US Spot Bitcoin ETFs Near Yearly Outflow Territory

TheNewsCryptoPublished on 2026-05-25Last updated on 2026-05-25

Abstract

US spot Bitcoin ETFs are nearing net annual outflows following six consecutive days of withdrawals, with a significant $105.2 million outflow on Friday alone. This streak, which began May 14, has reduced the total net inflows for 2026 to $536 million. Major funds like BlackRock's IBIT and Fidelity's FBTC led the recent outflows, contributing to an overall withdrawal of $1.55 billion since mid-May. This trend indicates a potential cooling of institutional interest in Bitcoin, with notable reductions in ETF holdings by firms like Jane Street and Goldman Sachs earlier in the year. While the broader US Bitcoin ETF market remains in net positive territory for 2026, inflows are dominated by IBIT and are not expected to reach 2025's levels. In contrast, spot Ether ETFs have seen net outflows, and new altcoin ETFs have struggled to gain traction. A positive note is the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust (MSBT), launched in April, which has attracted $264 million in net inflows.

The US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund market is about to see net outflows for the year after six days of withdrawals that began on Friday. After Friday’s market loss of $105.2 million—$68.9 million for BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and $36.3 million for Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC)—net inflows into Bitcoin ETFs for 2026 have decreased to $536 million.

Withdrawal Streak Shrinks 2026 Inflows

The outflow on Friday added to the $1.55 billion that has been drained from the ETFs since May 14, when the last net inflow was reported, even though no other Bitcoin ETF based in the US saw a change in flows.

It is possible to gauge the level of institutional interest in Bitcoin and the flow of new money into the cryptocurrency market by looking at the net inflows into US spot Bitcoin ETFs. The first quarter saw a 70% reduction in Bitcoin ETF holdings at institutional market maker Jane Street and a 10% reduction at investment bank Goldman Sachs.

The majority of the $2.7 billion in net inflows to the US Bitcoin ETF market this year have originated from IBIT, however the industry as a whole is still seeing net inflows for 2026.

While most of its rivals have seen a decline in 2026, its inflows this year are not expected to surpass the $25 billion it received in 2025. So far in 2026, there have been net outflows from US-based spot Ether ETFs, and new altcoin ETFs have failed to meet the same level of demand as their predecessors.

The Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust ETF (MSBT) is one encouraging trend; it debuted on April 8 and has received $264 million in net inflows so far.

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