Bitcoin ETFs Face Pressure as Nearly $1B Needed to Avoid Record Outflow
Bitcoin (BTC $109,692) bulls face a significant challenge this week, needing almost $1 billion in inflows to prevent U.S.-listed bitcoin ETFs from recording their second-largest outflow since launch.
Since January 2024, Nasdaq-listed spot BTC ETFs have allowed investors to access bitcoin exposure without self-custody, amassing $53.9 billion in total assets. However, August has seen a net outflow of $972 million—second only to the $3.56 billion outflow in February, according to SoSoValue. A negative tally by Friday would end a four-month streak of inflows.
Analysts say the ETF slowdown is a key factor in BTC’s recent underperformance. After peaking above $124,000 earlier this month, bitcoin has retraced to just above $100,000. Matrixport noted that while seasonal headwinds may not persist, flow and liquidity trends remain critical in influencing price.
Looking ahead, BTC could climb toward $150,000 by year-end, but that would require sizable capital inflows. Markus Thielen, founder of 10x Research, estimates that bitcoin would need roughly $404 billion in total inflows for 2025, including an additional $173 billion between now and December—a sum double the combined allocations from ETFs and MicroStrategy since January 2024.
Ether ETFs, by contrast, have enjoyed a strong month with $3.23 billion in net inflows, continuing a trend of steady growth since April.
