Institutional interest in spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US has increased significantly in the first days of the new year. On Monday, a net inflow of $697 million was recorded into spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds. This figure marked the highest daily ETF inflow in the last three months. The data indicates a recovery in the overall sentiment of the crypto market, revealing that investors are adopting a cautious but optimistic stance. According to market data, with the $471 million inflow recorded on Friday, the total amount of funds directed to spot Bitcoin ETFs in the first two trading days of 2026 exceeded $1.16 billion. This strong start shows that institutional investors' interest in regulated crypto products is gaining momentum again. SoSoValue data revealed that nine of the 12 spot Bitcoin ETFs traded in the US experienced positive fund inflows on Monday. The largest share of the day went to the IBIT fund managed by BlackRock. IBIT saw an inflow of approximately $372 million in a single day. Fidelity’s FBTC fund followed, with net inflows into FBTC reaching $191 million. In addition, funds from other major issuers such as Grayscale, Bitwise, Ark & 21Shares, VanEck, Invesco, Franklin Templeton, and Valkyrie also closed the day in positive territory.
What is the reason for the surge in Bitcoin ETF inflows?
LvRG Research Director Nick Ruck stated that this strong demand for ETFs indicates a revival in risk appetite at the beginning of the year. According to Ruck, high-volume inflows into ETFs, which offer access to crypto assets through regulated products, show a recovery in market confidence. The sustainability of price movements in the medium term, however, remains dependent on continued institutional participation and the stability of the regulatory environment. A similar picture was seen in spot Ethereum ETFs. On Monday, net inflows into Ethereum ETFs totaled over $168 million. Positive fund inflows were also observed in ETFs tracking altcoins such as XRP, Solana, Dogecoin, and Chainlink. This indicates that investor interest is not limited to Bitcoin alone, but is shifting towards a broader basket of cryptocurrencies. ETF inflows also paralleled the recovery in crypto prices. Bitcoin rose approximately 1.5% in the last 24 hours, approaching the $93,600 level, while its weekly gain exceeded 7%. Ethereum traded in the $3,200 range, up 2.8%. XRP was among the assets that stood out in the short term; the token, which recorded double-digit gains in the last 24 hours, also showed a strong weekly performance. BTC Markets analyst Rachael Lucas emphasized that spot ETF flows are an important indicator of market sentiment. According to Lucas, inflows into ETFs directly lead fund managers to buy Bitcoin and Ethereum, creating a natural support mechanism for the market. However, the report notes that retail investors are still acting cautiously in the current environment, while the institutional side continues to take long-term positions. The overall picture suggests that the crypto market is entering 2026 with a more balanced and cautious optimism. Strong fund flows through ETFs indicate a rebuilding of institutional confidence, while the market's medium-term direction appears to be shaped by macroeconomic developments and the clarity of the regulatory framework.
