Bitcoin Spot ETFs Register $410 million in Outflows as Early‑Week Momentum Fades
US‑listed spot Bitcoin exchange‑traded funds (ETFs) saw a sharp rise in red on Thursday, a development that coincided with Standard Chartered’s downgrade of its 2026 Bitcoin price outlook.
Outflow figures
- Daily outflows: Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded roughly $410 million of net withdrawals on Thursday, according to data from SoSoValue.
- Weekly picture: The daily surge pushed total weekly outflows to about $375 million, extending a losing streak that now spans three weeks.
- Asset base: At present, the combined assets under management (AUM) of US spot Bitcoin ETFs sit just under $80 billion, roughly half of their historical high of nearly $170 billion reached in October 2025.
If Friday fails to bring a sizable inflow, the sector is on track for a fourth consecutive week of net outflows.
Institutional outlook shifts
Standard Chartered released a new forecast on Thursday that trimmed its 2026 price target for Bitcoin from $150,000 to $100,000. The bank warned that the cryptocurrency could tumble to as low as $50,000 before any meaningful recovery takes place. For Ether (ETH), the bank projects a bottom around $1,400, with a year‑end expectation of $4,000.
“We anticipate further price capitulation in the coming months,” the bank wrote in a report shared with Cointelegraph.
The downgrade added to the negative sentiment that has been pressing on crypto‑related ETFs throughout the week.
ETF performance by product
All eleven US spot Bitcoin ETFs posted net outflows, but the magnitude varied:
| ETF (Provider) | Net outflow (Thursday) |
|---|---|
| BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) | ~ $158 million |
| Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund | ~ $104 million |
| Remaining 9 Bitcoin ETFs | the balance of the $410 million total |
Ether spot ETFs experienced similar pressure, with $113 million withdrawn on Thursday, taking weekly net outflows to $171 million. XRP spot ETFs posted their first outflow since early February, shedding $6.4 million. By contrast, Solana (SOL) spot ETFs were the sole winners in the crypto ETF space, logging a modest $2.7 million inflow.
Market sentiment and technical backdrop
Crypto‑analytics platform CryptoQuant reiterated that Bitcoin’s realized price support currently hovers near $55,000, a level that has not yet been breached. Their weekly update described the market as being in a bear phase, but not yet in the “extreme bear” regime that historically signals the start of a prolonged bottoming process.
- Price action: Bitcoin traded around $66,000 on Thursday, briefly slipping to $65,250 according to CoinGecko data.
- Long‑term holder behavior: Data from CryptoQuant shows that long‑term holders (LTHs) are still selling close to breakeven, suggesting that the most resilient investors have not yet given up. Historically, bear‑market bottoms have formed after LTHs endured 30‑40 % losses, indicating that further downside could be required for a full reset.
Analysis
The convergence of large‑scale ETF outflows and a downgraded institutional price outlook paints a picture of growing caution among both retail and professional investors. While the outflow numbers are sizable, it is worth noting that total AUM remains robust at nearly $80 billion, providing a sizable liquidity pool for future inflows should sentiment improve.
The limited inflow into Solana ETFs hints at a potential rotation toward assets perceived as having better near‑term upside or lower correlation with Bitcoin’s price swings. However, the broader crypto ETF space continues to be dominated by the downward pressure on Bitcoin and Ether products.
CryptoQuant’s assessment that the market is still in a “bear” rather than an “extreme bear” condition suggests that, despite the recent pull‑back, the fundamentals required for a sustained recovery—such as a tested support level and renewed institutional demand—remain intact. A decisive break below $55,000 could accelerate outflows, while a bounce back above the $66,000 mark may revive investor confidence and attract new capital.
Key takeaways
- $410 million net withdrawal from US spot Bitcoin ETFs on Thursday; weekly outflows now $375 million.
- AUM of Bitcoin ETFs has fallen to under $80 billion, roughly half of the October 2025 peak.
- Standard Chartered cuts its 2026 Bitcoin target to $100,000, warning of a possible dip to $50,000.
- BlackRock’s IBIT and Fidelity’s Bitcoin fund experienced the largest single‑day outflows.
- Ether ETFs mirrored the trend with $113 million withdrawn; XRP ETFs posted first outflows since early February.
- Solana ETFs posted a modest inflow, standing out as the only crypto ETF gaining net capital.
- CryptoQuant sees $55,000 as the current price floor and notes the market remains in a standard bear phase, not yet in an “extreme bear.”
- Bitcoin price hovered near $66,000, indicating that the recent outflows have not yet translated into a dramatic price collapse.
The coming days will be pivotal: a rebound in ETF inflows or a stabilization in Bitcoin’s price could halt the current outflow streak, while further downside could push the market deeper into the bear cycle. Investors are advised to monitor both ETF flow data and institutional forecasts for any early signals of a shift in market dynamics.
Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-etf-410-million-outflows-standard-chartered-cut-target?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound
