Crypto Market Today: Top Reasons Why BTC, ETH, XRP, & BNB Are Stalling

The crypto prices turbulence follows the recent crypto market crash, when a record $19 billion liquidation wave flushed excess leverage in under 24 hours.

Though derivatives funding rates have reset, momentum traders appear reluctant to step back in until volatility stabilizes.

ETF Outflows Hit ETH and BTC Price

Adding to the pressure, institutional capital continues to bleed from US spot crypto ETFs.

Data from Farside Investors shows four days of consecutive BTC ETF outflows, with net outflows of more than $1.2 billion, the second‑largest weekly setback since their launch in January 2024.

BlackRock‘s IBIT shed $101 million yesterday and $268 million last Friday, while Fidelity’s FBTC and ARKs ARKB saw combined outflows exceeding $450 million over the same week.

The outflow streak reduced total Bitcoin ETF assets under management to $149.6 billion (≈ 6.7% of total BTC market value), according to BitBos ETF tracker.

Ethereum spot ETFs are also reversing course. According to RootData, ETH funds recorded $312 million in net outflows last week, led by BlackRock‘s ETHA , which lost $245 million, followed by Grayscale’s ETHE with $101 million.

Collectively, ETH ETFs now manage $25.9 billion, representing 5.6% of Ethereums market capitalization.

ETF outflows have become a short‑term proxy for institutional risk sentiment on the crypto market. Traders appear to be scaling back exposure after last weeks volatility and the potential looming macro tightening cycle.

Rate Hike Worries Unsettle Macro Outlook

Macro headwinds are adding fuel to the crypto prices sell‑off. A Bloomberg report this morning indicated the Bank of Japan (BoJ) is close to its first interest‑rate hike in nearly two decades as inflation runs above target.

The news reverberated through global markets, pushing the yen higher and sparking risk‑off moves across equities and the crypto market.

Combined with the dollars renewed strength and tighter liquidity conditions globally, speculative assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum are caught in the cross‑currents.

Traders now fear synchronized tightening as central banks, including the Fed and ECB, hint at holding policy restrictive into 2026.

‘Insider Whale’ Deepens Short Position

On‑chain data revealed that the now-infamous ‘insider whale’ increased its Bitcoin short position by 100 BTC with 10x leverage, bringing its total exposure to 1,100 BTC (about $121 million).

The move has not gone unnoticed among traders and analysts.

Since this whale timed the market with impeccable precision, opening a massive BTC short just minutes before Trumps tariff announcement that triggered the cascade of liquidations, market participants are on edge.

Many are questioning what this whale knows, especially with the BTC price bleeding today.

Bearish sentiment is adding up, as trader Axel Adler pointed out that the bulls failed two attempts to regain control on October 13 and October 20. He commented:

Bitcoin Future Flows Index | Source: Axel Adler on X

Crypto Market Outlook

At the time of writing, the crypto prices face a major pullback, sparking market concerns. Bitcoin price was trading near $107,800 while Ethereum hovered around $3,800, down over 4% in 24 hours.

XRP and BNB also slipped by almost 5%, while XRP fared better at 2.2% amid low momentum.

For now, analysts are watching two immediate catalysts: a potential BoJ policy shift and this weeks Fed communications on liquidity tightening.

Should risk sentiment stabilize, short‑term support for the BTC price sits around $106,000, while $110,000 remains the key resistance to reclaim.

For now, the combination of ETF outflows, macro uncertainty, and aggressive short positioning keeps the market defensive.

Long‑term bulls, however, may view this cooling period as healthy after months of overheated speculation.