Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Wednesday (October 15) 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 price performance, October 15, 2025.
Chart via TradingView
Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$111,606, up by 0.4 percent in 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$110,456, and its highest was US$113,537.
Analyst Scott Melker described the market’s resilience as “a small miracle,” noting that despite expectations for October to be “deep in the red,” the crypto sector demonstrated structural strength. Bitcoin dipped by 7 percent and Ethereum dropping 12 percent, yet on-chain data show that 97 percent of Bitcoin’s circulating supply remains in profit, and short-term holders account for 44 percent of realized capitalization, which is the highest level ever recorded.
Meanwhile, trader Ted Pillows noted that the Bitcoin four-year cycle may be over, emphasizing liquidity as the key driver rather than cyclical trends.
‘The Fed has now started to do monetary easing, which means Bitcoin could peak in 2026,’ Pillows posted in X.
Furthermore, Pillows added that the filling of the CME gap often signals potential upside momentum, although uncertainty around Trump-era tariffs and ongoing US-China trade negotiations continues to pose short-term risks.
Bitcoin dominance in the crypto market now stands at 57.01 percent.
Ether (ETH) was trading at US$4,085.68 as of the time of this writing. Its lowest valuation on Wednesday was US$3,929.71, and its highest was US$4,203.80.
Ethereum has also rebounded strongly, trading above US$4,100 after last week’s $19 billion market correction. Analysts are bullish on ETH, with some projecting a potential rally to US$5,200 while citing the Ethereum Foundation’s new privacy initiative as a critical catalyst.
The “Privacy Cluster,” a 47-person research and engineering team, aims to embed protocol-level privacy features, including private payments, decentralized identity, and zero-knowledge infrastructure, directly into Ethereum’s architecture.
Altcoin price update
- Solana (SOL) was priced at US$207.60, an increase of 5.1 percent over the last 24 hours and its highest valuation of the day. Its lowest valuation on Wednesday was US$192.60.
- XRP was trading for US$2.50, up by 3.1 percent over the last 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$2.41, and its highest was US$2.54.
Crypto derivatives and market indicators
Total Bitcoin futures open interest was at US$73.09 billion, a decrease of roughly 0.38 percent in the last four hours.
Ether open interest stood at US$47.32 billion, down by 2.77 percent in four hours.
Bitcoin liquidations were at US$13.07 million over four hours, primarily forcing long positions to close, which could lead to selling pressure. Ether liquidations totaled US$12.25 million, with the majority being long positions.
Fear and Greed Index snapshot
CMC’s Crypto Fear & Greed Index has dipped back into fear territory after shifting in between neutral for the past few weeks. The index currently stands around 37.
Today’s crypto news to know
Corporate Bitcoin holdings surge to US$117B
Public companies significantly increased their Bitcoin exposure in Q3, with the total holdings of corporate treasuries reaching US$117 billion.
Bitwise data shows 172 firms now hold more than 1.02 million BTC, up nearly 40 percent from the prior quarter.
MicroStrategy remains the largest holder with 640,031 BTC, while newer entrants like Metaplanet more than doubled their positions. Analysts say the trend reflects a strategic pivot, with firms treating Bitcoin as both a hedge and a long-term treasury reserve.
Public companies led the accumulation, adding roughly 193,000 BTC, far outpacing private firms and ETFs.
Strategic Bitcoin reserve set to add US$14B in government-held BTC
The US government is preparing to retain approximately 127,271 BTC, valued at US$14.2 billion, as part of a newly established Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
These assets were confiscated in a joint US–UK crypto fraud case tied to Chen Zhi of the Cambodia-based Prince Group.
Instead of selling the Bitcoin, authorities plan to hold it long-term, signaling a shift in how states view digital assets.
Executive Order 2025 mandates that crypto forfeited in criminal or civil cases be allocated to the reserve rather than auctioned.
Analysts note this move may bolster Bitcoin’s perception as a viable state-held asset. The retained coins are expected to complement ongoing institutional accumulation and ETF inflows, potentially strengthening broader market stability.
NYC launches nation’s First Municipal Crypto Office
New York City Mayor Eric Adams established an Office of Digital Assets and Blockchain, appointing Moises Rendon as executive director.
The office aims to promote responsible innovation, coordinate municipal policy, and position NYC as a global crypto hub.
Adams, an early Bitcoin and Ethereum recipient of his mayoral salary, emphasized the potential for digital assets to expand opportunities for underbanked communities.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.