- Ethereum, XRP, BNB, and Solana also posted gains amid a broader cryptocurrency rally.
- Market momentum increased following a delay in U.S. jobs data and as the government shutdown continued.
- Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) saw net inflows of $2.25 billion for the week, after outflows the week before.
- Traders anticipate a 25-basis-point cut at the upcoming U.S. Federal Reserve meeting, according to CME Group’s FedWatch tool.
Bitcoin traded near $120,000 in early U.S. market hours on Friday, gaining almost 1% and reflecting strong capital inflows across digital assets. The move came as several cryptocurrencies posted similar gains during a widespread market rally.
According to CoinGecko data, Ethereum rose 1.6% and XRP increased 1.8%. Other major altcoins such as BNB advanced by 4.7%, while Solana climbed 2.5%. The positive returns followed a weak September for the sector.
The uptick in cryptocurrency values corresponded with a broader rise in market sentiment after the release of U.S. jobs data was delayed and the government shutdown entered its third day. Despite the ongoing shutdown, Nasdaq and S&P 500 futures moved higher. Analysts noted that investors appear willing to give lawmakers time to resolve the situation.
Futures traders using CME Group’s FedWatch tool now assign a 97.8% probability to a 25-basis-point cut at the next U.S. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. “The U.S. government shutdown is making markets thirsty for risk. Fed rate cuts now look more likely, and BTC’s suddenly the adult in the room,” said BTC Markets analyst Rachael Lucas.
Retail enthusiasm remained elevated, with investor sentiment toward Bitcoin described as “extremely bullish.” ETF-focused data from SoSoValue showed spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $627.2 million in net inflows on Thursday. For the week, Bitcoin ETFs saw $2.25 billion in net inflows, reversing $902 million in net outflows from the previous week. Bloomberg Senior ETF Analyst Eric Balchunas noted that BlackRock’s IBIT ETF has joined the top 20 ETFs by assets, exceeding $90.7 billion.
Investors are monitoring whether Bitcoin can surpass its previous record high of $124,000, which was hit in August. Market observer Michaël van de Poppe commented, “I suppose we’ll start seeing a new ATH coming in during the next few weeks.”
