Bitcoin May Retreat Toward Sub-$100K as Ripple Expands and Binance Faces French AML Scrutiny

• Bitcoin sits at a pivotal $101,000 support that will likely determine weekend direction.

• Ripple confirmed a $1 billion GTreasury acquisition as it pushes into treasury markets.

• Regulatory pressure in France intensifies scrutiny of major exchanges, affecting liquidity and flows.

Bitcoin price outlook front and center: BTC tests $101,000 support after a sharp weekly drop — read the market levels traders must watch and what it means for the weekend.

Published: October 17, 2025 · Updated: October 17, 2025 · COINOTAG

What is the Bitcoin price outlook for the weekend?

Bitcoin price outlook is cautious: BTC must hold roughly $101,000 to avoid renewed downside toward $98,500 and lower five‑figure zones. Short‑term momentum favors sellers after the largest weekly red candle since spring, with $112,000 the nearest resistance to flip bullish.

How will Ripple’s $1 billion GTreasury acquisition affect treasury markets?

Ripple’s purchase of GTreasury expands its access to corporate treasury workflows and client relationships at scale. Public statements from Ripple executives, including CEO Brad Garlinghouse and President Monica Long, frame the move as a way to unlock “trillions in trapped capital” by connecting CFOs to real‑time settlement rails. Combined with Ripple’s earlier Hidden Road acquisition, the strategy links payments infrastructure to repo and prime brokerage channels, potentially allowing institutional cash to be deployed more efficiently into yield markets while maintaining liquidity. Data: GTreasury serves a multi‑decade corporate client base including major global firms (company statements, public disclosures).

TL;DR

It is Friday and markets are predominantly red. Bitcoin broke below $105,000 in its heaviest weekly decline since spring, trading near $104,625. Ethereum slipped under $3,800, XRP fell over 11% this week to about $2.22, and altcoins followed as leveraged positions liquidated and open interest declined.

Ripple confirmed a $1 billion acquisition of GTreasury; Ripple leadership says the deal targets large pools of corporate cash. Meanwhile, French regulators have increased anti‑money‑laundering scrutiny on major exchanges as part of MiCA readiness checks. Traders are watching whether BTC can keep $101,000 through the weekend.

Bitcoin price loses $105,000

Bitcoin sits at $104,625, down roughly 9% on the week and almost $20,000 from highs near $123,000 recorded two weeks earlier. The weekly candle is the largest red weekly close since March, when BTC fell from about $98,000 to $82,000. Market structure now shows a demand zone between $98,500 and $101,000, while immediate resistance remains around $112,000.

Bitcoin Price by CoinMarketCap

Sentiment is markedly negative and the key question is whether BTC stabilizes at $101,000. If it fails, algos and stop liquidity seek lower levels, increasing the probability of a move back toward five‑figure prices below $100,000.

Ripple CEO Garlinghouse targets trillions in treasury market

Ripple announced its $1 billion takeover of GTreasury, an established treasury management software provider with a client roster that includes large corporates. CEO Brad Garlinghouse said “astounding amounts of cash are trapped in outdated payment systems,” and Ripple positions the deal as a path to put its settlement infrastructure into CFO systems directly.

Earlier this year Ripple also acquired Hidden Road for $1.25 billion, gaining prime brokerage and repo access. Ripple leadership argues the two acquisitions together create an avenue for corporate cash deployment into yield markets without sacrificing real‑time liquidity. President Monica Long described the combined strategy as able to “unlock trillions in trapped capital.”

XRP has no CEO? Maybe, but XRP price definitely does not

XRP traded at $2.22, down over 11% on the week and losing additional ground intraday after dipping toward $2.20. Ripple CLO Stuart Alderoty clarified that the token itself has no CEO — the XRP Ledger is decentralized and was launched in 2012 by David Schwartz, Jed McCaleb and Arthur Britto. Alderoty framed “no CEO” as a statement about decentralized design and network resilience rather than corporate structure.

XRP/USD by TradingView

The distinction underscores that price action on XRP reflects market forces and broader liquidity conditions, not corporate leadership roles.

Binance under fire in France

Regulatory scrutiny intensified as French authorities—the ACPR—moved to evaluate more than 100 crypto firms in a large anti‑money‑laundering review tied to MiCA licensing. Plain‑text reporting from major outlets indicates Binance was among the firms receiving close attention and was instructed to strengthen compliance or risk jeopardizing its ability to obtain or maintain French licensing.

France is a strategic jurisdiction for Binance in Europe. Losing regulatory standing there would complicate the exchange’s ability to operate across the EU and could affect euro stablecoin rails and derivatives liquidity. Full MiCA compliance is required by June 2026, and national regulators are already deciding interim qualifications.

Evening outlook

Friday’s close will likely set the tone for the weekend. Key levels to watch:

• Bitcoin: $104,625 current; $101,000 pivot, with $98,500 as the next major support and $112,000 as resistance.
• Ethereum: trading near $3,737; $3,500 is a risk line, $4,050 is the level bulls must regain.
• XRP: $2.22 with $2.20 last support, then $1.95; resistance near $2.65. Solana at $177 risks $165 unless it reclaims $192.
• Shiba Inu: $0.0000095 lost its prior base; downside target near $0.0000080 for traders.

The combination of ETF outflows, leverage reduction and regulatory headlines keeps the backdrop fragile. Traders will watch whether BTC defends $101,000 or opens the door to another leg lower.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much did Bitcoin drop this week and what are the key supports?

Bitcoin fell nearly 9% this week, losing about $20,000 from recent highs. The primary support band is $98,500–$101,000; failure below $101,000 raises the chance of revisiting sub‑$100,000 areas, while $112,000 remains the first meaningful resistance on any recovery.

Will Bitcoin go below $100,000 this weekend?

Short answer: it depends on whether BTC holds $101,000 into the close. If sellers push price decisively under $101,000, liquidity often seeks lower stops and $98,500 becomes a likely target; if $101,000 holds, a bounce toward $112,000 could follow.

Key Takeaways

• Pivot level: $101,000 is the immediate Bitcoin pivot — hold it to avoid deep downside.
• Ripple strategy: GTreasury plus Hidden Road positions Ripple to link corporate cash to liquidity and yield channels.
• Regulatory risk: French ACPR reviews and MiCA timelines are pressuring exchanges and could influence liquidity flows.

Conclusion

The near‑term Bitcoin price outlook is cautious: $101,000 is the decisive short‑term level as markets digest heavy weekly losses, rising regulatory scrutiny, and corporate moves like Ripple’s GTreasury acquisition. Monitor BTC’s weekend close for direction; COINOTAG will update as official statements and on‑chain data evolve.