Bitcoin Hits New All-Time High as “Uptober” Lives Up to Its Name

The end of September confirmed what market veterans often say — September is rarely kind to investors. Bitcoin slipped to around $108,000, prompting hopes that October, traditionally one of bitcoin’s strongest months, would reverse the trend. The nickname “Uptober” — a blend of “up” and “October” — once again proved fitting.

Just a few days into the month, bitcoin surged from its local lows to set a new all-time high (ATH) on Sunday, reaching $125,725 (according to Bitstamp). In local currency terms, the price still sits about 100,000 CZK below the all-time high, largely due to the stronger Czech crown — but if Uptober continues at its current pace, breaking that record may only be a matter of time.

Historically, bitcoin has risen in nine of the past ten Octobers — the only exception being 2018. The question now is whether this year’s rally is partly a self-fulfilling prophecy, as investors buy in simply because they expect October to be bullish.

Second-Best Week for Bitcoin ETFs on Record

Bitcoin’s price surge was mirrored in the exchange-traded fund (ETF) market. Last week marked the second-largest weekly inflow of capital into bitcoin ETFs since their launch, totaling an impressive $3.24 billion. This follows a sharp reversal from the $900 million in outflows recorded the previous week.

As usual, BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) led the way, attracting $1.8 billion, followed by Fidelity’s FBTC, which saw $692 million in inflows.

Analysts say the growing demand for bitcoin ETFs is driven not only by rising prices but also by investor uncertaintysurrounding the U.S. government shutdown, prompting many to seek safe havens such as bitcoin and gold.

If the current momentum continues, experts predict bitcoin could soon test the $140,000 level.

Charlie Lee Regrets Creating Litecoin

In a surprisingly candid statement, Litecoin founder Charlie Lee admitted that he regrets creating the cryptocurrency, saying he would have been better off simply buying and holding bitcoin instead of dedicating years to developing Litecoin.

Lee now advises investors to buy bitcoin and hold it long-term, arguing that this strategy delivers the best returns without the complications of alternative cryptocurrencies.

A former Google engineer, Lee created Litecoin on October 7, 2011, making it one of the first altcoins ever. His goal was to develop a “lighter version of bitcoin” that would support faster and cheaper transactions. Litecoin achieved that vision for many years — but, according to Lee, its purpose has largely faded since the rise of Bitcoin’s Lightning Network, which now fulfills the same role more efficiently.

Vanguard Reverses Its Stance on Bitcoin ETFs

In a stunning policy reversal, Vanguard — long seen as one of the most anti-crypto financial institutions — appears to be changing course.

The firm, which had barred its 50 million clients from investing in bitcoin ETFs, is now considering allowing access to third-party bitcoin and ether ETFs. This comes less than two years after then-CEO Tim Buckley declared in March 2024that Vanguard would “never offer bitcoin ETFs.”

This shift follows the appointment of Salim Ramji, a former BlackRock executive, as Vanguard’s new CEO. While the company reportedly has no plans to launch its own ETF, it is re-evaluating its stance to meet growing investor demand.

For context, Vanguard’s previous leadership frequently dismissed crypto. Founder Jack Bogle once advised investors to “avoid bitcoin like the plague.” Critics even nicknamed the firm the “protector of clients from profit” for preventing them from accessing the booming bitcoin ETF market.

SWIFT Integrates Blockchain Into Its Global Payment Network

SWIFT, the global interbank network that facilitates international payments, has announced a major technological update — it’s integrating blockchain technology into its core systems.

The goal is to enable instant, secure, and transparent cross-border transactions, seamlessly connecting traditional fiat payment systems with modern digital ecosystems.

This means that in the future, SWIFT-based payments could be made not only in fiat currencies but also using regulated digital tokens. SWIFT will remain a neutral infrastructure provider, focusing on security, reliability, and regulatory compliance, while the specific types of tokens will be determined by commercial and central banks.

The initiative is being developed in partnership with Consensys, and more than 30 leading financial institutions from 16 countries, including JP Morgan, Deutsche Bank, and HSBC, are participating in early testing. The pilot phase will run over the coming months, with full-scale implementation expected after regulatory review.