Is It Too Late to Get Into Crypto in October 2026? What $3.55 Billion of Weekly Inflows and a 33% Quarter Say
Crypto funds experienced a significant surge, taking in $3.55 billion within just one week, primarily driven by Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC). Bitcoin’s value has increased by 33.4% over the last 90 days. As investors who missed out on the summer rally consider their options, many are left wondering if it’s too late to invest in crypto in October 2026.
However, despite these recent gains, most major cryptocurrencies still trade below their values from a year ago. Bitcoin is down 29.7% over the past 12 months, Ethereum (CRYPTO:ETH) has fallen 38.4%, and XRP (CRYPTO:XRP) has dropped 49.6%. This raises the question: does a strong quarterly performance indicate buyers are late to the party, or does it suggest that the market is still on the mend?
Bitcoin’s 33% Quarter Is a Bounce, Not a Full Recovery
The 90-day return reflects the price movement from three months ago, without considering where it began. A coin rebounding from a low point can show a spectacular percentage gain, while a coin steadily climbing can offer a modest rise from a higher starting point.
The following table details key cryptocurrencies, illustrating their 90-day and yearly changes in value:
| Coin | 90-Day Change | 1-Year Change |
|---|---|---|
| Zcash | +208.7% | +1,077.3% |
| Chainlink | +80.2% | -36.5% |
| Ethereum | +52.7% | -38.4% |
| Solana | +43.3% | -46.9% |
| Cardano | +36.8% | -71.1% |
| Bitcoin | +33.4% | -29.7% |
| XRP | +31.0% | -49.6% |
| Dogecoin | +21.7% | -62.2% |
Chainlink (CRYPTO:LINK), known for incorporating external data into blockchain applications, rose 80.2% this quarter but remains down 36.5% year over year. Similarly, Cardano (CRYPTO:ADA) posted a 36.8% quarterly gain after a staggering 71.1% drop over the past year, leaving buyers from a year ago in a tough spot.
In contrast, Zcash (CRYPTO:ZEC), a privacy-focused coin, is the standout performer, showing gains in both timeframes. It rose from a low of $185 in February to close September at $1,438, marking a remarkable overall increase of around 677%.
One Week of Crypto Fund Inflows Proves Less Than It Looks
Fund inflows represent the capital investors place into crypto investment products, like spot ETFs that directly hold cryptocurrencies. This week’s $3.55 billion in inflows indicates substantial buying activity.
However, one week’s data can be misleading, as inflows can follow price movements as often as they lead them. US spot Bitcoin ETFs alone received about $2.4 billion from September 21 to September 25, according to SoSoValue. However, daily inflows dropped significantly, from $999 million down to $134 million as the week progressed.
Moreover, weekly inflow reports capture only money flowing through investment products and do not account for most crypto trading that occurs on exchanges. Therefore, a strong week for funds can coincide with heavy selling elsewhere, masking the true market conditions.
Citi’s Bitcoin Target and a 5.17% Treasury Yield Set the Bar
Citigroup (NYSE:C | C Price Prediction) recently raised its price targets for Bitcoin to $113,000 and Ethereum to $3,028, signaling projected gains of 33.4% and 12.2% respectively from current prices. However, these targets were set following the recent rally, further illustrating the tendency for forecasts, like fund flows, to lag behind price movements.
Compounding this is the current 10-year Treasury yield, which reached 5.17% on September 25. Investors holding the note to maturity will earn that return with certainty, while Bitcoin provides no interest, and staking rewards on assets like Ethereum come with market volatility, leading crypto buyers to forego guaranteed returns.
Returns within the crypto space are also uneven. In 2026, for instance, Zcash has risen by 178.6%, while Chainlink is up 17.8%. In contrast, XRP has fallen 19.2%, and Bitcoin has slipped 4.7%, making the decision to invest highly specific to which coin you’re considering.
Is It Too Late to Invest in Crypto in October 2026?
For those looking to invest in major cryptocurrencies, now may still be a suitable time. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana (CRYPTO:SOL), and XRP are all priced below where they began 2026, with Ethereum down 9.6% and Solana down 5.3%. Thus, their recent rally indicates a fragmented recovery. However, Zcash stands apart because its substantial gains already reflect earlier price increases, making it a different scenario for potential buyers.
This perspective suits long-term investors who can endure possible downturns and are willing to forgo the steady 5.17% Treasury yield. If fund inflows remain strong despite price decreases, it could indicate that institutional money is leading the charge.
Bitcoin still needs to regain its footing above the $88,900 mark where it began 2026, which is 4.9% higher than its current value. If Bitcoin delays in surpassing that benchmark, it begs the question: is it truly too late to invest in crypto, or is it simply too early to declare a full recovery?
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Sam Daodu is a crypto analyst and the editor of 24/7 Wall St.'s Crypto Desk, where he covers Bitcoin, XRP, Ethereum, Solana and the altcoins investors search for most. His work focuses on price levels, spot ETF flows, on-chain data and the regulatory decisions that move crypto markets, written so a first-time buyer and a seasoned trader can both use it.
Sam has written about crypto professionally since 2019 and has published more than 2,000 articles. Before joining 24/7 Wall St., he wrote for crypto media outlets and Web3 companies and ghostwrote for crypto founders and token launches. His analysis is syndicated on Yahoo Finance, MSN and AOL and has been cited by other crypto news sites. He also founded MacLabs Marketing, a content and personal branding agency for crypto founders and executives.
When he isn't reading charts, Sam is usually at the gym or watching One Piece, a series he maintains has better tokenomics than most altcoins.
