SEC Streamlines Crypto ETF Approvals as BTC, ETH Dip on Cautious Sentiment

I. Crypto Market Overview

Key Takeaways

Macro Environment

The SEC has streamlined crypto ETF approvals, enabling rapid launches and potential volatility. The Federal Reserve and RBA maintain cautious, data-dependent stances, sustaining global policy uncertainty. France's full MiCA and AML implementation in 2025 enhances regulatory clarity and consumer protection in Europe.

Crypto Market

The crypto market saw mild declines over the past 12 hours, with BTC down 0.57% to $113,242 and ETH down 0.78% to $4,145.70, pressured by ETF outflows and cautious risk sentiment. Altcoins were mixed; Monero (XMR) rose 1.94%, XDC Network (XDC) gained 1.58%, and Cronos (CRO) climbed 0.92%, driven by privacy demand, mainnet upgrades, and ecosystem partnerships.

Today's Outlook

BTC Development Corp. IPO closes today, raising $220M for Bitcoin ecosystem M&A, signaling strong institutional interest. Incheon City launches a crypto asset seizure pilot for unpaid water bills, highlighting growing government adoption of blockchain enforcement tools.

Fear and Greed Index

94.00% Annual Percentile

39 Fear

Total Crypto Market Cap

$3.88T

0.29%

Total Market Trading Volume

$173.39B

15.42%

Altcoin Season Index

16.67%

Quarterly Percentile

65 / 100

Total Futures Market Open Interest

3.45B

4.95%

Futures

1.10T

4.43%

Perpetuals

II. Industry Updates

Macro-economic Policies

The U.S. government faces a potential shutdown this week, driving gold prices to a record $3,871/oz as investors seek safe-haven assets; this uncertainty increases volatility in crypto markets and may boost BTC's hedge appeal.

The Reserve Bank of Australia kept its cash rate unchanged at 3.6% amid rising inflation, signaling a cautious monetary stance; this delays expectations for further rate cuts, impacting risk sentiment and liquidity in crypto markets.

Federal Reserve officials stated there is no predefined path for the upcoming FOMC meeting, highlighting a data-dependent approach; this policy uncertainty contributes to increased volatility and speculative flows in digital assets.

JPMorgan reports stablecoin market capitalization surged 42% year-to-date, outpacing the broader crypto market, as U.S. policy shifts accelerate adoption; this enhances DeFi liquidity and supports higher trading volumes in crypto.

FTX began distributing $5 billion in stablecoins to creditors, injecting significant liquidity into the market; this may drive short-term volatility and influence BTC and altcoin prices as recipients reinvest or liquidate holdings.

Cryptocurrency Regulatory Trends

The SEC has eliminated the need for 19b-4 filings for crypto ETFs, streamlining the approval process and allowing S-1 filings to be approved at any time, which could trigger rapid ETF launches and increased market volatility.

SEC and CFTC leaders have announced coordinated efforts to harmonize crypto regulation, ending previous turf wars and aiming for seamless oversight, which is expected to boost institutional confidence in the U.S. digital asset market.

France has fully implemented MiCA regulations and new AML rules in 2025, requiring all crypto service providers to obtain MiCA licenses and comply with strict reporting and due diligence, enhancing consumer protection and market transparency.

The UK Financial Conduct Authority has granted a crypto asset license to IG Group, enabling expanded regulated crypto offerings and signaling continued regulatory acceptance in the UK market.

Ripple's legal settlement with the SEC, including a $125 million fine, has clarified XRP's regulatory status, but industry leaders warn that the U.S. risks losing its crypto innovation edge without clearer nationwide rules.

Monero (XMR): Monero rose 2.1% in 24h with $136M volume, driven by sustained demand for privacy coins and outperforming Bitcoin YTD by 86% amid increased market volatility.

XDC Network (XDC): XDC gained 1.6% in 24h with $32M volume, supported by recent mainnet upgrade to XDC 2.0 and growing adoption in real-world asset tokenization and trade finance.

Cronos (CRO): CRO climbed 1.0% in 24h with $102M volume, following news of a $6.4B treasury partnership between Trump Media and Crypto.com, boosting ecosystem confidence and utility.

Smart Money Movements

Tether purchased 8,888.889 Bitcoin worth approximately $1 billion on September 30, reinforcing its position as a major institutional holder.

ZOOZ Power Co. acquired 525 Bitcoin for $60 million at an average price of $114,000 per BTC, allocating 95% of its $159 million private financing to long-term Bitcoin reserves.

Solana attracted $291 million in institutional inflows over the past week, the highest among digital assets, as Bitcoin and Ethereum saw significant outflows.

Ethereum whales, led by Bitmine, accumulated 252,441 ETH (about $8.84 billion) in three days, countering $795.56 million in ETF outflows and supporting price stability above $4,000.

Alameda Research acquired 500 Bitcoin valued at $57.18 million, highlighting continued institutional engagement in the crypto market.

Events to Watch

Sep 30 (Tue)

BTC Development Corp. IPO closes, raising $220M for Bitcoin ecosystem M&A; Incheon City begins crypto asset seizure pilot for unpaid water bills.

Oct 1 (Wed)

EigenLayer unlocks 36.82M EIGEN tokens (~13.7% of supply) for early investors; $137M SUI token unlock (44M SUI, 1.2% of supply) for contributors and Series B investors.

Oct 2 (Thu)

Anoma unlocks 202.5M XAN tokens ($26.51M, 2.03% of supply, 8.1% of market cap); US Weekly Initial Jobless Claims data release halted due to potential government shutdown.

Oct 3 (Fri)

US September jobs report, nonfarm payrolls, and unemployment data scheduled for release; 17.56M IMX tokens (~$17.56M) unlock, may trigger market volatility.

Table of Contents