Spot Bitcoin ETFs have rebounded with strong inflows after a recent period of capital outflows. On Thursday, these investment products recorded a net inflow of $131.3 million, signaling a resurgence of institutional interest in spot Bitcoin ETFs and prompting a generally positive reaction among market participants.
BlackRock’s sector dominance
The most notable transaction of the day came from BlackRock. The US-based asset management giant added $144 million in net investments to its iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) portfolio. BlackRock’s major inflow balanced minor outflows recorded by other Bitcoin ETFs, resulting in a net positive day for the sector overall.
As of May 15, IBIT maintained its absolute dominance in the spot Bitcoin ETF market. IBIT’s assets under management surpassed $64 billion, with daily trading volume reported over $2 billion. The second largest product in the sector was Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC), with assets under management totaling about $14.16 billion.
Total assets and renewed investor interest in spot Bitcoin ETFs
Since their launch at the start of 2024, spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen their combined assets under management reach $105.51 billion. Cumulative net inflows to these funds have been recorded at $59.06 billion, demonstrating how rapidly these new investment vehicles have integrated into the market.
These funds have quickly become a primary choice for institutional investors seeking exposure to digital assets, as they enable Bitcoin to be evaluated alongside traditional financial instruments. Industry specialists expect spot Bitcoin ETFs to emerge as a major force in the market over the long term.
Four straight days of outflows in Ethereum ETFs
However, on the same day, spot Ethereum ETFs continued to lose momentum. Ether-based funds posted a total net outflow of $5.65 million, marking the fourth consecutive day of withdrawals from Ethereum ETFs.
This contrasting trend between the two major crypto assets suggests that traditional investors are still favoring Bitcoin, while Ethereum is currently struggling to capture market attention under present conditions.
The $131.3 million in new capital that entered spot Bitcoin ETFs in a single day signaled a striking reversal after recent outflows in the market. In contrast, spot Ethereum funds continued to experience steady outflows.
Analysts highlight that the latest figures reinforce Bitcoin’s status as the preferred safe haven for institutional investors, while uncertainty has become more pronounced for Ethereum. According to market experts, this landscape implies that, in the short term, traditional investors are likely to continue approaching Bitcoin with caution but on a larger scale.
