BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF, iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT, has ranked sixth in net inflows despite being the only fund in the top cohort posting a negative return for the year.
Data shared by Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas shows IBIT pulling in roughly $25 billion in year-to-date inflows, even as its annual performance sits in the red. By comparison, several traditional equity and bond ETFs ahead of IBIT on the leaderboard posted double-digit gains, while gold-backed ETF GLD, which is up more than 60% on the year, attracted less capital than IBIT.
Balchunas described the result as a “really good sign” over the long term, arguing that the flows reveal more about investor behavior than short-term price action.
“If you can do $25 billion in a bad year, imagine the flow potential in a good year,” he wrote, pointing to what he called a “HODL clinic” from older, long-term investors.
_IBIT sees net inflows but negative returns. Source: _Eric Balchunas
**Related: **__BlackRock IBIT Bitcoin ETF achieves $70B AUM record
Why heavy ETF buying isn’t pushing Bitcoin higher?
Meanwhile, one crypto market participant questioned why sustained institutional buying through ETFs has not translated into stronger price performance.
In response, Balchunas suggested the market may be behaving more like a mature asset class, where early holders take profits and deploy income strategies, such as selling call options, rather than chasing immediate upside. He also noted Bitcoin had risen more than 120% the previous year, tempering expectations for continuous gains.
On Friday, US spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs saw $158 million in net outflows, with Fidelity’s FBTC the only fund to post inflows. Meanwhile, spot Ether (ETH) ETFs recorded $75.9 million in outflows, extending their losing streak to seven consecutive days.
**Related: **__BlackRock’s most profitable ETF is now a ‘hair away’ from $100B
BlackRock defends IBIT after outflows
BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF faced heavy pressure in November, with its flagship IBIT fund recording about $2.34 billion in net outflows, including two large withdrawal days mid-month. Despite the pullback, BlackRock executives downplayed concerns.
Speaking at Blockchain Conference 2025 in São Paulo, BlackRock business development director Cristiano Castro said the firm’s Bitcoin ETFs have become one of its largest revenue drivers. He argued that ETFs are designed to facilitate capital allocation and cash-flow management, making periods of compression and outflows normal.
Magazine:__** 2026 is the year of pragmatic privacy in crypto — Canton, Zcash and more**
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
Market panic too much? MicroStrategy founder: Bitcoin has hit bottom, quantum threats are unfounded worry
Michael Saylor asserts that Bitcoin has already finished bottoming out at $60k, and believes concerns about threats from quantum computers are overstated. He predicts that in the future, Bitcoin will become the core of a digital credit system, and also noted that there is limited selling pressure in the market, which could drive a new bull cycle. Mizuho has a positive assessment of its company’s future performance.
CryptoCity2h ago
XRP CLARITY Act Vote in Focus as XRP Holds $1.34 and Senate Returns April 13
XRP is trading at $1.34 as traders await the Senate's action on the XRP CLARITY Act, with potential for significant ETF inflows. The Banking Committee's markup is expected in late April, crucial for defining XRP’s regulatory status.
Cryptonews3h ago
Bitcoin Price Update: BTC Jumps to $72,400 After March Inflation Comes in Softer Than Expected
Bitcoin moved from $72,000 to $72,400 on April 10 after March core CPI printed below expectations, giving crypto bulls a short-lived reprieve from months of sustained macro pressure.
Summary
March core CPI rose just 0.2%, below the 0.3% consensus forecast, while headline CPI climbed 0.9% on
Cryptonews4h ago
Bitmine Chairman Tom Lee: The market may have already bottomed out; I recommend focusing on the leading assets since the outbreak of hostilities
Bitmine chairman Tom Lee said on the X platform that although there are still doubts in the market, there are signs that the bottom has already formed. He is bullish on Ethereum and related assets and believes crypto is a wartime value-preservation tool. Risk assets may rebound, but it’s important to watch whether the macroeconomic environment and geopolitical situation remain stable.
GateNews5h ago
Is the market in excessive panic? MicroStrategy founder: Bitcoin has already hit bottom, and the quantum threat is an overblown concern
Michael Saylor asserted that Bitcoin had already finished bottoming out at $60k, and he believes concerns about threats from quantum computers are overblown. He predicts that Bitcoin will become the core of a digital credit system in the future, and he mentioned that selling pressure in the market is limited, which could help drive a new bull market. Mizuho also gave a positive assessment of the company’s future performance.
CryptoCity5h ago
DWF Labs co-founder: The current market is boring but it hasn’t gone away—there are still plenty of opportunities for builders and investors
DWF Labs co-founder Andrei Grachev said the market is currently in a “very boring” phase, with genuinely valuable activity taking place quietly. He advised investors to stay patient, wait for better timing, and noted that retail investors should respond rationally to market volatility—continue learning and staying engaged.
GateNews5h ago
