U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs see biggest inflows in 11 months, led by BlackRock’s IBIT

Nearly a billion dollars flowed back into U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs in a single trading day this week, and the timing lines up almost perfectly with bitcoin’s brief run past $87,000. On Monday, spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds pulled in $998.95 million in net inflows, the largest daily total in 11 months, with BlackRock IBIT inflows leading the pack at $381.4 million. The rebound in demand, paired with a sharp price move, suggests institutional money is once again treating bitcoin as a buy-the-breakout asset rather than a wait-and-see one.

Key takeaways

• U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs recorded $998.95 million in net inflows on Monday, their largest single-day haul in 11 months.
• BlackRock’s IBIT led with $381.4 million, followed by Ark & 21Shares’ ARKB at $289.1 million and Fidelity’s FBTC at $238.8 million.
• Bitcoin briefly surged above $87,000, its highest level since January 2026, before easing to around $85,400 by early Tuesday.
• Spot Ethereum ETFs also logged $269.98 million in net inflows, their best day since October 2025.
• Crypto liquidations hit $1.06 billion in 24 hours, including $844 million in short positions, adding fuel to the rally.

Record Inflows Into U.S. Spot Bitcoin ETFs

U.S. spot bitcoin funds absorbed $998.95 million in net inflows on Monday, according to SoSoValue data cited by The Block — the largest daily inflow the category has seen in 11 months. The last time inflows came in stronger was Oct. 6, 2025, when the funds pulled in $1.2 billion in a single session. That comparison matters: it puts Monday’s number in context as one of the strongest institutional buying days since bitcoin ETFs became a mainstream allocation tool.

Why this matters: spot ETF flows are one of the clearest windows into institutional appetite for bitcoin, since they represent regulated, large-scale capital moving in or out of the asset rather than retail trading noise. A near-billion-dollar day signals that big allocators were willing to step back in at higher prices, not just hold existing positions.

Top Funds Driving the Rally

BlackRock’s IBIT again topped the leaderboard, pulling in $381.4 million on its own. The scale of BlackRock IBIT inflows on Monday made it the single largest contributor to the day’s total, reinforcing the fund’s position as the dominant vehicle for institutional bitcoin exposure. Ark & 21Shares’ ARKB followed with $289.1 million, and Fidelity’s FBTC added $238.8 million. Grayscale, Bitwise, and Morgan Stanley also reported positive flows, according to SoSoValue figures referenced by The Block, suggesting the buying was broad-based rather than concentrated in a single product.

Ethereum ETFs Also See Significant Gains

Bitcoin wasn’t the only beneficiary. According to SoSoValue data, spot Ethereum ETFs saw net inflows of $269.98 million on Monday, marking their biggest single-day gain since Oct. 7, 2025. The parallel move suggests the renewed risk appetite driving bitcoin buying spilled over into ether as well, rather than staying isolated to a single asset.

Bitcoin Price Surge and Market Momentum

Bitcoin briefly surged above $87,000 on Monday, touching roughly $87,300 at its peak — its highest level since January 2026 — before pulling back. As of 3:00 a.m. ET Tuesday, the token was trading around $85,400, up 4.7% over the prior 24 hours. Ether moved in tandem, gaining about 2.5% to trade near $2,730.

Dominick John, an analyst at Zeus Research, told The Block that “bitcoin’s move above $85,000 signals a broader repricing of risk, underpinned by renewed institutional allocation, short-covering activity, and a more supportive macro backdrop.” That framing ties the price action directly to the same institutional demand showing up in the ETF numbers, rather than treating the two as separate events.

Short Covering and Liquidations Add Fuel

Part of the move looks technical rather than purely fundamental. Jeff Ko, chief analyst at ViaBTC, described the price action as “more of a technical breakout,” noting that bitcoin “cleared the $82,000 level that had capped the market earlier, and the breakout likely brought systematic strategies back into the market.”

That breakout triggered a sharp squeeze on traders positioned for a decline. CoinGlass data showed crypto liquidations totaling $1.06 billion over 24 hours, with $844 million of that coming from short positions. In other words, a chunk of Monday’s rally was forced buying from traders exiting losing bets, not just fresh institutional capital arriving through ETFs.

Drivers Behind Renewed Institutional Demand

Several macro factors are lining up to support the rally, according to market participants who spoke with The Block. Jeff Mei, COO of BTSE, pointed to a mix of easing conditions: “Institutional investors are flocking back to bitcoin because of favorable macro factors — oil prices dropped, Treasury yields eased, and Trump and Xi are meeting this week, which could lead to breakthroughs in AI, trade, and the Iran conflict.”

Min Jung, a research associate at Presto Research, offered a similar read on what’s behind the surge in crypto ETF flows: “While there is no single clear catalyst, the move appears to reflect a combination of renewed risk appetite, strong spot ETF demand and some short covering after bitcoin broke above key technical levels.” Jung added that “Monday’s unusually large ETF inflows likely added momentum by signaling renewed institutional demand.”

Dominick John of Zeus Research also flagged that positive funding rates and elevated open interest point to renewed long exposure across derivatives markets, while continued short liquidations and steady spot demand could stretch the momentum further. “Traders are watching whether BTC holds above $85,000 and ETH above $2,700, with sustained spot ETF inflows signaling underlying demand,” John said.

Taken together, the picture is one where institutional bitcoin demand and technical positioning reinforced each other on the same trading day. Whether that combination repeats depends largely on whether ETF buyers keep showing up at these price levels, and whether the macro backdrop — oil, yields, and diplomatic headlines — stays as calm as it was on Monday.

FAQ

What was the size of the net inflows into U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs on Monday?

U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs recorded $998.95 million in net inflows on Monday, the largest daily inflow in 11 months.

Which ETFs led the inflows on Monday?

Leading the pack was BlackRock’s IBIT with $381.4 million, while Ark & 21Shares’ ARKB brought in $289.1 million and Fidelity’s FBTC added $238.8 million.

How did bitcoin price react on the day of the large ETF inflows?

Bitcoin briefly surged above $87,000 and showed a 4.7% gain over 24 hours, reaching around $85,400 as of early Tuesday.

What factors are driving renewed institutional demand for bitcoin?

Renewed institutional demand is attributed to favorable macro factors such as lower oil prices, eased Treasury yields, geopolitical meetings, renewed risk appetite, strong ETF demand, and short covering.

Article produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial team.