Fed uncertainty sparked a wide crypto pullback. Bitcoin dropped around 3.8% to $108,572, with the majority of large-cap alts in the red too.
Institutional flows continue strong. Spot Bitcoin ETFs saw $202.48 million in net inflows on Oct. 28, highlighting persistent institutional demand.
Powell's remarks amplified near-term risk, but large ETF inflows and large cumulative assets point to longer-term conviction.
Crypto prices today reflected conflicting signs on October 30, 2025, with leading digital currencies trading down. The downward trend started after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell signaled the possibility of an interest rate-cutting pause. Irrespective of the decline, Bitcoin held above $108,000, and institutional buying of crypto ETFs remained high. Here’s why crypto market is down today, based on CoinMarketCap live data.
Bitcoin price valued at $108,572.57, fell 3.80% in the last 24 hours, yet still held a market cap of $2.16 trillion. The top cryptocurrency witnessed volumes touching $66.2 billion, with 19.94 million BTC in circulation. In spite of the day-to-day decline, Bitcoin remains in charge of the crypto space with over 45% of the entire digital asset market capitalization. Price action arises as institutional investors keep putting funds into Bitcoin ETFs, whose net inflows hit $202.48 million on October 28.
Ethereum price decreased 3.59% to $3,871.51, with a market cap of $467.28 billion. ETH trading volume totaled $38.9 billion, with 120.69 million tokens circulating.
Other top ten major cryptocurrencies exhibited similar downward movement:
XRP price was down 4.16% at $2.51 with a market cap of $150.67 billion. Solana price fell 1.38% to $191.95 while Dogecoin dipped 3.17% to $0.1877. At the same time, Cardano decreased 2.14% to $0.6295. BNB, however, showed relative strength, falling just 0.68% to $1,102.46, with a market capitalization of $151.85 billion. TRON (TRX) performed better as well, falling merely 0.88% to $0.2938.
Most crypto prices today fell, but stablecoins held their peg, with Tether (USDT) at $0.9999 and USD Coin (USDC) at $0.9997. These tokens recorded whopping trading volumes of $148.81 billion and $20.24 billion, respectively.
Also Read: Crypto Prices Today: Bitcoin Price Slides to $112,798, Ethereum and Solana Lead 3% Market Drop
The main cause of the current crypto price downfall is Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's statement regarding future monetary policy. In a press conference, Powell indicated that the October rate cut of 25 basis points may be the last cut for 2025.
Powell conceded ‘strongly differing opinions’ within Federal Reserve policymakers regarding future rate reductions but said "there's a growing chorus now of feeling like maybe this is where we should at least wait a cycle."
Traditional markets also showed this uncertainty, with the S&P 500 closing flat, Dow Jones closing down 0.2%, and Nasdaq closing up 0.6%. Cryptocurrency markets generally respond negatively to indications of more stringent monetary policy, as stronger interest rates reduce the attractiveness of risk assets to investors.
In spite of the decline in crypto prices today, institutional buying through exchange-traded funds was strong. Spot Bitcoin ETFs saw $202.48 million of net inflows on October 28, pushing total cumulative inflows to $62.34 billion.
BlackRock's IBIT took the top spot with $59.60 million in inflows, followed by Ark & 21Shares (ARKB) with $75.84 million, and Fidelity's FBTC with $67.05 million. The combined net assets for all Bitcoin ETFs are now $154.81 billion, which is 6.88% of Bitcoin's total market cap, according to a Yahoo Finance report.
Ethereum ETFs exhibited an even stronger recovery, posting $246.02 million in net inflows on October 28 following a temporary decline. Fidelity's FETH brought in $99.27 million, BlackRock's ETHA received $76.37 million, and Grayscale's ETH brought in $73.03 million. Total Ethereum ETF inflows have now topped $14.73 billion.
Trump Media and Technology Group has partnered with Crypto.com to introduce prediction markets to Truth Social. Truth Social thus becomes the first publicly traded social media firm to offer prediction market technology.
With Crypto.com's US affiliate, Crypto.com | Derivatives North America (CDNA), users of Truth Social will be able to trade on the results of real-world events such as elections, economic releases, sports, and commodities. The step is a sign of increasing mainstream acceptance of crypto-related services.
Also Read: Crypto News Today: China Cracks Down on $166M Crypto Laundering, Australia Moves Toward Stablecoin Licensing, and Solana ETF Launch Sees $69M Inflows
Crypto prices today mirrored short-term unease regarding monetary policy, but heavy institutional inflows indicate long-term faith is still in place. Investors need to watch Federal Reserve communications very closely, as any change in rate cut expectations may induce volatility within digital asset markets in the near term.
1. Why did Bitcoin drop today?
Bitcoin lost about 3.8% primarily due to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell hinting at a potential break in additional rate cuts, which increased risk asset uncertainty. Traders moved fast, cutting leveraged positions and selling into the news.
2. Are institutions still buying Bitcoin even after the decline?
Yes. Institutional demand was solid too: spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $202.48 million worth of net inflows on October 28, contributing to overall ETF inflows of around $62.34 billion, demonstrating constant long-term institutional demand.
3. How did altcoins fare versus Bitcoin?
Large altcoins echoed the weakness of Bitcoin. Ethereum dropped by around 3.6% to around $3,871, while XRP, Solana, Dogecoin and Cardano all saw declines. Stablecoins and some tokens like BNB and TRX were relatively more resilient.
4. What did the Fed comments do to move the market?
Jerome Powell said the recent October rate cut might be the last for now and described ‘strongly differing views’ among Fed officials. That hints at pausing further easing, making risk assets like crypto less attractive in the near term.
5. Should I worry about long-term crypto prospects after today’s drop?
Not exactly. Short-term fluctuations are to be expected around central-bank announcements. Sustained ETF buying and ongoing institutional take-up indicate lasting demand, but investors need to monitor Fed commentary and position accordingly.
Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp
_____________
Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance on cryptocurrencies and stocks. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. This article is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more about the financial risks involved here.