TLDR
- Bitcoin fell toward $78,000 as a reported $6.3 billion Binance hack added to selling across crypto markets.
- US spot Bitcoin ETFs took in $17.2 million on October 29, while Ethereum ETFs lost about $105.5 million.
- Ethereum’s Glamsterdam testnet launch was postponed, with no new date set.
- Solana activated its Alpenglow upgrade on October 21, targeting finality of about 150 milliseconds.
- Chainlink announced a partnership with Hanwha Investment & Securities on October 29.
Cryptocurrency prices fell in late October 2026 after a reported hack at Binance. Hackers are said to have stolen about $6.3 billion on October 29, which could make it the largest crypto theft on record.
Reuters reported that Binance has pledged to cover the losses. About $3 billion of the affected assets has been found and frozen.
Bitcoin traded around $78,500 on October 30, while Ethereum stood near $2,240. Solana, XRP and Chainlink also saw sharp price swings in the final weeks of the month.
Bitcoin Slips Toward $78,000
Bitcoin is down about 6% from 30 days earlier. It is the world’s largest cryptocurrency, with a fixed supply of 21 million coins.
US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds have made it easier for traditional investors to buy the asset. Recent fund flows have been uneven.
On October 29, those funds recorded about $17.2 million in net inflows. It was the fourth straight day of inflows, although the amount was small compared with earlier sessions.
The Binance incident has raised questions about exchange custody and investor confidence. Traders are watching the $80,000 level, with $75,000 below and $85,000 above.
Ethereum Faces Upgrade Delay and ETF Outflows
Ethereum traded near $2,240 on October 30. The price has fallen about 16% over the past month, a steeper drop than Bitcoin’s.
Ethereum is a leading network for decentralised finance, stablecoins, tokenisation and smart contracts. Its planned Glamsterdam upgrade is meant to improve scalability and transaction processing.
On October 22, the Ethereum Foundation said the October 26 launch on the Hoodi testnet was postponed. Developers are checking how proposed protocol changes could interact with existing smart contracts.
No new date has been confirmed. US spot Ethereum ETFs also recorded about $105.5 million in net withdrawals on October 29, the fourth straight session of outflows.
Traders are watching whether the price can return to $2,500.
Solana Activates Alpenglow Upgrade
Solana traded around $98 on October 30, down about 17% over the past month. The network is known for fast transactions and low fees.
On October 21, Solana activated its Alpenglow consensus upgrade on mainnet. The Solana Foundation said it targets transaction finality of about 150 milliseconds, down from around 12.8 seconds.
Faster settlement is aimed at apps that need near-instant confirmation, such as decentralised exchanges and payments. The price still fell along with the wider market.
Traders are watching $100 as the first level to reclaim. A drop could bring $90 into view.
XRP Slides to $1.26
XRP traded near $1.26 on October 30, about 15% lower than a month earlier. Ripple’s token is among the most closely followed in the market because of the company’s work in cross-border payments.
On October 12, Standard Chartered announced institutional custody support for Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin on the XRP Ledger. Ripple has also been building ties with financial institutions.
Banks that use Ripple’s infrastructure do not necessarily need to buy large amounts of XRP. Company growth and demand for the token are not the same thing.
Traders are watching the $1.20 area after recent selling. A move toward $1.40 would point to better momentum.
Chainlink Announces New Partnership
Chainlink provides oracle networks that link blockchains with outside data and financial information. Its Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol, known as CCIP, helps blockchains communicate with each other.
Chainlink traded around $10.50 on October 30 after heavy selling the session before.
On October 29, the company announced a partnership with Hanwha Investment & Securities. The two will work on tokenising, connecting and collateralising real-world assets.
The news follows the September launch of CCIP 2.0. Chainlink has also taken part in efforts to connect financial institutions with Swift’s blockchain infrastructure.
Each of the five coins covers a different part of the industry. Bitcoin is the oldest and largest, Ethereum focuses on smart contracts, Solana on speed, XRP on payments and Chainlink on linking blockchains to traditional finance.
Prices were still under pressure on October 30, a day after the Binance hack and the Chainlink partnership announcement. Traders are watching $10 as a key level for Chainlink, with $12 above.
