Crypto Today: Mixed ETF flows as Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP edge lower

  • $527 million in ETF inflows provides a buffer for Bitcoin. The token posts modest losses for a second consecutive day amid strong headwinds.
  • $103 million in ETF outflows accompanies pressure on Ethereum’s structural support.
  • $1.30 caps XRP’s upside as the SuperTrend and short-, medium- and long-term moving averages constrain recovery prospects.

$81,000 remains below Bitcoin’s (BTC) trading price on Tuesday. Trading is subdued across the broader cryptocurrency market. Within the $80,000-$81,000 support range, stability and consolidation continue to encourage institutional inflows.

TMGM Analysis: Financial Market News, Economic Calendar & Market Insights

Tracking Bitcoin closely, altcoins Ethereum (ETH) and Ripple (XRP) trade below $2,400 and $1.30, respectively. Despite pockets of demand, both tokens appear more likely to move lower than higher.

The Federal Reserve’s (Fed) October 28 monetary policy decision remains the main macroeconomic focus. Despite elevated inflation in the United States (US), market participants assign a high probability to rates staying in the 3.75-4.00% range, according to CME Group’s FedWatch Tool.

$527 million flows into Bitcoin ETFs

Monday brought a return of institutional buying, with Bitcoin spot Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) attracting $527 million after roughly $82 million in outflows last Friday. SoSoValue data puts cumulative inflows at $57.4 billion and net assets under management at $105 billion. If inflows remain consistent, they would help buffer Bitcoin against headwinds and improve the prospects for a recovery.

Bitcoin ETF fund movements | Source: SoSoValue

By contrast, Monday’s $103 million outflow from Ethereum spot ETFs extended their bearish run to four days. Since September 29, these ETH funds have registered inflows on just one day: October 13, when $25 million came in. Cumulative inflows nevertheless remain positive at $12.8 billion, with net assets averaging $15 billion.

Ethereum ETF fund movements | Source: SoSoValue

Monday’s activity in XRP spot ETFs was subdued following two days of withdrawals: $105,000 last Thursday and $2.5 million on Friday. The longer-term picture remains broadly favourable, however, with cumulative inflows reaching $1.8 billion and net assets standing at $1.5 billion.

XRP ETF fund movements | Source: SoSoValue

$80,000-$81,000 support holds: Bitcoin technical analysis

At $81,461, Bitcoin continues to recover above a closely grouped band of medium- and long-term Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs). Beneath the pair, the 50-day EMA stands at $80,620 and the 100-day EMA at $77,194. Further support for the broader bullish structure comes from the 200-day EMA at $76,032.

Also below the spot price, the SuperTrend line at $79,664 suggests that sharp downward moves are being absorbed. Momentum is less convincing: the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) remains below zero, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is around 46. Together, these readings point to moderate bullish momentum rather than a strong trend.

Daily BTC/USDT price chart

The first support level is the SuperTrend barrier near $79,664, followed by a deeper structural demand zone around the 200-day EMA at $76,032. Closing prices above these levels would keep the bias towards continued consolidation and attempts to move higher. Momentum indicators, however, favour a gradual advance rather than a sharp upward move.

$2,390 Ethereum and $1.30 XRP under pressure: Altcoin technical analysis

At $2,390, Ethereum remains below its 50-day EMA of $2,480, leaving the near-term outlook bearish. It still trades above the 100-day EMA at $2,360 and the 200-day EMA at $2,315, a configuration consistent with a correction within a broader uptrend. A negative MACD and a weak RSI near 36 reinforce the downside pressure. Selling interest persists, although conditions are not yet extremely oversold.

Daily ETH/USDT price chart

To reduce the current bearish pressure and restore scope for further gains, Ethereum would need a daily close above its first resistance at the 50-day EMA of $2,480. On the downside, the SuperTrend line at $2,665 provides immediate support. Nearer structural demand sits at the 100-day EMA of $2,360, followed by the 200-day EMA at $2,314.69. Losing these moving averages would likely intensify the correction and leave ETH vulnerable to a larger bearish extension.

Near $1.30, XRP remains beneath every key moving average and the active SuperTrend line, maintaining a bearish near-term bias. The 100-day EMA at $1.34 sits above the price, as do the 50-day and 200-day EMAs grouped around $1.38. This positioning signals pressure on the broader uptrend structure.

The momentum picture is similarly weak. Recent MACD readings are negative, with the indicator below zero, while an RSI of 35 sits just above oversold territory. Selling pressure remains dominant, but it is nearing a zone that could allow stabilisation or a corrective rebound.

Daily XRP/USDT price chart

A daily close above the first resistance, the 100-day EMA at $1.34, would be required to relieve immediate downside pressure. Beyond that level, the 50-day EMA at $1.38 creates a denser resistance barrier. Any rebound could falter there before testing the broader bearish structure.

At a higher level, the SuperTrend line at $1.46 represents a more important bullish trigger. A decisive break above it would be necessary to indicate that XRP has moved beyond its current corrective phase. Existing daily chart indicators offer no clear nearby support, leaving the token exposed to further losses until fresh demand develops.

(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)

Crypto ETFs: Key questions

By tracking the price of an underlying asset, an Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) gives investors exposure to that asset. This investment vehicle or index can follow a single asset or a collection of assets and sectors. A Bitcoin ETF, for instance, follows the price of Bitcoin. Investors use ETFs to obtain exposure to a particular asset.

Yes. Approval for the first US Bitcoin futures ETF came from the US Securities & Exchange Commission in October 2021. Seven Bitcoin futures ETFs have received approval in total, while more than 20 await regulatory permission. Describing the cryptocurrency industry as new and vulnerable to manipulation, the SEC has used these concerns to explain its delays to crypto-related futures ETFs over the last few years.

Yes. In January 2024, several Bitcoin spot Exchange-Traded Funds received SEC approval for listing and trading. The move enabled institutional capital and mainstream investors to trade the leading cryptocurrency. The industry welcomed the decision as a game changer.

Exposure to a cryptocurrency without owning it is the principal benefit of crypto ETFs, reducing the risks and costs of holding the asset. Investors also face a lower learning curve and benefit from greater security because the funds are responsible for safeguarding the underlying holdings. The principal drawback is the lack of direct ownership, captured by the crypto saying “not your keys, not your coins.” Fees charged for active management also increase the costs associated with holding crypto through ETFs. Although these funds reduce the risks of holding an asset, movements in the underlying cryptocurrency’s price are still likely to feed through to the investment vehicle.