Overview:
US spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted USD 175.62 million in net inflows, led by Fidelity's FBTC with USD 103.06 million and BlackRock's IBIT with USD 65.89 million.
Optimism's OP gained nearly 20% intraday following Unichain's transition announcement.
Ripple signed its fourth South Korean institutional partnership with Meritz Securities.
The crypto market saw major developments as spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded USD 175 million in net inflows, while Ripple signed its fourth Korean institutional partner. Additionally, Bitway jumped 250% over a month and Optimism gained 20%.
Bitcoin Witnesses USD 175 million in Inflows
According to SoSoValue, the Bitcoin spot ETF saw a total net inflow of USD 175.62 million yesterday.
The Bitcoin Spot ETF with the highest net inflow yesterday was Fidelity's ETF FBTC, with a daily net inflow of USD 103.06 million, and the total historical net inflow of FBTC currently stands at USD 10.62 billion.
The second highest was BlackRock's ETF IBIT, with a daily net inflow of USD 65.89 million, and the total historical net inflow of IBIT currently stands at USD 65.73 billion. The total net asset value of Bitcoin Spot ETFs is USD 106.98 billion, with an ETF net asset ratio of 6.38%. The historical cumulative net inflow has reached USD 57.22 billion.
Ripple Signs Fourth Korean Institutional Partner
Ripple has signed a strategic partnership with South Korea's Meritz Securities, marking its fourth institutional agreement in the country during 2026 and its first with a securities firm.
The October 14 announcement extends Ripple's presence across South Korea's banking, insurance and capital markets, although the companies have not confirmed any XRP purchases or immediate XRP Ledger deployment.
According to Ripple's announcement, the companies will explore integrating Ripple Custody and tokenization infrastructure into Meritz Securities' existing operations. Ripple Custody provides regulated institutions with infrastructure for storing, transferring and settling digital assets.
Also Read: What Does a Bitcoin Hard Fork Do? A Detailed Guide
Bitway Jumps 250%
The viral altcoin BTW is the best-performing cryptocurrency today, up nearly 40% in a single day and 250% over the last month. It currently trades around USD 2.50 and has a market capitalization of almost USD 4 billion.
The triple-digit monthly increase has put the token in the spotlight, fueling expectations that the price could climb even higher in the near future. However, many think now is the perfect time to open short positions, and certain indicators support a bearish scenario.
X user Zayn noted that BTW has posted eight consecutive green candles, signaling extremely overbought conditions. The analyst expects a ‘hard correction’ to USD 2 and below but alerted traders to be careful when opening positions: “Everyone will be looking to short here, so don’t go all in. Keep your position small and keep your stop-loss and liquidation levels above USD 3.50.”
Standard Chartered Launched UAE Crypto Trading
Standard Chartered launched a crypto trading service in the UAE on 14 October, allowing eligible Professional Investor clients to buy and sell Bitcoin and Ethereum through their existing bank accounts.
The launch shifts access to the two assets into a regulated banking relationship, with custody and settlement handled inside the bank’s own closed-loop ecosystem. Standard Chartered describes the crypto service as a global first for the bank and the first offering of its kind by an international bank in the UAE.
Clients will access Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) through their existing Standard Chartered accounts, without needing separate wallets or third-party trading platforms, according to the bank’s announcement. Trades are executed within its ecosystem, where Standard Chartered manages custody and settlement end to end.
Optimism Surges 20%
Optimism’s native token, OP, posted a sharp gain after Uniswap revealed that Unichain will transition its production operations to OP Enterprise. The announcement sparked renewed interest in the asset, helping it outperform much of the broader crypto market during a period marked by selling pressure across Bitcoin and several major altcoins.
OP climbed nearly 20% in 24 hours, reaching USD 0.1621 before surrendering part of those gains later in the session. At press time, the token was changing hands near USD 0.1493, representing a 10% increase over the previous 24 hours.
The move also extended its recent momentum, with gains of 28% over the past seven days and 64% during the last month, although the asset remains nearly 68% lower than its level a year ago.
Also Read: How Ethereum Staking Rewards Work: Validators, Lockups and Risks
FAQs:
1. How much money flowed into Bitcoin spot ETFs?
US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded USD 175.62 million in net inflows, according to SoSoValue. Fidelity's FBTC led with USD 103.06 million, followed by BlackRock's IBIT with USD 65.89 million.
2. Why did Bitway's BTW token surge 250% over the month?
Bitway's BTW token gained approximately 250% over the month and nearly 40% in a single day, trading around USD 2.50. The rally attracted speculative interest, although analysts warned that overbought conditions could increase correction risks.
3. What is Ripple's latest partnership in South Korea?
Ripple announced a strategic partnership with Meritz Securities on October 14, marking its fourth South Korean institutional agreement in 2026. The companies will explore Ripple Custody and tokenization infrastructure, without confirming immediate XRP purchases or deployment.
4. Why did Optimism's OP token surge nearly 20%?
Optimism's OP token rallied after Uniswap announced that Unichain would transition its production operations to OP Enterprise. OP briefly reached USD 0.1621 before retreating toward USD 0.1493, remaining approximately 10% higher over 24 hours.
5. What cryptocurrency trading services has Standard Chartered launched in the UAE?
Standard Chartered introduced Bitcoin and Ethereum trading for eligible professional investors in the UAE on October 14. Clients can trade through existing bank accounts, with custody and settlement managed within the bank's regulated ecosystem