ETF Inflows Continue to Surge in Gold and Bitcoin | US Crypto News
September ended with a strong investor focus as both gold and Bitcoin saw strong ETF inflows. However, the market is clearly polarized: gold reached a new high, while Bitcoin faced an unexpected correction after a large-scale liquidation.
Gold ETFs recorded the highest inflows since the beginning of the year, thanks to expectations of the Federal Reserve (Fed) continuing its policy of cutting interest rates. At the same time, Bitcoin still attracted inflows but slowed after strong fluctuations.
Gold asserts its position as a “hard asset”, Bitcoin temporarily stagnates
According to market data, gold ETFs have outperformed Bitcoin ETFs in the past 30 days, bringing the precious metal close to its strongest annual growth. Analysts say the trend reflects defensive sentiment as the Fed cuts interest rates, increasing demand for assets that preserve value.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin cooled off after a hot streak, with the largest leveraged liquidation in 2025 occurring just days after the Fed’s rate cut. Ethereum and major altcoins also fell across the board, sending the overall market cap down around 5% from its peak.
Debate: Will Gold or Bitcoin Lead?
Peter Schiff, a longtime gold advocate, asserted that a “reign of power” is underway, with gold outperforming and Bitcoin trading sideways. Conversely, many crypto experts such as Benjamin Cowen argue that short-term comparisons do not tell the whole story: “Even if gold were to rise many times over, it would still struggle to match Bitcoin’s long-term performance.”
Deutsche Bank recently predicted that by 2030, Bitcoin would be part of central bank reserves – something once reserved for gold. This could be a game-changer for BTC as a global asset.
Massive Liquidations Shake Markets
Kevin Rusher, founder of RAAC, said the recent “wipeout” is a clear reminder for leveraged investors: “This event shows that the crypto market is still extremely volatile. Gold stands out for its stability, while Bitcoin is attractive for its long-term potential.”
Despite the volatility, the crypto market remains strong. Global capitalization is only about 5% below its historical peak, showing that underlying demand has not weakened.
Other highlights in the US crypto market today
Bitcoin whales sell off, accept losses as volatility increases.
Coinbase and MicroStrategy rebound slightly before the open, reflecting recovery sentiment.
Ethereum faces risk of deep correction as large wallet holdings fall.
Solana sees high liquidation volume, long-term investors retreat.
Arthur Hayes continues to maintain his view that Bitcoin could hit $250,000 by the end of the year thanks to global liquidity flows.
📌 Summary: September saw a clear divergence – gold broke out on Fed expectations, while Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies corrected but remained firmly near historical highs. The question is: will gold continue to lead, or will Bitcoin make a strong comeback in Q4?