November 2025 just threw everything at the crypto market at once. Bitcoin collapsed to $82K, then stormed back above $90K within days. Meanwhile, XRP ETFs launched and institutions poured in $644 million in a single week. Additionally, hackers stole millions, token unlocks surprised everyone, and meme coins printed like never before. In short, the total market cap jumped from $2.9T to over $3.1T almost overnight. So, let’s break down exactly what happened and why this chaotic stretch actually looks incredibly bullish.
Bitcoin’s Dramatic Dip-and-Rip: $82K Low to $90K+ High
Bitcoin started the week in freefall. In fact, it briefly touched $82K as over $960 million in longs got liquidated. However, that panic low became the perfect springboard. Whales quickly scooped liquidity below price. As a result, BTC reclaimed $90K by the weekend. ETF inflows turned positive again, and the Fear & Greed Index climbed from 15 to 35. Moreover, Bitcoin dominance fell to 57%, showing money rotating into alts. All signs point to a classic mid-cycle shakeout, not the top.
XRP Steals the Spotlight with Spot ETF Launch
XRP delivered the biggest story of the week. Spot ETFs finally went live in the US, and institutions responded instantly. In total, they injected $644 million, more than Bitcoin and Ethereum combined. Consequently, XRP surged from around $1.80 to $2.19. Open interest doubled, and analysts now talk about new all-time highs before Christmas. Ripple’s ongoing legal wins plus massive ETF flows are creating perfect rocket fuel.
Upbit Hack: Lazarus Group Strikes Again
Security took a hit when Upbit suffered another breach. Allegedly, North Korea’s Lazarus Group stole roughly $36–38 million in Solana tokens. Withdrawals froze, panic spread fast. Yet, a massive twist followed, Naver announced a $10 billion takeover of Upbit’s parent company and pledged another $7 billion into blockchain security. So, while the hack hurt short-term, Korean capital is now pouring in stronger than ever.
Hyperliquid’s $351M HYPE Unlock – And It Actually Pumped
Everyone expected blood when Hyperliquid unlocked 351 million $HYPE tokens on Friday. Surprisingly, the price rose 10–15% into the event. Volume stayed sky-high, and the team’s transparent vesting calmed nerves. Furthermore, protocol fees keep buying back and burning tokens. Traders are now calling Hyperliquid the new dYdX killer.
MicroStrategy Faces Nasdaq 100 Delisting Risk – Saylor Just Buys More
MicroStrategy made headlines again. Analysts warned the company might get removed from the Nasdaq 100 because it holds too much Bitcoin (over 649,000 BTC). The stock dipped hard on the news. However, Michael Saylor simply laughed it off and bought another $835 million worth of BTC. Classic Saylor move, conviction over everything.
Privacy Coins Wake Up: Grayscale Files First Zcash ETF
Privacy coins suddenly grabbed attention. Grayscale submitted the first-ever Zcash ETF application, and ZEC jumped 15% in hours. At the same time, Shibarium teased full homomorphic encryption upgrades for 2026. Monero holders are quietly smiling in the shadows. With new SEC leadership sounding pro-innovation, privacy is officially back in fashion.
Solana Quietly Dominates Behind the Scenes
While chaos unfolded elsewhere, Solana kept building. TVL crossed another billion dollars, hitting $8.9B+. Bitwise’s ETF scooped 93,000 SOL in a single hour. Jupiter, Raydium, and the entire DeFi ecosystem are eating extremely well right now. SOL still trades around $135–140, but $200 feels closer every day.
Meme Coin Season Returns Full Force
Meme coins went completely wild. Turbo spiked 50% on Robinhood listing rumors. Pengu pumped hard thanks to Pudgy Penguins hype. Even Fartcoin doubled from its lows. Pippin delivered an 87x move before consolidating. In other words, name any ticker – it probably printed this week. Pure gambling energy is back.
Final Takeaway
Crypto’s most intense week of November 2025 flushed out weak hands, reloaded institutions, and set the stage for a potential Santa rally. Bitcoin found support, alts are rotating, regulation looks friendlier, and rate-cut odds sit at 87%. December is shaping up to be legendary.