The U.S. government shutdown commenced, furloughing 750,000 workers at a daily cost of $400 million, halting economic data releases.
Bitcoin trades at $114,400, locked in a narrow $113.3K–$114.8K range; critical supports lie at $111K and $108K. Ethereum held $4,100, Solana weakened below $210, while BNB stayed above $1,000.
Spot ETFs kept solid daily momentum positive: BTC +$430 million inflows, ETH +$127 million inflows, with no funds seeing redemptions.
Options skew shows rising demand for downside protection; implied vols remain near historic lows.
Gold surged 12% in September, its best month since 2011, reflecting elevated demand for hard assets.
For the first time since it began accumulating Bitcoin in 2020, Michael Saylor signalled the company may sell part of its holdings — a shift in the buy-and-hold model that has defined Strategy's identity and underpinned its equity premium.
The exchange's third major headcount reduction in three years tracks closely with the crypto market cycle, even as Armstrong points to AI as a structural reason to operate with fewer people.
The SEC this week delayed the launch of more than two dozen prediction market ETFs, citing concerns about product mechanics and disclosures. A Bloomberg analysis published last week suggests the retail-friendly pitch underpinning these products doesn't quite hold up to scrutiny.
A wave of exchange-traded funds designed to give investors exposure to prediction market outcomes was expected to begin trading as early as Thursday — until U.S. regulators intervened.
