Last week saw heightened tensions stemming from the Iran crisis, a rare period of volatility in global markets. Despite the turmoil, cryptocurrencies demonstrated notable resilience. Although late-night oil price swings had some impact on the crypto space, significant declines did not materialize. The question remains: where do institutional players now stand? Are Bitcoin and altcoin ETFs and ETPs still attracting attention, or is momentum fading? CoinShares’ latest report provides valuable insights into these institutional trends.
Institutional Crypto Flows React to Global Events
CoinShares releases weekly analyses of activity in cryptocurrency investment products, offering a window into institutional behavior. After a period marked by consistent selling in Bitcoin ETFs, a turnaround has begun to emerge. Bitcoin led the charge with $521 million in net inflows last week—effectively driving nearly all the capital moving into crypto investment vehicles.
The Iran crisis acted as a support for Bitcoin, with the first three days of the week registering a robust $1.44 billion in inflows. As the days passed, however, sentiment shifted. Despite jobs data falling short of expectations, markets witnessed outflows totaling $829 million on Thursday and Friday. These redemptions ultimately offset much of the earlier optimism that had buoyed the start of the week.
The underlying tension appears to stem from opposing forces: shrinking employment figures typically cool inflation, yet surging oil prices risk reigniting it. Inflation fears connected to energy markets remain top of mind, especially given persistent inflation challenges in the United States.
Regional flow patterns further illustrate the complex dynamics at play. While institutional players in Europe, Asia, and Canada sold off their positions, U.S.-based investors displayed distinct appetite for exposure. Notably, Bitcoin recorded net inflows for two consecutive weeks for the first time in five months, highlighting the significance of the most recent figures. With U.S. economic data in flux and ongoing geopolitical developments, the stage is set for pronounced volatility in the weeks ahead.
Altcoins See Mixed Sentiment as Ethereum Struggles
As for alternative cryptocurrencies, Ethereum (ETH) remains under pressure. Despite strong institutional interest last July, ETH has languished in recent months, with 2025 inflows failing to reverse course. This year is shaping up to be another in which outflows dominate for the world’s second-largest digital asset.
Ripple’s XRP logged $123 million in inflows year-to-date; however, last week’s $30.3 million in outflows reflects continued investor caution. Such movements may signal lingering concerns over a prolonged crypto winter—especially as several cryptocurrency firms declared bankruptcy as of February, underscoring persistent industry headwinds.
Solana (SOL), in contrast, attracted $14.6 million in inflows last week, pushing its annual total to over $170 million. Short Bitcoin products continued to see demand, corresponding with heightened attention to Middle East-related risks. Meanwhile, Litecoin (LTC) products experienced low volumes, and Chainlink (LINK) posted modest but steady inflows.
