tl;dr
U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded their second-largest inflows ever, coinciding with Bitcoin hitting a new all-time high above $126,000. BlackRock’s IBIT dominated the market, nearing $100 billion in AUM and reshaping institutional crypto adoption.
**Bitcoin ETFs Hit Record Inflows as Bitcoin Surpasses $126,000**
In a historic surge, U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recorded their second-largest day of inflows ever on Monday, coinciding with Bitcoin reaching a new all-time high above $126,000. The 11 U.S.-based Bitcoin ETFs attracted a combined $1.18 billion in net inflows, narrowly trailing the $1.37 billion logged on November 7, 2024, following Donald Trump’s presidential election victory.
The robust performance came as Bitcoin’s price soared, driven by surging demand for institutional-grade Bitcoin exposure. October has already seen $3.47 billion flow into these ETFs across just four trading days, according to CoinGlass, with total inflows since their launch reaching approximately $60 billion, as reported by Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart.
**BlackRock’s IBIT Dominates the Market**
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) remained the clear leader, capturing $967 million in inflows on Monday alone. Since the start of October, IBIT has amassed $2.6 billion in assets, solidifying its position as the most popular Bitcoin ETF. Other major players included Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) with $112 million, Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB) with $60 million, and Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust (BTC) with $30 million. Smaller inflows were also reported for Invesco, WisdomTree, and Franklin’s funds.
**IBIT Nears $100 Billion AUM in Record Time**
BlackRock’s ETF is on the verge of surpassing $100 billion in assets under management (AUM), a milestone that underscores its meteoric rise. As of Tuesday, IBIT’s AUM stood at nearly $98.5 billion, holding 783,767 BTC. Nova Dius President Nate Geraci highlighted the unprecedented speed of this growth, noting that IBIT achieved this feat in under 450 days—far faster than the 2,000 days it took the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF to reach the same threshold. Only 18 of over 4,500 ETFs globally have surpassed $100 billion in AUM.
**Institutional Demand Drives the Bull Market**
The surge in Bitcoin ETF inflows reflects the growing influence of institutional investors in the crypto market, with retail participation remaining relatively subdued. Analysts suggest that the robust demand for these products signals confidence in Bitcoin’s long-term potential as a store of value and a hedge against traditional market volatility.
As Bitcoin continues to break records, the success of ETFs like IBIT is reshaping the financial landscape, bridging the gap between traditional finance and the burgeoning crypto economy. With institutional adoption accelerating, the path for Bitcoin’s mainstream integration appears increasingly clear.