility, bringing passive inflows from global index funds.

The broader market reaction was muted, with Bitcoin (BTC) itself slipping below $115,000 around the same time, dragged lower by technical resistance, whale activity, and regulatory headlines.

Nevertheless, Metaplanet’s willingness to buy during periods of weakness underscores its conviction that Bitcoin is a long-term store of value rather than a short-term trade.

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Markets brace for September’s endgame as Bitcoin leads post-Fed crypto Rally

  • Bitcoin reclaims $117K as the Fed’s long-awaited rate cut revives trader optimism and risk appetite.
  • Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Dogecoin post strong price action, fueling hopes of further breakouts.
  • September’s $4.5B token unlocks cast volatility across altcoins, shifting capital flows in the sector.

The crypto market put on an energetic display this Friday, shaking off recent bouts of uncertainty with a strong overnight rally powered by fresh optimism.

Major tokens, led by Bitcoin surged after the US Federal Reserve delivered a long-awaited rate cut, sparking renewed risk appetite among traders.

The mood was lively as Bitcoin reclaimed key levels and Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Dogecoin each posted dynamic price swings.

This rebound arrives amid swirling sentiment, as traders balance bullish momentum against lingering macroeconomic headwinds.

Blue-chip movers: BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, DOGE

At the top of the board, Bitcoin (BTC) hovered above $117,000 in Friday trading, enjoying a lift after the Fed’s quarter-point rate cut put risk assets back in focus.

Bitcoin’s performance set the tone, showing about a 1% daily gain and signaling renewed comfort for bulls who had watched levels slip to near $115,000 earlier in the week.

Ethereum followed suit, trading at roughly $4,600 and holding above psychological support as technical analysts flagged signs of short-term resistance, but mostly positive undercurrents.

Solana (SOL) charged ahead to around $247, buoyed by talk of a potential breakout if its historic $250 resistance falls as traders are watching that level closely for momentum.

Meanwhile, XRP remained pressed just above $3.10; analysts noted a robust daily RSI and possible breakout if it clears this threshold, eyeing targets above $3.20 if upside volume persists.

Dogecoin (DOGE) slipped slightly, last seen around $0.28 after an initial morning pop; the meme coin is consolidating with active speculation about another upswing if key technical support holds.

Altogether, the major cryptos painted an optimistic but cautious technical picture as the day unfolded.

Markets brace for September’s endgame

Beyond the price action, several big stories have traders sitting up straight.

The Fed’s long-discussed interest rate cut was far and away the top catalyst, delivering a tailwind to the entire risk-asset space and providing a confidence boost at a time when global markets are searching for stability.

Industry insiders also watched closely as September’s scheduled token unlocks, totalling over $4.5B began to cast their shadow mid-month, stoking some sector-specific volatility and shifting flows among altcoins.

Regulatory winds were swirling as the SEC and CFTC neared new clarity on digital assets, sparking hope among institutions for more definitive rules of the road, adding another undercurrent of optimism for long-term industry maturation.

This blend of macro and sector developments means the stage is set for potentially explosive moves as Q4 approaches.

The upshot for traders and industry-watchers is clear: September’s endgame is shaping up as a moment of high drama.

With macro drivers, critical token dynamics, and regulatory headlines all hitting at once, the coming days could offer firm direction, whether that brings further upside or a new round of volatility remains the question hanging in the air.

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Bitcoin calm, altcoins surge: Fed cut ushers in new chapter for crypto markets

  • Bitcoin steady at $116K as Ethereum, Dogecoin, Solana, and XRP rally strong.
  • XRP and Dogecoin ETFs debut in US, unlocking fresh mainstream investor demand.
  • Fed rate cut sparks hope for a new crypto rally not seen since the 2021 bull run.

The crypto market woke up to a new monetary landscape after the US Federal Reserve delivered its long-awaited rate cut, lowering borrowing costs by 25 basis points.

Unlike past years when central bank decisions would send digital assets lurching in one direction, Wednesday’s policy pivot sparked a measured response from market heavyweights, even as traders searched for the next big catalyst.

Bitcoin steady, altcoins lead gains

Bitcoin proved its maturity by brushing off early choppiness. The world’s leading crypto hovered just above $116,000 for most of the day, slipping a modest 0.35% in a session marked by tight range-trading and lower-than-average spot volumes.

For seasoned market watchers, the calm felt telling: Wall Street’s risk radar may be shifting, but Bitcoin continues to march to its own beat.

Ethereum took the baton and ran with it. The second-largest cryptocurrency jumped 2.5%, breaking through the $4,600 mark in early trade.

Bulls pointed to optimism that cheaper money will revive DeFi and NFT activity, while a pickup in staking metrics added further tailwind.

Meme coin faithfuls celebrated a minor breakout as Dogecoin surged 5.5%. Blame it on lighter liquidity, or credit it to the social media machine, either way, DOGE’s run was the day’s standout among retail traders.

Solana, meanwhile, snapped back 3.9% to trade near $245, with bullish developer news propelling fresh capital into the ecosystem.

Not to be left out, XRP managed a 1.8% pop, riding a string of solid inflows and a brewing rumor mill over new ETF products.

Investors will be watching closely: if the Fed signals more cuts ahead, the tide for high-beta risk assets could turn decisively, something crypto bulls haven’t had in their favor since 2021.

New XRP, DOGE ETFs shine; LayerZero makes waves

While prices grabbed headlines, the day was just as busy beyond the charts.

For starters, US investors got their first taste of XRP and Dogecoin ETFs, thanks to listings from REX Shares and Osprey Funds.

It’s a landmark moment for altcoin access on mainstream platforms, and early volume figures suggest significant pent-up demand among both retail and institutional players.

Elsewhere, LayerZero, an up-and-comer in the cross-chain arena sealed its $110 million acquisition of Stargate, with overwhelming backing from the Stargate DAO.

The move was widely interpreted as a signal that decentralized finance is firmly in “consolidate and build” mode as competition heats up just below the major protocols.

With macro currents swirling and new products landing on the scene, digital assets are poised for a lively finish to September, one in which both the cautious and the bold can find opportunity.

All eyes are now on the next signals from Washington and Wall Street to see if crypto’s comeback rally truly has legs.

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