Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (October 3) as of 9:00 a.m. UTC.
Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.
Bitcoin and Ether price update
Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$120,724, trading 13 percent higher over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$118,777, while its highest was US$121,044.
Bitcoin price performance, October 3, 2025.
Chart via TradingView
Over the next five years, Bitcoin could realistically reach US$200,000 to US$500,000 per coin, according to an emailed note from Bitget Chief Analyst Ryan Lee. Lee sees sustained institutional inflows and broader mainstream adoption as key drivers, with more than 20 percent of global financial institutions expected to integrate Bitcoin exposure.
Emerging markets, in addition, may increasingly use it as a hedge against inflation, although risks such as geopolitical tensions or technological vulnerabilities could still trigger sharp 30 to 50 percent drawdowns.
Lee also stressed that, ‘regulatory clarity, particularly from bodies like the SEC and EU’s MiCA framework, will be pivotal in reducing uncertainty and encouraging wider participation, potentially unlocking trillions in sidelined capital if frameworks remain innovation-friendly.’
Bitcoin dominance in the crypto market is at 56.53 percent, showing a slight week-on-week dip.
Ether (ETH) is also performing well, up 2.8 percent over 24 hours to US$4,469.84. Ether’s lowest valuation on Friday was US$4,358.45, and its highest was US$4,549.77.
Momentum indicators are reinforcing the bullish case for ETH. Both the 25-day and 50-day moving averages are acting as resistance, and analysts see a decisive close above US$4,500 as the next trigger. From there, projections point to an 80–100 percent rally into 2026, with Ether’s recent low now looking like a confirmed floor.
Altcoin price update
- Solana (SOL) was priced at US$220.16, an increase of 5.4 percent over the last 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Wednesday was US$217.81, and its highest valuation was US$220.69.
- XRP was trading for US$2.96, up by 3.2 percent over the last 24 hours, and its highest valuation of the day. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$2.92.
ETF data and derivatives trends
Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) continued to see institutional demand this week. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded roughly US$2.25 billion in weekly inflows, led by BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) (NASDAQ:IBIT), which accounted for the largest single-fund purchases (IBIT bought roughly US$400–470 million on heavy flow days).
Total assets under management across US Bitcoin spot ETFs are now estimated at about US$155 billion, up from roughly US$100 billion earlier in the year, with major funds such as Fidelity’s (TSX:FBTC) and ARK 21Shares (BATS:ARKB) also posting notable inflows during the same stretch.
Today’s crypto news to know
Stablecoin market passes US$300 billion
The stablecoin market has climbed past US$300 billion for the first time, but analysts caution that current momentum may not be enough to meet future targets.
Coinbase projects the market will reach US$1.2 trillion by 2028, while Standard Chartered pegs it closer to US$2 trillion and Citi expects more than US$4 trillion by 2030.
Growth this year has averaged about US$10 billion in new issuance each month — a pace that would take over five years to meet the lower end of forecasts. Tether’s USDT remains the clear leader, holding 58 percent of supply and adding USD$2.6 billion in circulation this week.
Circle’s USDC and Ethena’s USDe also expanded, while BlackRock’s USD and PayPal’s PYUSD posted some of the strongest percentage gains.
The growth streak marks the fastest since early 2021, when the sector ballooned nearly 300 percent in half a year.
Sanctioned rouble stablecoin draws attention at Token2049
A rouble-pegged stablecoin, already under US and UK sanctions, surfaced as a sponsor of the Token2049 conference in Singapore, according to a Reuters report.
The token, known as A7A5, was launched in January by a Russian defense-linked lender and a Kyrgyz payments firm, and has been flagged by Western officials as a tool for sanctions evasion.
Despite this, the company behind A7A5 held a booth at the conference, was listed as a platinum sponsor, and even saw one of its executives speak on stage before references were removed following media inquiries.
Trading in the token has surged, reflecting rising demand from Russian users locked out of traditional banking systems.
Strategy’s Bitcoin holdings reach record US$77.4 billion
Corporate Bitcoin pioneer Strategy has disclosed that its BTC holdings are now worth US$77.4 billion, the highest in its history.
The company first began buying Bitcoin in 2020, when its position was worth about US$2.1 billion, a move initially seen as radical.
Since then, its treasury has ridden multiple market cycles, growing to US$5.7 billion by 2021, falling back to US$2.2 billion during the 2022 crash, and then steadily building through consistent purchases.
By 2023, Strategy’s holdings were valued at US$8 billion, and by 2024 they had reached US$41.8 billion. The 2025 rally, which has pushed Bitcoin above US$124,000, has nearly doubled the value of its stack in less than a year.
Separately, Strategy secured relief from a looming tax liability after the IRS ruled that unrealized crypto gains will not count toward the 15 percent corporate minimum tax.
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.