Key Takeaways
- • U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $635.5 million in net outflows on Thursday, October 22, 2026, their largest single-day withdrawal since June 25, according to DailyCoin.
- • The outflows reversed a surge of more than $1 billion into the funds earlier in the same week, raising questions about the durability of institutional demand.
- • Bitcoin fell to around $81,200 as more than $315 million in leveraged crypto positions were liquidated, with traders now watching $82,000 as a key level.
- • Spot Ether ETFs also saw $110.5 million in net outflows, with BlackRock's iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) accounting for $75.45 million, per SoSoValue data.
- • Glassnode reports Bitcoin treasury companies are "barely buying" despite holding BTC at an average cost of about $80,200, limiting a potential source of demand.
Summary
U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded $635.5 million in net outflows on Thursday, October 22, 2026, marking their largest single-day withdrawal since June 25, according to DailyCoin. The reversal followed more than $1 billion of inflows earlier that week and came as Bitcoin retreated from a brief rebound toward $85,000. Bitcoin fell to around $81,200 on Thursday, a move that coincided with more than $315 million of liquidations of leveraged positions across crypto markets.
The selloff was not confined to crypto. The S&P 500 fell 1.2% and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 2.6%, its biggest daily decline since June, with technology and AI stocks leading losses. Brent crude climbed to a five-month high, adding to concerns about persistent inflation. Spot Ether ETFs also posted $110.5 million in net outflows on Thursday, with BlackRock's iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) accounting for $75.45 million of that total, according to SoSoValue data.
Corporate demand is also a watch item. Glassnode analysis says Bitcoin treasury companies are "barely buying" despite being in profit, with estimated average holdings cost of around $80,200. A slowdown in these purchases could limit an additional source of demand.
On the technical side, crypto analyst Ted Pillows noted in a post on X on October 22 that Bitcoin recorded its first daily close below its 50-day moving average in more than two months. He said the weekly structure remained intact and that a close above $82,000 would help restore buyers' control. DailyCoin notes that ETF flows are a key gauge of institutional appetite, and that flows in the coming sessions will indicate whether Thursday's outflow was a pause or a trend change.
The selloff was not confined to crypto. The S&P 500 fell 1.2% and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 2.6%, its biggest daily decline since June, with technology and AI stocks leading losses. Brent crude climbed to a five-month high, adding to concerns about persistent inflation. Spot Ether ETFs also posted $110.5 million in net outflows on Thursday, with BlackRock's iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) accounting for $75.45 million of that total, according to SoSoValue data.
Corporate demand is also a watch item. Glassnode analysis says Bitcoin treasury companies are "barely buying" despite being in profit, with estimated average holdings cost of around $80,200. A slowdown in these purchases could limit an additional source of demand.
On the technical side, crypto analyst Ted Pillows noted in a post on X on October 22 that Bitcoin recorded its first daily close below its 50-day moving average in more than two months. He said the weekly structure remained intact and that a close above $82,000 would help restore buyers' control. DailyCoin notes that ETF flows are a key gauge of institutional appetite, and that flows in the coming sessions will indicate whether Thursday's outflow was a pause or a trend change.
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