Bitcoin (BTC) battles macro headwinds despite improved ETF inflows

  • Bitcoin price remains range-bound amid long-term holder selling and falling demand.
  • US Bitcoin ETFs inflows signal cautious institutional optimism.
  • Macro uncertainty from the Fed and government shutdown keeps BTC under pressure.

Bitcoin (BTC) continues to navigate turbulent market conditions as macroeconomic uncertainty and institutional dynamics shape its near-term trajectory.

Despite renewed interest from investors and a notable surge in Bitcoin ETFs, the world’s largest cryptocurrency faces persistent pressure from long-term holder selling, cautious institutional sentiment, and a complex macro backdrop influenced by the Federal Reserve and ongoing government shutdown developments.

Analysts and strategists are watching closely as BTC balances between cyclical signals and broader market realities in November.

Bitcoin price struggles amid range-bound trading

Bitcoin price has remained largely trapped between $106,000 and $116,000 over the past two weeks, signalling a period of consolidation rather than upward momentum.

Long-term holders have accelerated their monthly distribution to roughly 104,000 BTC, marking one of the heaviest selling waves since mid-July, according to the recent Bitfinex report.

This persistent supply pressure is coinciding with muted institutional demand following October’s sharp liquidation event, leaving BTC caught in a sideways range with limited short-term catalysts.

Analysts warn that unless ETF inflows or new spot demand increase, the cryptocurrency could test support near $106,000, and a sustained breach of this level might open the path to $100,000.

ETF inflows signal cautious optimism

Despite these headwinds, Bitcoin ETFs have shown signs of recovery, injecting optimism into the market.

On November 11, US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $524 million in cumulative net inflows.

US Bitcoin ETFs inflows
Total Bitcoin Spot ETF Net Inflow (USD) | Source: Coinglass

This return of demand, alongside smart money traders adding net long positions totalling over $8.5 million, highlights a growing, albeit measured, confidence among institutional participants.

Analysts have noted that sustained ETF inflows may signal an end to the broader de-risking phase observed after the market downturn, even as retail participation remains subdued.

Macro factors keep BTC on edge

Despite increased ETF inflows, macro conditions continue to weigh heavily on Bitcoin (BTC).

The Federal Reserve’s recent 25-basis-point rate cut and the formal end of its balance sheet runoff are tempered by internal division over the next steps, with some officials citing risks from persistent inflation and others warning of slowing labour markets.

Meanwhile, the Secured Overnight Financing Rate recently plunged to 3.92%, which financial analyst Shanaka Anslem described as indicative of market panic.

These developments, combined with falling consumer confidence and cooling wage growth, have created uncertainty around near-term capital flows and investor appetite for risk assets like Bitcoin.

The ongoing government shutdown adds another layer of complexity.

While the Senate moves toward a potential resolution, analysts note that the relief may boost equities more than cryptocurrencies, as capital appears to rotate toward traditional financial markets while liquidity waits on the sidelines for normal economic data to resume.

These dynamics have contributed to continued downside pressure on BTC, even as technical and ETF-related signals point to potential stabilisation.

Bitcoin price outlook for November

Looking ahead, November may not deliver the historic rallies often seen in the penultimate month of the year, as Bitcoin (BTC) remains caught between conflicting forces.

While ETF inflows and smart money activity provide a foundation for renewed optimism, ongoing distribution by long-term holders, macro uncertainty, and cautious institutional behaviour continue to weigh on the Bitcoin price.

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AI-driven phishing scams and hidden crypto exploits shake Web3 security

  • SBI Crypto was breached, losing $21 million in assets via a suspected laundering operation.
  • A phishing scam targeting GMGN tricked 107 users into approving fake transactions.
  • Honeypot token scams rose 600% month-on-month, with over 2,100 tokens detected.

Web3 has entered a new phase of cyber threats, with attackers now leveraging artificial intelligence, automation tools, and complex social engineering to exploit users across decentralised networks.

According to GoPlus Security, over $45.84 million was lost in October alone from a surge of scams, phishing attacks, token exploits, and wallet hacks.

