Key Takeaways
- • U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs posted net outflows of $228.6 million in the week ended October 16, 2026, following a $681.1 million drain the prior week, for roughly $910 million in two-week redemptions (SoSoValue data cited by Decrypt).
- • October net flows have turned negative at about $615 million, after the funds opened the month with roughly $293 million of inflows.
- • Wednesday's $261.4 million in redemptions, the week's worst session, coincided with a September CPI reading of 3.7% annual inflation, above the 3.6% forecast, which revived bets on further Federal Reserve rate increases.
- • Bitcoin briefly fell below $80,000 on Thursday, triggering nearly $950 million in leveraged crypto liquidations, about 90% of them long positions (CoinGlass data cited by Decrypt).
- • Despite the outflows, U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs hold total net assets of about $104 billion and cumulative net inflows of $57.3 billion since their January 2024 launch (SoSoValue).
Summary
U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded net outflows of $228.6 million in the week ended Friday, October 16, according to SoSoValue data cited by Decrypt. The outflows followed a $681.1 million drain the previous week, bringing two-week redemptions to roughly $910 million. The selling has reversed the funds' start to the month, leaving them down about $615 million for October after opening with roughly $293 million of inflows.
Friday's session alone saw $82.4 million leave the funds. According to Farside Investors data relayed by a KuCoin market update, BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust accounted for $71.8 million of that figure and Fidelity's Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund for $10.6 million. Spot ether ETFs lost $69.7 million the same day and are down about $955 million for the month, the same data showed.
The weekly flow pattern was choppy rather than one-directional. A $175.7 million inflow on Tuesday was more than offset by $261.4 million in redemptions on Wednesday, the week's largest outflow day, before a modest $5.1 million inflow on Thursday, Decrypt reported. Wednesday's selling coincided with a consumer price index reading showing 3.7% annual inflation in September, above the 3.6% forecast. That data revived market expectations of further Federal Reserve rate increases. The flow data has tracked interest-rate expectations closely this month.
Price action compounded the caution. Bitcoin briefly slipped below $80,000 on Thursday, and nearly $950 million of leveraged crypto positions were liquidated over 24 hours, about 90% of them long bets, according to CoinGlass data cited by Decrypt. A Nexo analyst said the decline pushed bitcoin below the average ETF holder's estimated cost basis near $82,300. Bitcoin closed Friday near $81,590.
Despite the recent redemptions, the products remain a significant component of institutional crypto exposure. Per SoSoValue, cumulative net inflows since their January 2024 launch total $57.3 billion, and total net assets are about $104 billion. The Decrypt report frames the flow data as a real-time gauge of adviser and institutional sentiment for allocators and crypto fund managers.
Friday's session alone saw $82.4 million leave the funds. According to Farside Investors data relayed by a KuCoin market update, BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust accounted for $71.8 million of that figure and Fidelity's Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund for $10.6 million. Spot ether ETFs lost $69.7 million the same day and are down about $955 million for the month, the same data showed.
The weekly flow pattern was choppy rather than one-directional. A $175.7 million inflow on Tuesday was more than offset by $261.4 million in redemptions on Wednesday, the week's largest outflow day, before a modest $5.1 million inflow on Thursday, Decrypt reported. Wednesday's selling coincided with a consumer price index reading showing 3.7% annual inflation in September, above the 3.6% forecast. That data revived market expectations of further Federal Reserve rate increases. The flow data has tracked interest-rate expectations closely this month.
Price action compounded the caution. Bitcoin briefly slipped below $80,000 on Thursday, and nearly $950 million of leveraged crypto positions were liquidated over 24 hours, about 90% of them long bets, according to CoinGlass data cited by Decrypt. A Nexo analyst said the decline pushed bitcoin below the average ETF holder's estimated cost basis near $82,300. Bitcoin closed Friday near $81,590.
Despite the recent redemptions, the products remain a significant component of institutional crypto exposure. Per SoSoValue, cumulative net inflows since their January 2024 launch total $57.3 billion, and total net assets are about $104 billion. The Decrypt report frames the flow data as a real-time gauge of adviser and institutional sentiment for allocators and crypto fund managers.
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