Bitcoin ETF experiences over $2 billion in net outflows over six weeks, with IBIT redemptions leading, as institutional funds retreat suppresses BTC rebound
February 25 News: Bitcoin spot ETFs are experiencing a rare consecutive outflow cycle, with net redemptions occurring for six straight weeks, indicating a clear shift in institutional investor sentiment. Data shows that on February 23 alone, net outflows reached $203.8 million. Previously considered long-term holding tools, ETFs are now becoming a source of phased selling pressure, directly amplifying market volatility.
In terms of price, Bitcoin has fallen below the critical $63,000 level, nearly 50% off its all-time high of around $126,000 in October 2025, indicating a significant decline in market risk appetite. The average cost basis for ETF investors is approximately $84,100, and with the current price around $68,000, most institutional holdings are still showing about 20% unrealized losses, further motivating redemptions.
Structurally, the outflows are primarily driven by institutions rather than retail investors. Notably, BlackRock’s iBIT accounts for more than half of the total redemptions on that day, showing that large asset managers are temporarily reducing their Bitcoin exposure. In contrast, only a few funds, such as VanEck’s HODL, saw net inflows of about $6.4 million, reflecting some funds view sub-$70,000 as a medium- to long-term allocation zone, but the scale is insufficient to reverse the overall trend.
Ethereum ETFs are also under pressure, with a single-day net outflow of about $49.5 million. BlackRock’s ETH AUM redemption alone reached $45.4 million, indicating that institutional capital is broadly shrinking crypto allocations rather than rotating into other assets.
It’s worth noting that capital has not completely exited the crypto ETF space. During the same period, Solana-related funds saw net inflows of about $8 million, with Bitwise’s BSOL contributing roughly $6.3 million, suggesting some funds are shifting toward high-growth narrative assets. Additionally, XRP-related ETFs saw stable fund flows, reflecting a cautious market sentiment.
ETF capital flows are becoming an important forward-looking indicator for Bitcoin price trends. If the net outflows persist, short-term rebound potential may be limited; conversely, if redemption scales narrow or turn into net inflows, it could provide genuine liquidity support for the next rally. Currently, institutional behavior, rather than retail sentiment, is dominating the medium-term trend in the crypto market.
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