The data reveals how scammers are evolving their methods, creating high-impact exploits that have affected thousands of users and platforms across Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, and Base.

Hackers use AI and automation to boost phishing campaigns

GoPlus observed a sharp increase in phishing attacks that led to more than $3.5 million in losses.

A growing number of these scams are powered by “Phishing-as-a-Service” platforms, where threat actors use AI tools to rapidly generate fake websites and deploy large-scale campaigns with lower operational costs.

One of the largest phishing cases involved the trading platform GMGN.

In this incident, 107 users were misled by a fake third-party website into authorising harmful transactions. Losses totalled more than $700,000.

The phishing scam replicated legitimate wallet interactions, tricking victims into signing approval requests that gave attackers control over their funds.

In another case, a trader approved a malicious “increaseAllowance” command, resulting in a $325,000 loss in Coinbase Wrapped Bitcoin.

Separately, another user was hit with a $440,000 loss after signing a fraudulent “permit” transaction.

Both exploits highlight the rise in fake contract approvals, often enabled by deceptive interfaces mimicking trusted apps.

Sophisticated exploits linked to state-style laundering tactics

The single largest exploit came from SBI Crypto, which suffered a breach that drained $21 million worth of digital assets. The losses included Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and Bitcoin Cash.

Although SBI Crypto did not officially confirm the source of the breach, a joint investigation by ZachXBT and Cyvers suggested patterns similar to those used by North Korean hacker groups.

The attackers allegedly funnelled funds through Tornado Cash, a known crypto mixer previously sanctioned for its role in laundering state-sponsored thefts.

This laundering method closely mirrors activity linked to the Lazarus Group, though the report stressed that the connection remains unverified.

Web3 platforms under attack from honeypot tokens

Alongside phishing and exploits, the report found a dramatic spike in honeypot tokens.

These are malicious smart contracts that allow users to buy tokens but prevent them from selling or withdrawing funds.

Honeypot tokens surged 600% last month, reaching 2,189 identified tokens—though still far fewer than the 40,000 recorded in June 2025.

Goplus honeypot tokens
Source: GoPlus Security

The Binance Smart Chain accounted for the bulk of these tokens at 1,780, followed by 216 on Ethereum and 131 on Base.

These tokens are embedded with hidden restrictions that block transactions, stranding investor funds in illiquid assets.

Their increase underscores a shift toward embedded contract-level fraud, which can bypass basic security tools.

Tokens and socials compromised in wider exploits

The wider ecosystem also saw losses from social media and platform-based breaches.

Astra Nova’s official social account was hijacked, triggering a large-scale sell-off of its native token RVV and causing losses of approximately $10.3 million.

In a separate exploit, decentralised finance platform Garden Finance was hit with a vulnerability that cost users around $10.8 million, according to ZachXBT.

These incidents reflect a widening surface of attack across both user-facing interfaces and backend contract code.

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Crypto update: Bitcoin ETFs see $300M inflow as investors ‘buy the dip’

  • US Bitcoin ETFs saw nearly $300 million in net inflows on Tuesday.
  • The inflows snapped a two-week streak of redemptions from the products.
  • Fidelity’s FBTC led the way with $165.9 million, followed by Ark’s ARKB.

US-based Bitcoin ETFs have snapped a two-week streak of redemptions, pulling in nearly $300 million in net inflows on Tuesday as investors took advantage of lower prices to rotate back into cryptocurrency-linked products.

The renewed buying interest, which follows a period of significant outflows, suggests that institutional investors are viewing the recent market dip as a buying opportunity, reaffirming their long-term conviction in the asset despite short-term volatility.

A decisive reversal after weeks of outflows

Early data from SoSoValue shows a significant reversal of last week’s trend, which saw over $1.17 billion withdrawn from digital asset investment products.

Fidelity’s FBTC led the charge with $165.9 million in fresh capital, while Ark 21Shares’ ARKB added $102.5 million.

Notably, even Grayscale’s GBTC, which has experienced consistent outflows for months, posted a net inflow of $24.1 million.

This return of capital to US products contrasts with the European market, which has continued to see steady inflows, suggesting a more consistent long-term positioning from investors outside the United States.

