Bitcoin hits an all-time high of $125K amid U.S. shutdown turmoil, as investors shift to crypto and ETF inflows surge.
In a dramatic turn, Bitcoin reached a new all-time high of $125,347 on Sunday. The milestone came as the U.S. government entered its fourth day of shutdown. It has left markets uneasy and investors turning to digital assets for safety.
Bitcoin Breaks Records as Political Deadlock Deepens
According to Binance, Bitcoin quickly went from an opening price of $122,000 in early trading to more than $125,708 in 5 October 2025 before settling near $124,900. The move is 2.3% daily increase and breaks the previous record of $123,344 set earlier in the week. Analysts credit this surge to record increases in investments in spot Bitcoin ETFs and increasing preference for crypto due to traditional market stress.
Data indicates that spot Bitcoin ETFs received $3.2 billion last week, indicating substantial demand from institutions. Meanwhile, global equity markets continued to struggle with lawmakers failing to reach a deal on funding for border security and healthcare. On the other hand, the U.S government shutdown has driven risk-averse investors to turn to decentralized alternatives.
Related Reading: CZ Predicts ‘Uptober’ Bitcoin Surge After September’s Positive Momentum | Live Bitcoin News
Financial experts say the shutdown has boosted Bitcoin’s status as a hedge against instability in the fiat currency. Geoffrey Kendrick, an analyst at Standard Chartered, said “this time, the shutdown matters,” pointing to a 2018-2019 standoff that did little to affect the markets. The bank expects Bitcoin to surge to $135,000 by the middle of October, and soar to $200,000 by year-end if institutional momentum endures.
The ongoing shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, has furloughed hundreds of thousands of federal employees and delayed key services. Analysts warn the prolonged disruption could trim 0.5% off U.S. GDP. Despite economic strain, the digital asset market seems to be benefiting from the uncertainty.
Bitcoin Market Cap Tops $2.45 Trillion as Crypto Rally Extends
According to CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin market capitalization has now reached over $2.45 trillion, a 2.5% increase from the week prior. Daily trading volumes have spiked to $48.7 billion, the highest since the beginning of September. Year-to-date, Bitcoin has done well, up more than 112% from its beginning price of $58,900 at the start of 2025.
Other cryptocurrencies followed bitcoin’s lead. Ethereum shot up 4.1% to $4,250, while the currency XRP jumped 5.2% on speculation that regulatory easing may have occurred due to the shutdown. The wide-ranging rally strengthens crypto’s burgeoning role as a counterweight to traditional financial rumblings.
Despite record highs, there is a potential correction, some analysts say. Experts are saying that a prolonged shutdown could erode investor confidence and push Bitcoin closer back to the $110,000 support level. Volatility may resurface as political uncertainty continues to loom or ETF inflows start to wane.
Still, the sentiment is upbeat. As traders refer to this as “Uptober,” the crypto community is seeing Bitcoin’s rise as a sign of increasing trust in decentralized finance. For now, Bitcoin’s robustness highlights a kind of infestation moment where political unrest and optimism about blockchain shake it into another notch in the ongoing maturation of digital markets.