Bitcoin ETF inflows have reached their strongest pace in three weeks, signalling renewed institutional appetite even as broader market momentum falters. According to reporting by CoinTelegraph, US spot Bitcoin ETFs pulled in $986.9 million for the week ending Friday, extending a three-week run that has brought cumulative inflows to $3.8 billion.
The rally reflects a sharp reversal from early-2026 outflows, though the broader picture remains mixed. Total net assets under management across Bitcoin ETFs stand at $101.3 billion, having peaked at $103.3 billion just a day earlier. Cumulative inflows since launch have reached $55.6 billion, yet year-to-date figures show net outflows of roughly $1 billion—a reminder that institutional enthusiasm remains conditional.
BlackRock Leads the Charge, But Momentum Cools
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), the dominant player in the spot Bitcoin ETF space, dominated Friday’s flows by capturing $117.4 million, or about 67% of the day’s total inflows. Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) added $57.2 million. Every other spot Bitcoin ETF recorded flat flows for the session.
The weekly picture tells a different story than the daily breakdown. Friday saw inflows plummet to $174.6 million from Thursday’s robust $731 million surge—a nearly 76% drop in a single day. This volatility underscores how sensitive institutional Bitcoin positioning has become to near-term price swings and macroeconomic data.
Bitcoin itself stumbled during the period, falling from $81,200 to briefly dip below $79,000 as a surprise nonfarm payrolls report rattled markets. The asset traded at $79,716 at time of reporting, still up 2.6% over the prior week despite the intraday turbulence.
Ether and XRP ETFs Lose Steam
The divergence between Bitcoin and its rivals became stark this week. While Bitcoin ETF inflows climbed 7% week-over-week, spot Ether ETF inflows plummeted 74%, falling to $218.4 million from $824.4 million. XRP ETFs collapsed even further, down 83% to just $19 million from $110.5 million.
Year-to-date, Ether and XRP ETFs remain profitable for investors who entered the market, with cumulative inflows of $863 million and $515 million respectively. But the momentum shift is unmistakable: capital is consolidating around Bitcoin rather than spreading across altcoin alternatives.
This reallocation suggests institutional investors are tightening their focus, potentially retreating to the largest, most liquid asset when risk sentiment deteriorates. Bitcoin ETFs, by contrast, are acting as a core holding within diversified crypto allocations—a pattern that echoes traditional institutional behavior in uncertain environments.