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October opened with tension in both politics and crypto. The U.S. federal government officially shut down for the first time in six years after Congress failed to agree on a budget deal. The deadlock has rattled global markets, and digital assets are no exception. Bitcoin
Bitcoin
1.98%
Bitcoin
BTC
Price
$66,784.03
1.98% /24h
Volume in 24h
$33.74B
Price 7d
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is holding around $114,355, while Ethereum
Ethereum
3.17%
Ethereum
ETH
Price
$1,829.37
3.17% /24h
Volume in 24h
$15.11B
Price 7d
Learn more
trades at $4,128 and XRP
XRP
9.39%
XRP
XRP
Price
$1.28
9.39% /24h
Volume in 24h
$2.72B
Price 7d
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at $2.83. Despite Bitcoin’s relative stability, most top altcoins are struggling to gain traction, leaving traders to scout for resilience in smaller caps and even among the best meme coins to buy.
Shutdowns historically have limited direct economic impact, but they tend to heighten volatility. This time, the risk-off sentiment is amplified by $300 million in liquidations and the fact that markets are closing out both monthly and quarterly cycles. The next 48 hours could bring sharp swings in Bitcoin and altcoins as headlines drive sentiment.
Kaitlan Collins: The last two government shutdowns that happened came during President Trump's first term in office. The last shutdown, which was also the longest in modern American history, did cost the U.S. economy $11 billion. pic.twitter.com/8cv0MPT0tk
— Blue Georgia (@BlueATLGeorgia) October 1, 2025
Despite macroeconomic stress, institutions continue to quietly accumulate. On September 30, spot Bitcoin ETFs saw $430 million in net inflows, while none of the 12 ETFs recorded outflows. Ethereum ETFs also closed strong, with $127 million in inflows and no redemptions. Japanese firm Metaplanet revealed it now holds 30,823 BTC, worth $3.33 billion at an average price of $107,912. Its position has returned nearly 500% year-to-date, underscoring institutional conviction even in volatile conditions.
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While large-cap tokens struggle, pockets of momentum remain. AI and launchpad projects are showing strength: Alchemist AI and Quack AI gained 12% in the last 24 hours, while LAUNCHCOIN and PUMP surged nearly 20%. Meme coins are also staging a cautious comeback. Ribbita (TIBBIR)
Ribbita by Virtuals
7.66%
Ribbita by Virtuals
TIBBIR
Price
$0.1318
7.66% /24h
Volume in 24h
$238.68K
Price 7d
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has climbed 30% over the past week, now boasting a $271.9 million market cap.
(Source: Coingecko)
Traders looking for higher-risk, higher-reward plays are increasingly turning to meme coins as they attempt to spot the best meme coins to buy before a potential Q4 rebound.
Seasonality offers a silver lining. October and November have historically been strong months for Bitcoin, with average gains of 19% and 43% respectively. If history rhymes, today’s cautious sentiment could set the stage for a broader recovery later this quarter.
The U.S. labor market showed fresh signs of weakness in September as ADP employment fell by 32,000, the steepest drop since March 2023. Economists had expected a gain of 50,000, following the prior month’s 54,000 increase. Instead, the data points to stagnation, or even reversal, in private job growth, signaling momentum loss in the broader economy heading into 2025. Markets reacted swiftly. Traders increased wagers on two more Federal Reserve rate cuts before year-end, betting that a slowing labor market will push policymakers to ease conditions faster. At the same time, Bitcoin surged past $117,000, climbing to $117,500 in afternoon trading. The move underscores the growing perception of BTC as a hedge against macro uncertainty and a potential beneficiary of looser monetary policy. With labor weakness emerging and rate expectations shifting, Bitcoin’s rally highlights how crypto continues to trade as a high-beta play on U.S. economic data and Fed policy. Against all expectations, September 2025 proved surprisingly kind to crypto. While BTC USD ticked higher in the first few weeks of the month, the sharp plunge in the final week failed to erase those gains. Instead, a mix of bullish Bitcoin news and resilient buyers provided strong support, establishing a solid foundation for BTC USDT to push above $125,000 in Q4 2025. Presently, the Bitcoin price is steady above $116,000. The digital gold has successfully reversed its losses from September 25. That said, this leg up is on relatively low trading volume but has nonetheless pumped some of the best cryptos to buy. From a technical standpoint, a close above $118,000 could ignite an expansion toward all-time highs. Markets opened in October with vigor, and that begs the question: why is crypto up today?
One key reason why crypto is up today is the surge in ETF and institutional capital. Per Coinglass, spot BTC ETFs alone recorded daily net inflows in the hundreds of millions. Donald Trump Jr. and WLFI CEO Zach Witkoff have announced that World Liberty Financial’s stablecoin, USD1, will debut on the Aptos network on October 6. According to Reuters, Witkoff also confirmed WLFI’s plans to launch a crypto-linked debit card, enabling users to spend digital assets in daily transactions. Beyond payments, the firm is exploring tokenization of traditional asset classes, including real estate, oil, and gas. HUGE: @DonaldJTrumpJr & @ZachWitkoff announce LIVE that @worldlibertyfi's USD1 is coming to Aptos 🦅 Aptos is USD1's first Move-based integration. The list grows of those choosing the fastest, cheapest, & most efficient rails in the world. Welcome to the United States of Aptos. pic.twitter.com/SiV8VcCDxQ — Aptos (@Aptos) October 1, 2025Bitcoin Jumps Above $117K as U.S. Jobs Data Miss Fuels Rate Cut Bets
Rarest September in Crypto History and Latest Bitcoin News as Tether Moves Billions in BTC
Why is Crypto Up Today? BTC USD Blasts Past 116K, But Could This Memecoin Retire Your Bloodlines?
Bitcoin
1.98%
Bitcoin
BTC
Price
$66,784.03
1.98% /24h
Volume in 24h
$33.74B
Price 7d
Buy with Best Wallet
popped about 3%,
Ethereum
3.17%
Ethereum
ETH
Price
$1,829.37
3.17% /24h
Volume in 24h
$15.11B
Price 7d
Buy with Best Wallet
climbed 4%, and the collective crypto market breathed in fresh bullish energy. The first day of Uptober’s aura seems to be working its magic.Trump Jr. and WLFI to Launch USD1 Stablecoin on Aptos, Debit Card Coming Soon
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