Crypto investment inflows hit $1.2 billion last week, marking three consecutive weeks of positive growth since September 9. This surge comes amid growing optimism in the market, fueled by bullish macroeconomic developments and other value-boosting events in the finance sector.

Additionally, September broke its typical trend of poor performance, creating the strongest starting point for Bitcoin (BTC) and the broader crypto market heading into October.

Crypto Inflows Soar to $1.2 Billion Amid Market Optimism

Digital asset investment products saw inflows of $1.2 billion last week, with Bitcoin leading the charge, recording $1.070 billion in positive flows. Short-Bitcoin investment products also saw inflows, totaling $8.8 million. Meanwhile, Ethereum (ETH) ended a five-week outflow streak, with inflows reaching $87 million, reflecting a resurgence of positive sentiment.

The US leads from a regional standpoint with $1.17 billion, and the latest CoinShares report attributes inflows to positive economic data in the country.

Read more: How to Protect Yourself From Inflation Using Cryptocurrency

As BeInCrypto reported, the Federal Reserve’s 50 basis point (bps) interest rate cut in September sparked a wave of liquidity, benefiting riskier assets like Bitcoin. Combined with cooling inflation, markets are now expecting further rate cuts by the end of the year.

The report also highlights that the approval of options trading in the US has added momentum to crypto investment inflows. BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF recently secured options trading approval from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a development expected to bring more liquidity and enhance market stability.

It also opens the door for potential approval of Ethereum ETFs, a possibility widely discussed.

“Digital asset investment products saw a third consecutive week of inflows totaling $1.2 billion, which we believe is a reaction to continued expectations of dovish monetary policy in the US. The approval of options for certain US-based investment products likely boosted sentiment,” an excerpt in the report read.

Indeed, there is a generally positive sentiment in the crypto market. This saw BlackRock’s ETHA join the $1 billion ETF club in two months. It also catapulted Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF inflows to multi-week highs amid frothing hope for a market-wide recovery.

Bitcoin Scores Best September Close Ahead of Expected Bullish Q4

Elsewhere, hedge funds are predicting a Bitcoin rally in the fourth quarter (Q4) following the cryptocurrency’s strongest September close on record. Historically, Bitcoin has struggled in September, often posting negative returns. However, this year, it defied expectations, rising by around 20%.

ZX Squared Capital forecasts that the upcoming US elections will further boost Bitcoin, regardless of the outcome. The hedge fund argues that both political parties have failed to address rising national debt and deficits, a factor it believes will strengthen Bitcoin’s position post-election.

Similarly, analyst Crypto Rover expects Bitcoin’s best price performance to occur in Q4, citing historical patterns following halving events. 

Read more: What Happened at the Last Bitcoin Halving? Predictions for 2024

Indeed, Bitcoin has a history of rallying in Q4, especially in halving years like 2020. With traders and investors holding out for a potential all-time high in 2024 or soon after, this optimism could attract more retail interest, spark media coverage, and drive greater adoption.

Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePin) are transforming the tech by enabling decentralized projects in real-world infrastructure.

Here’s what happened in DePin sector recently: Theta launched the mobile version of its EdgeCloud Node, expanding its network to Android devices. Helium formed a partnership with the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans, increasing its visibility at major sporting events. Meanwhile, Anyone announced its Incentivized Testnet, offering token rewards to relay operators for supporting its infrastructure.

Theta Releases EdgeCloud Node for Android Devices

In a important step for Theta, the mobile version of the Edge Node for Android devices launched on September 25. This update expands Theta EdgeCloud’s network, which already includes over 30,000 desktop nodes, to potentially tap into the computing power of 3.9 billion Android devices worldwide. Now, Android smartphone users can contribute their GPU power to Theta’s EdgeCloud network and earn TFUEL tokens as a reward.

“For the first time ever, the Theta team has implemented a video object detection AI model (VOD_AI) that runs on consumer grade Android mobile devices, delivering true computation at the edge and enabling unparalleled scalability and reach. VOD_AI is a computer vision technique that uses AI to analyze video frames to identify objects by scanning video frames, looking for potential objects and drawing bounding boxes around them. This process is similar to how the human visual cortex works,” the team shared.

Read more: How To Invest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) Cryptocurrencies?

Users can also set their Edge Node to run only when the device is on WiFi and charging, like overnight. With thousands of Android devices participating globally, Theta can handle large computing tasks, such as video processing, around the clock. For example, if 30,000 devices each work for 8 hours, they provide 240,000 hours of computing power in a day.

The system splits large videos into 14 million small parts and distributes the work across devices, allowing it to process even complex, high-resolution videos efficiently. This brings a new level of power to edge computing.

Helium Partners with USC Athletics

Helium Mobile has officially partnered with the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans, marking a new collaboration for the 2024-25 sports season. As part of this partnership, Helium Mobile will feature prominently at USC football and basketball home games, starting with the highly anticipated USC vs. Wisconsin game on September 28, 2024, where Helium Mobile will serve as the game sponsor.

Fans attending these games can expect Helium Mobile branding throughout the stadium, along with interactive activities, giveaways, and promotions aimed at engaging USC supporters. The partnership also includes special events like student section takeovers and exclusive fan experiences.

“We are proud to support the USC Trojans. Sports bring people together, and we’re excited to have USC as part of the Helium Mobile family. We know how important it is for students, student-athletes, faculty, and alumni to have reliable and affordable cell phone service,” Helium Mobile COO Frank Mong said.

Read more: What Is DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks)?

Helium Mobile, known for its $20 per month phone plan with unlimited talk, text, and data, will use the opportunity to introduce the Helium Network to the USC community.

With a focus on providing reliable connectivity for popular apps like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, the network promises to meet the needs of students and fans who rely on their phones throughout the day. Helium subscribers also have the chance to earn rewards for supporting the network’s growth.

Anyone Prepares for Incentivized Testnet

The Anyone Incentivized Testnet and Dashboard will go live soon. This launch will transition the network to an incentivized phase, allowing any relay operator to earn mainnet ANYONE tokens through the distribution system.

Initially, the distribution rate will be set at 25% of the final target. Operators will be able to connect to the dashboard, track rewards distributed on Arweave Layer-1, and claim them on the Sepolia Testnet. Mainnet tokens will then be airdropped weekly on a 1:1 basis with the testnet rewards redeemed.

The team will test and audit features throughout the testnet period, then integrate them into the rewards system. With updates like family requirements, geolocation multipliers, and mainnet ANYONE locking, the rewards will increase as the protocol grows.

Read more: Top 12 Crypto Companies to Watch in 2024

While DePIN is still in its early stages and has some flaws, it allows for the exchange of tokens between synthetic and real-world assets. This supports traditional infrastructure by providing last-mile coverage in areas where conventional models are not economically feasible.

The price of Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (FET) has surged by 35% this month, marking a strong recovery after previous declines during the early phases of the AI coin mergers. This recent performance has made September a positive month for the cryptocurrency.

However, in the past seven days, FET’s price has dipped by 5.46%, likely due to some investors locking in profits from the recent rally. Despite this short-term decline, large-scale accumulation is underway, as key stakeholders appear to be positioning for another potential breakout.

Whales Double Down on Artificial Superintelligence Alliance

On September 25, FET’s price jumped to $1.70, fueling speculation that the AI coin could retest $2. But that did not happen, as the cryptocurrency is now down to $1.60.

Following the drawdown, it appears that crypto whales saw this as an opportunity to buy at discount prices. This is evident from on-chain data obtained from Santiment. According to Santiment, the number of tokens held by addresses who own about 10 million to 100  million FET was 591.45 million on September 27.

Today, the number has increased to 689.94 million, indicating that crypto whales bought nearly 100 million FET in the last three days. At its current price, this purchase is worth nearly $100 million.

Read more: How To Invest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) Cryptocurrencies?

Interestingly, this accumulation comes amid the CUDOS (CUDOS) to FET migration. CUDOS is a decentralized blockchain network that enables Graphic Processing Unit (GPU) machines to power decentralized applications.

On September 26, the project disclosed that it had begun its migration to the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance and shared steps for transitioning from CUDOS to FET. Considering the development, it is likely to see a notable jump in FET’s market cap and possibly — its price.

On another note, IntoTheBlock data shows that the Coins Holding Time has increased by 183.81% in the last 90 days. This implies that many FET holders have stuck with the cryptocurrency without transaction or potentially selling it. 

From a price perspective, this could be bullish for the token. But what’s happening on the technical side?

FET Price Prediction: $2 and Above Soon

On the daily chart, FET’s price is trading near the 20-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA). The EMA determines the direction in which a cryptocurrency’s price might move based on previous price trends.

As seen below, the 20 EMA (blue) is around $1.52, and support lies in the same area. This indicates that FET might not drop below this region. Instead, a rebound could be next for the cryptocurrency.

Read more: Top 9 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Cryptocurrencies in 2024

However, the token needs to break the $1.70 resistance first. If successful, the next price target could be $2.03 or possibly higher. But if FET bulls fail to gain the advantage and the token drops below the 20 EMA, the prediction might be invalidated, and the price could decline to $1.33