Bitcoin and Solana ETFs Record Outflows as Market Slumps
Spot Bitcoin funds reverse three‑day inflow streak; Solana ETFs feel the pressure despite strong cumulative inflows.
Summary
- U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs logged a net withdrawal of $228 million on Thursday, ending a three‑day inflow run that had brought in roughly $1.1 billion.
- Weekly inflows remain positive at $917 million, yet year‑to‑date (YTD) figures show net outflows of about $900 million.
- Total assets under management (AUM) for Bitcoin spot ETFs stay above $90 billion, having recaptured the threshold earlier this week.
- BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) led the outflow tally with $89 million, followed by Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) at $48 million and Bitwise’s Bitcoin ETF (BITB) at $46 million.
- Altcoin ETFs were not immune: Ethereum funds shed $91 million, while XRP and Solana ETFs posted modest outflows of $6 million and $5 million, respectively.
- Solana’s ETF sector, despite a 57 % price decline in SOL since the launch of spot products in July, has amassed $1.5 billion in cumulative inflows, with YTD inflows around $200 million.
Bitcoin Spot ETFs Turn Red
The most recent dip in Bitcoin’s price, which slipped below $71,000 on Thursday, triggered a wave of withdrawals from the growing suite of U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange‑traded funds. Data from SoSoValue indicates that investors pulled $228 million out of these vehicles, halting a three‑day streak that had previously delivered more than a billion dollars in fresh capital.
Although the weekly flow chart still shows a net $917 million coming in, the broader YTD picture tells a different story. Since the start of 2026, investors have removed roughly $900 million more than they have added, leaving cumulative inflows at $3.58 billion versus cumulative outflows of $4.49 billion. The sector’s AUM, however, remains robust, hovering just above the $90 billion mark after briefly dipping below it earlier in the week.
Among the major providers, BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) accounted for the largest single withdrawal, with $89 million exiting the fund. Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) and Bitwise’s Bitcoin ETF (BITB) followed with outflows of $48 million and $46 million, respectively.
Analysts attribute the reversal to a “relief rally” that failed to gain enough momentum to reverse the prevailing bear market. CryptoQuant’s on‑chain metrics suggest that Bitcoin’s brief surge above $73,000 was more likely a short‑term technical bounce than a sign of a new bullish phase. Some market watchers continue to warn that Bitcoin could slide below $60,000 if the current “crypto winter” persists.
Solana ETFs Hold Their Ground
Altcoin ETFs experienced a mixed reaction to the market dip. Ethereum‑focused funds saw the most significant outflow, losing $91 million on the same day. XRP and Solana ETFs each recorded modest withdrawals of $6 million and $5 million, respectively—the first negative flow for Solana ETFs since early February.
Despite the dip, Solana’s ETF ecosystem has demonstrated resilience. Since the launch of the first spot Solana ETF in July, the sector has attracted $1.5 billion in net inflows. Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas highlighted that, even with a 57 % decline in SOL’s market price, the funds have retained almost all of the capital amassed, a testament to growing institutional interest that began in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Balchunas noted that the steady inflow stream suggests confidence in Solana’s underlying technology and its positioning within the broader crypto infrastructure, rather than reliance on price appreciation alone.
Key Takeaways
- Spot Bitcoin ETFs are sensitive to price moves: A modest slide below $71k was enough to trigger $228 million in withdrawals, underscoring the fragility of inflow momentum in a bearish environment.
- Weekly inflows remain positive, but YTD net outflows signal caution: The sector’s cumulative net outflow now exceeds inflows, hinting at a gradual shift in investor sentiment.
- BlackRock remains the most exposed provider: IBIT’s $89 million outflow makes it the primary driver of the recent net negative flow.
- Altcoin ETFs feel the heat, yet Solana remains an outlier: While Ethereum funds faced the largest outflow among altcoins, Solana ETFs have continued to accumulate capital despite a steep price decline.
- Institutional interest in Solana persists: The $1.5 billion cumulative inflow to Solana ETFs, combined with a year‑to‑date net inflow of $200 million, suggests that institutions view Solana as a strategic exposure rather than a short‑term speculative play.
Outlook
If Bitcoin’s price continues to hover in the low‑$70,000 range, further outflows from spot ETFs are plausible, especially if the market fails to deliver a clear catalyst for a sustained rally. Conversely, any decisive breakout—upward or downward—could quickly shift the flow dynamics as investors reassess risk.
For Solana, the current trajectory indicates that fund inflows are more driven by confidence in the platform’s utility and long‑term roadmap than by price action. Should SOL’s price stabilize or recover, the existing capital base could accelerate, potentially encouraging additional product launches and broader institutional participation.
The data referenced in this article comes from SoSoValue, CryptoQuant, Farside, and Bloomberg’s ETF analyst Eric Balchunas. All figures are presented in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-etfs-228-million-outflows-bear-market-persists?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound
