The uncertainty in the crypto market hasn’t deterred Ethereum ETF demand, indicating that institutional investors are optimistic about its fundamentals in the long run. The drop of the market’s Fear Index to 34 earlier in the week – its lowest level since May – has analysts turning their focus to Ethereum (ETH), Cardano (ADA), XRP as the top altcoins to buy during market fear heading in to Q4 2025.
Although the sentiment remains a tad sceptical, history has revealed that periods of fear often present the best accumulation opportunities.
Ethereum ETF Inflows Defy Market Volatility
Ethereum is garnering significant institutional interest as spot ETF products are outperforming expectations. The ETF for the iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) recently ended trading at $30.20, with total inflows of $621 million in early October, more than double all of last month.
After dipping towards $3400 last week because of global macro tensions, the price of ETH stabilised above the $4000 mark. According to analysts, Ether remains strong due to accumulation from the ETF-driven ETH future, while other altcoins face liquidation.
In the short duration, ETH is expected to rally towards $4280 on continued buying, a push towards $4600-$4800 is expected if the markets stabilize and BTC reclaim support above $120K.
Cardano (ADA): Whale Accumulation Amid Market Fear
Cardano (ADA) is among the most bought digital assets during the latest correction. In the last week, large holders of ADA have added over 70 million ADA, indicating strong confidence despite weakness.
Cardano Price Chart: CoinMarketCap
ADA has been changing hands at the $0.84 to $0.86 range at the moment. If market sentiment improves, analysts predict the price could rise towards the $0.93 to $1.12 range at some point in October. Despite the selloff, the Hydra scaling upgrade has garnered institutional interest as forecasts expect monthly gains of 14 to 18% when conditions improve.
Whale operations activity and steady developer progress show that ADA continues to remain one of the best altcoins to buy in fear, especially for long-term investors betting on network growth.
XRP: ETF Anticipation and Institutional Rotation
XRP is staying over the $2.70–2.80 support zone due to heavy selling pressure. Experts predict significant fluctuations in XRP as many firms will be making their spot ETF decisions after October 18 and before October 25, 2025.
Major firms like Grayscale, Franklin Templeton and WisdomTree have made applications. Meanwhile, JPMorgan estimates inflows for the ETF to be around $8-$20 billion during the first year on approval.
XRP is currently in the $2.72 to $3.04 range, but it may reach $4.00 to $4.50 in November following the approval of ETFs. Data on the blockchain shows that whale accumulation has stabilised. Thus, whales are ready for post-ETF rally making XRP one of the best altcoins to buy.
Conclusion
With Ethereum ETF inflows strengthening, Cardano whale accumulation rising, and XRP ETF speculation driving rotation, analysts are beginning to view the current fear-driven environment as a setup for recovery.
At the same time, analysts note that few altcoins are expected to perform well in the coming months, offering strong investor momentum.
As sentiment gradually turns from fear to accumulation, the combination of institutional-grade assets like ETH, ADA, and XRP could define the next major rally cycle.