U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have broken their recent outflow streak with significant net inflows exceeding $500 million. The funds recorded approximately $506–508 million in net inflows on that date—the highest single-day total in several weeks.
This marks a reversal after five consecutive weeks of net outflows, during which investors pulled out roughly $3.8–4.3 billion (the longest such streak since late 2025 or November, amid broader market pressures like macro uncertainty and tariff concerns). BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) led strongly with around $297 million.
Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) contributed notably with about $102–103 million (a rare positive day for it). Other contributors included Bitwise (BITB) at ~$39 million and Fidelity (FBTC) at ~$30 million. Importantly, no major ETF showed outflows that day, indicating broad-based buying.
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This has helped push weekly inflows so far to around $560 million, putting the funds on track for their first positive week after the extended slump. Cumulative net inflows since the ETFs’ inception remain strongly positive at over $54 billion.
The inflows coincided with Bitcoin’s price rebounding above $68,000 from recent lows around the mid-$60,000s or even testing $64,000 earlier in the week, suggesting renewed institutional interest and “cautious accumulation” rather than full euphoria. Analysts view this as a potential signal of stabilizing sentiment, though sustained inflows would be needed for a more definitive trend reversal.
For context, Ethereum spot ETFs also saw positive flows ~$157 million on the same day in some reports, while the broader crypto market showed mixed but improving risk appetite. The recent five-week streak of net outflows from U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs (totaling roughly $3.8–4.5 billion through late February 2026, with year-to-date figures around $4.5 billion in some reports) stemmed from a combination of macroeconomic pressures, risk aversion, and market dynamics rather than any fundamental flaw in Bitcoin itself.
This period followed Bitcoin’s sharp correction from its October 2025 highs above $126,000, with prices dipping toward the mid-$60,000s by early-to-mid February amid broader risk-off sentiment. Macroeconomic uncertainty and risk-off positioning.
Investors, particularly institutions, de-risked portfolios amid fears of global tariffs; President Trump’s announcements of new or expanded tariffs, including a 15% shock impacting trade and growth expectations, geopolitical tensions and a stronger U.S. dollar. These factors reduced appetite for high-volatility assets like Bitcoin, which traded more like a risk-on proxy tied to tech stocks than a “digital gold.”
A sell-off in tech stocks including AI-related names dragged correlated risk assets lower. This hit Bitcoin miners pursuing AI and high-performance computing strategies especially hard, as tighter financing led some to sell BTC holdings to shore up balance sheets, adding spot supply pressure.
Deleveraging and unwinding of positions: Rapid reduction in leverage across crypto and broader markets contributed to orderly but persistent selling. Hedge funds and tactical/short-term players exited, including unwinding of basis trades (arbitrage between spot ETFs and CME futures) that had been profitable in 2025 but compressed in the downturn.
Some outflows reflected profit-taking or rebalancing rather than outright panic. Institutional wariness persisted after an early October 2025 crash/exposure of vulnerabilities amplifying caution in a volatile macro environment. Technical factors, such as Bitcoin breaking key supports, reinforced the downside momentum.
Some flows rotated toward altcoins or other assets, while ETF mechanics amplified pressure—redemptions force authorized participants to sell underlying BTC, creating mechanical selling. This was not isolated to Bitcoin; Ethereum ETFs saw similar multi-week outflows.
The outflows represented a sustained de-risking phase driven by external macro headwinds and tactical adjustments, not capitulation from long-term holders who largely stayed put, with cumulative ETF inflows since 2024 launch still strongly positive at ~$53–54 billion.
Analysts viewed it as a “healthy reset” or temporary consolidation in a choppy environment, with the recent inflow reversal; over $500 million on February 25 potentially signaling stabilizing sentiment as Bitcoin rebounded above $68,000. Sustained positive flows would be needed to confirm a fuller trend shift.