Altcoins continue to attract capital

While Bitcoin and Ether products have been subject to macro-driven volatility, certain altcoins have continued to attract steady investment.

According to data from CoinShares, Solana-linked products notched another $118 million in inflows last week, bringing its impressive nine-week total to $2.1 billion.

This pattern indicates that investors are differentiating between core assets sensitive to macro pressures and emerging networks with strong on-chain momentum.

Fundamentals remain strong as supply milestone nears

Despite the recent price turbulence, market experts maintain that Bitcoin’s underlying fundamentals remain robust.

Thomas Perfumo, a global economist at Kraken, highlighted an upcoming supply milestone as a key factor in the long-term investment case.

“In approximately seven days, Bitcoin’s circulating supply will cross 19.95 million coins, 95% of its max supply of 21 million coins,” he wrote in a note provided to CoinDesk.

Perfumo said this event underscores Bitcoin’s programmable scarcity and its enduring role as a “credibly neutral, globally accessible store of value.”

Gold nears record highs amid fiscal warnings

In the broader macroeconomic landscape, gold continued to trade near record highs at $4,134.6 per ounce.

The precious metal’s strength is being fueled by growing concerns over US fiscal stability.

Economist James Thorne has warned that the US has crossed a fiscal “Rubicon” that could trigger a “Bretton Woods 2.0” style reset, potentially revaluing gold to manage soaring debt levels.

The impact of surging bullion prices is already being felt, with major producer Barrick Mining reporting a $1.3 billion quarterly profit and a dividend hike.

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Bitcoin faces quantum risk: why SegWit wallets may offer limited protection

  • SegWit wallets delay public key exposure until the point of transaction.
  • Holding Bitcoin in SegWit addresses offers temporary protection if left untouched.
  • Critics believe practical quantum computing remains decades away.

Quantum computing’s long-theorised threat to Bitcoin is resurfacing in the crypto conversation.

The idea that a powerful enough quantum machine could break cryptographic security and expose Bitcoin keys has moved from theoretical chatter to practical concern.

Bitcoin analyst Willy Woo recently suggested a short-term safeguard: store Bitcoin in SegWit addresses for the next seven years.

While the tactic has sparked debate, the broader community remains divided over whether quantum computers are a real, imminent threat or just the latest tech-driven scare.

SegWit offers delayed public key exposure

Segregated Witness (SegWit), introduced on 23 August 2017, is a protocol upgrade that changes how data is stored in Bitcoin transactions. Woo suggests that SegWit’s delayed public key exposure could act as a deterrent against quantum attacks.

Unlike Taproot, which exposes the public key immediately within the address, SegWit only reveals it during transaction execution.

This delay makes it harder for a quantum computer to reverse-engineer the private key from the public one before the transaction is completed.

Under current conditions, exposing a public key does not present much of a problem. However, if and when quantum computing advances to the point of real-time decryption capabilities, the exposure window of Taproot wallets could be a key vulnerability.

In contrast, SegWit’s hashing conceals the public key behind a layer of encryption until absolutely necessary. This may keep Bitcoin more secure during this anticipated transition period.

Hodling in SegWit comes with major constraints

While the SegWit method may offer protection, it carries a critical limitation. According to Woo, users must not move their Bitcoin from the SegWit address.

Any outgoing transaction would expose the public key, potentially inviting a quantum attack if executed during the transaction.

As such, this method is not viable for active traders or anyone needing liquidity in the short term. It is a static defence mechanism, not a dynamic solution.

This approach effectively puts Bitcoin in a vault. It is safe but inaccessible. It is also only as secure as the continued absence of real-time quantum decryption.

If a breakthrough comes earlier than anticipated, even SegWit-held coins could be compromised during withdrawal. Woo acknowledges that this is only an intermediary measure.

It is meant to bridge the gap until a quantum-resistant Bitcoin protocol becomes available.

Experts disagree over SegWit’s efficacy

Not everyone agrees that SegWit provides any meaningful protection. Charles Edwards, founder of digital asset fund Capriole, has dismissed the idea as ineffective.

