Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP edge lower as ETF flows remain mixed

• Bitcoin posts modest losses for a second consecutive day, though ETF inflows of $527 million provide a buffer against strong headwinds.
• Ethereum’s structural support comes under pressure as ETFs register outflows of $103 million.
• XRP remains capped below $1.30 as the SuperTrend and short-, medium- and long-term moving averages constrain its recovery prospects.

Subdued sentiment across the cryptocurrency market is reflected in Bitcoin (BTC), which trades above $81,000 on Tuesday. Support in the $80,000-$81,000 range underpins the ongoing stability and consolidation, encouraging institutional inflows.

Moving in step with Bitcoin, altcoins Ethereum (ETH) and Ripple (XRP) trade below $2,400 and $1.30, respectively. Despite pockets of demand, the path of least resistance for both tokens appears to be lower.

The Federal Reserve’s (Fed) monetary policy decision on 28 October remains the key macroeconomic focus. Despite elevated inflation in the United States (US), market participants currently assign a high probability to the Fed leaving rates in the 3.75-4.00% range, according to CME Group’s FedWatch Tool.

Can fresh Bitcoin ETF inflows cushion market headwinds?

A return of institutional demand on Monday brought $527 million into Bitcoin spot Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), reversing roughly $82 million in outflows last Friday. SoSoValue data puts cumulative inflows at $57.4 billion and net assets under management at $105 billion. Sustained inflows would help Bitcoin withstand headwinds and improve the prospects of a recovery.

By contrast, Monday brought $103 million in outflows from Ethereum spot ETFs, extending their bearish run to four days. Since 29 September, these ETH funds have recorded just one session of inflows: $25 million on 13 October. Nevertheless, cumulative inflows are still positive at $12.8 billion, with net assets averaging $15 billion.

Activity in XRP spot ETFs was subdued on Monday following two days of withdrawals: $105,000 last Thursday and $2.5 million on Friday. The longer-term picture nevertheless remains broadly positive, supported by cumulative inflows of $1.8 billion and net assets of $1.5 billion.

Technical analysis: Can Bitcoin bulls defend the key support range?

At $81,461, Bitcoin is extending its recovery above a cluster of medium- and long-term Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs) that form a support floor. The pair remains above the 50-day EMA at $80,620 and the 100-day EMA at $77,194. Further support for the broader bullish structure comes from the 200-day EMA at $76,032.

With the SuperTrend line at $79,664 also below the spot price, sharp downward moves appear to be finding buying support. Momentum is less convincing, however: the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) remains below zero, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) near 46 points to moderate bullish momentum rather than a strong trend.

The first support level is the SuperTrend barrier near $79,664, followed by a deeper concentration of structural demand around the 200-day EMA at $76,032. Closing prices above these levels would keep the bias tilted towards further consolidation and attempts to move higher. Momentum readings, however, favour a gradual rise rather than a sharp advance.

Altcoins technical analysis: Can Ethereum and XRP withstand renewed pressure?

A bearish near-term bias persists for Ethereum at $2,390. Although it holds above the 100-day EMA at $2,360 and the 200-day EMA at $2,315, it remains below the 50-day EMA at $2,480. The configuration points to a correction within a broader uptrend. A negative MACD and a weak RSI near 36 reinforce the downward pressure, signalling continued selling interest without yet indicating extreme oversold conditions.

To ease the prevailing bearish tone and restore scope for a move higher, Ethereum would need a daily close above initial resistance at the 50-day EMA of $2,480. On the downside, the SuperTrend line at $2,665 provides immediate support. Closer structural demand lies at the 100-day EMA of $2,360, followed by the 200-day EMA at $2,314.69. Losing these moving averages would likely intensify the correction and leave ETH vulnerable to a more substantial bearish extension.

For XRP, trading near $1.30, the near-term outlook remains bearish as the price sits below every key moving average and the active SuperTrend line. The 100-day EMA at $1.34 remains overhead, alongside the 50-day and 200-day EMAs clustered around $1.38. This positioning indicates pressure on the broader uptrend structure.

The momentum picture supports that assessment. Recent MACD readings remain negative and below zero, while the RSI at 35 is just above oversold territory. Selling pressure therefore continues to dominate, although it is nearing an area where stabilisation or a corrective rebound could develop.

A daily close above the 100-day EMA at $1.34, the first resistance level, would be required to relieve immediate downward pressure. Beyond that, the 50-day EMA at $1.38 forms a stronger barrier where a rebound could falter before testing the broader bearish structure.

A more meaningful bullish trigger lies higher at the SuperTrend line of $1.46. XRP would need a decisive break above that level to indicate a turnaround from the current corrective phase. Until fresh demand appears, downside risks remain open, as the existing daily-chart indicators offer no clear nearby support levels.

(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)