Bitcoin ETFs Edge Toward a Positive Year‑to‑Date as XRP ETFs Post First Gains Since Early March
March 18 2026
U.S. spot‑Bitcoin exchange‑traded funds (ETFs) have recorded their longest run of daily inflows since October 2025, extending the streak to seven straight days. The renewed buying interest is narrowing the gap between the market’s year‑to‑date (YTD) net outflows and the point at which the sector could turn green. At the same time, the XRP‑focused ETF segment — which had been in a prolonged withdrawal phase — posted its first net inflows in nearly two weeks, hinting at a broader re‑balancing among crypto‑related investment products.
1. Spot‑Bitcoin ETFs: A Seven‑Day Inflow Streak
- Daily inflow on Monday: ≈ $199 million.
- Cumulative inflow over the last seven days: ≈ $1.2 billion.
- Total assets under management (AUM) for Bitcoin ETFs: ≈ $96.7 billion.
The latest figures come from SoSoValue, which tracks ETF flows across the United States. While the $1.2 billion total for the current streak is a notable swing, it remains modest compared with the record‑setting $6 billion that streamed in during the October 2025 run.
YTD, Bitcoin ETFs are still in the red: cumulative outflows of $1.8 billion this year have outpaced the $1.7 billion of inflows recorded to date. The short‑term rebound therefore represents a tentative reversal rather than a full‑scale recovery.
2. The Wider Crypto‑ETF Landscape
Crypto‑focused ETFs and exchange‑traded products (ETPs) have been buoyant across the board. CoinShares reports that the sector attracted roughly $2.7 billion over three consecutive weeks, lifting the YTD total inflow metric to about $1.2 billion.
Among alt‑coin ETFs, Ethereum (ETH) funds saw the biggest single‑day inflow of the period — $138.3 million — the largest amount since early March. Solana (SOL) ETFs followed with $17.8 million, also a March‑4 high.
3. XRP ETFs Register First Gains Since Early March
After eight days of net outflows, XRP‑linked ETFs reversed course with $4.64 million of net purchases on Monday, marking the first positive flow since March 4. The broader XRP ETF window (March 5–16) had seen $56.8 million exit, but the latest inflow signals a potential bottoming out.
Year‑to‑date, XRP products remain in the green thanks to strong January‑February performance:
- January–February inflows: ≈ $73.7 million.
- March outflows to date: ≈ $33.5 million.
When measured against the broader alt‑coin ETF market, XRP’s modest rebound stands out because the sector as a whole has been under pressure.
4. Solana Leads the Pack, Ether Remains Underwater
Solana‑linked ETFs have posted the highest net inflow among all crypto ETFs for the year, $223 million, underscoring sustained investor appetite for the platform’s growth narrative.
Conversely, Ether ETFs continue to record net outflows for the year, $364.5 million in total. Although March saw $358.5 million of fresh money flow in, it was insufficient to offset the $723 million that left the funds during the first two months of 2026.
5. Market Implications and Analyst Viewpoints
- Institutional sentiment: The seven‑day streak in Bitcoin ETF inflows suggests that institutional investors are re‑entering the market cautiously, possibly prompted by recent price stability in BTC and the anticipation of clearer regulatory guidance.
- Liquidity considerations: Despite the uptick, total daily trading volume for the Bitcoin ETF universe slipped to $2.6 billion on Monday, indicating that inflows are not yet translating into heightened market activity.
- Diversification trend: The simultaneous inflows into ETH and SOL ETFs, along with the nascent rebound in XRP, reflect a broader diversification strategy among crypto‑focused investors, who appear to be spreading risk across multiple assets rather than concentrating solely on Bitcoin.
- YTD outlook: If Bitcoin ETFs can sustain the current level of daily inflows, the sector could breach the negative YTD threshold within the next few weeks. However, the gap between the present streak and the October 2025 peak—more than fivefold—highlights the fragility of the recovery.
6. Key Takeaways
| Insight | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bitcoin ETF momentum | Seven consecutive days of inflows, $199 M on Monday, $1.2 B total; still below October 2025 peak. |
| YTD net position | Bitcoin ETFs – negative $100 M net (outflows $1.8 B vs. inflows $1.7 B). |
| Crypto ETF sector health | $2.7 B inflows over three weeks; YTD inflows ≈ $1.2 B. |
| XRP rebound | First net inflow since March 4 ($4.64 M); YTD still positive thanks to early‑year inflows. |
| Alt‑coin leaders | Solana – $223 M YTD net inflow; ETH – still negative YTD despite March inflows. |
| Investor behavior | Signs of diversification across Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, and XRP ETFs. |
The data referenced above are compiled from SoSoValue’s ETF flow tracker and CoinShares’ crypto‑ETF analytics. All figures are approximate and subject to revision as new market data become available.
Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-etf-streak-nears-october-run-but-inflows-lag-far-behind?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound
