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Bitcoin recovered to $84,000 on Wednesday after rising around 2.5%, supported by renewed ETF inflows and slower profit-taking. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs received almost $653 million in net inflows on October 19, ending a week of outflows. However, the funds' 30-day average trading volume remains below a quarter of the year-earlier level. The Federal Reserve's October 28 interest rate decision could test the recovery because higher borrowing costs could pressure cryptocurrencies. MSCI's forthcoming classification changes also raise concerns about potential index-related selling, with Strategy and Metaplanet flagged in an earlier test.

Microsoft and Alphabet have objected to plans for blockchain-based versions of their shares on OKXICE. The planned platform would provide round-the-clock trading in tokenized versions of 63 U.S.-listed stocks. A temporary SEC exemption gives companies 30 days after receiving notice to object, but an objection only blocks trading on that platform under the exemption. Applied Optoelectronics cited uncertainty about stock pricing, liquidity and volatility as reasons for objecting. OKX did not answer questions about the trading start date or whether the objections had affected launch plans.