He argues that SegWit is not a quantum-safe model and relying on it could delay necessary network upgrades.

According to Edwards, the belief that Bitcoin has a seven-year buffer period could create complacency, weakening pressure to accelerate work on quantum-resistant algorithms.

This disagreement underscores a broader lack of consensus in the crypto space on how seriously the community should take quantum risk.

Although protocol upgrades are under development, there is concern among developers that current initiatives are progressing too slowly.

Some argue that existing security layers were not built with quantum capabilities in mind, making them structurally vulnerable regardless of transaction format.

Sceptics say quantum fears are overblown

Despite the alarm, some in the community believe the risk is being overstated. Critics point to quantum computing’s persistent technical limitations.

In a post in February, Bitcoin advocate Adrian Morris claimed quantum tech is “barely viable”, citing issues with thermodynamics, memory, and persistent calculations.

Others argue that traditional financial systems and major banks would be far more attractive targets for early quantum attacks than a decentralised network like Bitcoin.

Woo notes that Bitcoin held by custodians, such as ETFs or treasury firms, may be better shielded in the interim. This is only true if those institutions take proactive steps to secure their holdings.

Until a comprehensive upgrade is implemented, the quantum debate will continue to shape discourse around Bitcoin’s long-term security.

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Bitcoin holds $106K as shutdown optimism fuels broad market rally

  • Bitcoin bounced back to trade near $106,000 on shutdown resolution hopes.
  • The end of the shutdown could release a $150-200B liquidity jolt into markets.
  • However, the shutdown is stalling crucial US crypto regulation bills.

Cryptocurrency markets started the week on a strong footing, with Bitcoin holding above the key $105,000 level as growing optimism around a potential resolution to the US government shutdown helped steady broader risk sentiment.

Following a volatile period, a weekend rally extended into Monday, with Bitcoin recovering from an early dip to trade near $106,000.

However, analysts warn that while an end to the shutdown could provide a short-term liquidity boost, the prolonged political impasse has created a significant, under-the-radar threat to the crypto industry’s long-term regulatory future.

The upbeat mood was felt across the asset spectrum.

In the crypto space, Ether traded just under $3,600, while XRP led gains among major altcoins, jumping 9% on anticipation of a potential spot ETF.

Crypto-related stocks, which suffered heavy losses last week, also rebounded strongly, with Coinbase (COIN) rising 4.1% and Robinhood (HOOD) gaining 4.8%.

The rally mirrored gains in traditional markets, where the S&P 500 climbed 1.6% and the Nasdaq rose 2.2%.

This recovery was largely fueled by growing confidence that the record-breaking 39-day government shutdown may be nearing an end, a sentiment bolstered by prediction market data and a weekend social media post from President Donald Trump.

The shutdown’s double-edged sword for crypto

While the market is cheering a potential resolution, the shutdown has created a complex “Jekyll and Hyde” scenario for the digital asset industry, according to David Nage, head of research at Arca.

In a Monday note, Nage explained the positive side: an end to the shutdown could release a massive liquidity injection of 150–200 billion from the Treasury General Account into bank reserves. Historically, such a jolt has been a major tailwind for risk assets like crypto.

However, there is a significant downside.

“The larger story for digital asset adoption over the next three to five years is being shaped behind the scenes… and the Banking Committee staff rooms are currently dark due to the shutdown,” Nage explained.

A race against time for US crypto regulation

The ongoing shutdown has completely stalled progress on crucial crypto legislation, including the CLARITY Act and the Senate’s digital asset market structure bill.

Nage warned that this delay poses a greater long-term threat to the industry than recent market volatility.

With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, the window for passing comprehensive digital asset regulation is closing.

“If comprehensive digital asset legislation is delayed until 2026 and then dies in midterm politics, the industry will miss out on the regulatory clarity needed to attract institutional capital and achieve sustainable growth,” Nage said.

He concluded that the timing is critical. “If the shutdown ends in November, we may benefit from both a liquidity injection and a legislative opportunity,” he said.

If it drags into December, the legislation may miss its window.

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