Bitcoin and Ether Spot ETFs See $1.82 B Exit in a Single Trading Week
U.S. spot cryptocurrency ETFs suffered net withdrawals of roughly $1.5 bn for Bitcoin and $327 m for Ether between Monday and Friday, reflecting weakening sentiment after a brief rally in precious‑metals prices.
Weekly flow summary
- Total outflows: ≈ $1.82 billion across U.S. spot Bitcoin and Ether exchange‑traded funds.
- Bitcoin ETFs: $1.49 billion net outflow.
- Ether ETFs: $327.10 million net outflow.
The figures, compiled by data‑provider Farside, come as both digital assets posted double‑digit weekly declines. Over the past seven days, Bitcoin slipped 6.55 % to about $83,400, while Ether fell 8.99 % to roughly $2,685, according to CoinMarketCap price feeds.
Context and recent price action
A short‑lived bounce earlier in the week lifted Bitcoin by around 7 % after market speculation surrounding the U.S. CLARITY Act—legislation that could broaden institutional access to crypto. That surge helped drive the largest single‑day inflow for Bitcoin ETFs in 2026, with $840.6 million entering on Jan. 14. The same day the Crypto Fear & Greed Index peaked at a “Greed” level of 61, its highest reading of the year.
However, the optimism was short‑lived. By Friday, spot prices had resumed their slide, and investor withdrawals erased the earlier inflow gains.
Analyst perspective
ETF strategist Eric Balchunas (Bloomberg) cautioned that the current bearish tone towards Bitcoin is “very short‑sighted.” He noted that the cryptocurrency’s outperformance against gold and silver in 2023‑24 has been largely forgotten, and that the “institutionalization narrative” has already been priced into Bitcoin far ahead of any concrete infrastructure developments.
Balchunas argues that the market needed a “breather” for the narrative to catch up with price action, implying that a reversal could be on the horizon if institutional demand persists.
Precious‑metal backdrop
Gold and silver hit all‑time highs earlier this week—$5,608 for gold and $121 for silver—before both suffered sharp corrections on Friday. Gold dropped about 8 % to $4,887, while silver plunged roughly 27 % to $84, underscoring the volatility across traditional safe‑haven assets that often influence crypto sentiment.
Outlook from the crypto‑investment community
Bitwise’s chief investment officer Matt Hougan posted on X that sustained demand for Bitcoin ETFs could propel the cryptocurrency into a “parabolic” price trajectory. His comment reflects a broader view among some crypto‑focused investors that ETF inflows remain a key catalyst for future upside, despite the current outflow trend.
Key takeaways
- Significant week‑long outflows: Spot Bitcoin ETFs lost $1.49 bn; Ether ETFs shed $327 m, totaling $1.82 bn in withdrawals.
- Price pressure continues: Bitcoin and Ether prices are down 6.5 % and 9 % respectively over the last seven days.
- Short‑term optimism faded: A brief rally tied to CLARITY Act speculation and a record‑high Fear & Greed Index score could not sustain inflows.
- Analyst optimism persists: Industry voices argue that current negativity may be overblown and that institutional demand could reignite price gains.
- Precious‑metal volatility: Gold and silver’s sharp pullbacks this week add another layer of uncertainty to the broader risk‑off environment.
Investors are likely to monitor ETF flow data closely in the coming weeks, as it remains a barometer for retail and institutional sentiment toward the leading cryptocurrencies.
Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/crypto-etf-bitcoin-ether-outflows-metals-sentiment-down?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound
