Bitcoin Spot ETFs Continue to Shed Capital as Solana Funds Hold Steady
February 19 2026 – Global crypto markets
U.S.‑listed spot Bitcoin exchange‑traded funds (ETFs) posted another round of net outflows on Wednesday, extending a reluctant week for the asset class. According to data compiled by SoSoValue, investors withdrew $133.3 million from Bitcoin spot ETFs on the day, pushing the cumulative weekly loss to $238 million. If the trend persists through Thursday and Friday, the five‑week outflow streak would be the longest for Bitcoin ETFs since March 2025.
Bitcoin ETF Dynamics
- Largest drain from BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT): More than $84 million left the fund, making it the primary source of the week’s net outflows.
- Trading activity remains muted: Daily turnover across all U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs stayed under $3 billion, reflecting low investor engagement despite recent commentary about a possible “inflection point” in the sector.
- Year‑to‑date performance: Bitcoin ETFs have seen roughly $2.5 billion exit this year, leaving total assets under management (AUM) at $83.6 billion.
The outflows come as Bitcoin (BTC) briefly slipped below the $66,000 mark, trading around $67,058 at the time of writing—a 24 % decline from the start of 2026. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index has lingered in “Extreme Fear” territory, underscoring prevailing market pessimism. Analysts at Standard Chartered have warned that BTC could test the $50,000 level before a potential rebound to $100,000 later in the year.
Solana ETFs Defy the Downward Drift
In contrast, funds tracking Solana (SOL) have continued to attract capital since their debut in October 2025. The sector recorded a six‑day streak of inflows, adding approximately $113 million to year‑to‑date AUM. While February’s cumulative inflows sit at $9 million, they remain well below the $105 million logged in January and the $148 million recorded in December 2025.
- Relative size: Spot Solana ETFs have amassed close to $700 million in AUM, trailing behind XRP ETFs, which have surpassed the $1 billion milestone since their November 2025 launch.
- Market activity: Despite the positive net flows, trading volumes for Solana ETFs are still modest compared with earlier months, indicating that investor interest is measured rather than speculative.
Other major crypto ETFs, such as those tracking Ether (ETH) and XRP, posted modest daily outflows of $41.8 million and $2.2 million, respectively, further highlighting Solana’s relative resilience.
Broader Market Sentiment
The divergent performance of Bitcoin and Solana ETFs is occurring against a backdrop of heightened market anxiety:
- Crypto Fear & Greed Index: Continues to signal “Extreme Fear,” a condition historically associated with subsequent price recoveries. CryptoQuant’s short‑term Sharpe ratio for Bitcoin has entered levels that analysts have previously linked to “generational buying zones.”
- Analyst outlook: While some forecasters anticipate a deep corrective phase for Bitcoin, they also note the potential for a rapid upside swing if technical support holds.
Key Takeaways
- Bitcoin ETFs are in a sustained outflow phase: A $133 million daily net withdrawal brings the weekly total to $238 million, marking the longest five‑week outflow streak since March 2025.
- BlackRock’s IBIT leads the outflows: The fund alone accounted for roughly one‑third of Wednesday’s net withdrawals.
- Solana ETFs remain a bright spot: Six consecutive days of net inflows and a YTD gain of $113 million contrast sharply with the broader market.
- Overall crypto sentiment stays negative: The Fear & Greed Index remains in “Extreme Fear,” yet historical patterns suggest that such periods can precede strong recoveries.
- Future price scenarios for BTC: Forecasts range from a possible dip to $50,000 to a rebound toward $100,000 within the year, depending on macro‑economic and regulatory developments.
Investors are advised to monitor ETF flow data alongside broader market indicators, as capital movements in regulated products often foreshadow shifts in sentiment across the unregulated crypto space.
Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-etf-133-million-outflows-extreme-fear-sentiment?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound
