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Bitcoin ETF outflows return after a strong start to 2026
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Fidelity-led sales offset early gains for bitcoin ETFs
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Ethereum, XRP and Solana ETFs continue to attract new inflows
U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds slipped back into negative territory on Tuesday, interrupting a brief run of sizable inflows that marked the opening days of 2026.
According to SoSoValue, bitcoin ETFs recorded $243 million in net outflows on Tuesday, the first day of aggregated negative flows this year.
The reversal followed a powerful start to the year, when the products drew more than $1.16 billion in net inflows across the first two trading sessions.
Fidelity and Grayscale lead outflows
The pullback was led by Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC), which saw $312.24 million withdrawn on Tuesday.
Grayscale’s flagship Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) also posted sizable redemptions, with $83.07 million in net outflows. Grayscale’s Bitcoin Mini Trust recorded an additional $32.73 million in withdrawals.
Funds managed by Ark, 21Shares and VanEck also reported net outflows during the session, contributing to the day’s overall negative result.
Some selling pressure was offset by continued demand for BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), which received $228.66 million on Tuesday.
| Date | IBIT | FBTC | BITB | ARKB | BTCO | EZBC | BRRR | HODL | BTCW | GBTC | BTC | Total |
| 06 January 2026 | 228.7 | -312.2 | 0.0 | -29.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -14.4 | 0.0 | -83.1 | -32.7 | -243.2 |
| 05 January 2026 | 372.5 | 191.2 | 38.5 | 36.0 | 15.0 | 13.6 | 7.2 | 5.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 17.9 | 697.2 |
| 02 January 2026 | 287.4 | 88.1 | 41.5 | 6.7 | 4.5 | 13.0 | 0.0 | 8.3 | 0.0 | 15.4 | 6.4 | 471.3 |
| 31 December 2025 | -99.0 | -66.6 | -13.8 | -76.5 | 0.0 | -5.1 | 0.0 | -6.8 | 0.0 | -69.1 | -11.2 | -348.1 |
| 30 December 2025 | 143.7 | 78.6 | 13.9 | 109.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.3 | 355.1 |
IBIT was the only U.S. spot bitcoin ETF to record net inflows during the session.
Despite the one-day reversal, IBIT remains the standout performer to start the year.
Across the first three trading days of 2026, the fund accumulated a total of $888 million in net inflows, underscoring its dominant market position.
Ethereum and altcoin ETFs buck the trend
While bitcoin ETFs saw sell-offs, other crypto-related products continued to attract capital.
U.S. spot Ethereum ETFs recorded $114.7 million in net inflows on Tuesday, even though some products from Grayscale and Fidelity experienced outflows.
Altcoin-focused ETFs also remained in positive territory.
XRP ETFs added $19 million in net inflows, and Solana ETFs attracted $9 million, highlighting persistent investor interest beyond bitcoin despite broader market volatility.
Explosive start still shaping the 2026 narrative
Tuesday’s outflows followed an exceptionally strong start to the year for bitcoin ETFs.
In the first two trading days of 2026, U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs drew more than $1.2 billion in net inflows, putting the sector on pace for a potentially record-breaking year if momentum continues.
“Spot bitcoin ETFs have entered 2026 like a lion,” said Bloomberg ETF senior analyst Eric Balchunas on Tuesday.
Balchunas noted that inflows exceeded $1.2 billion in just two days, with almost every fund participating.
He said the Bitcoin WisdomTree fund was the lone exception.
He added that maintaining that pace would translate to roughly $150 billion in annual inflows, about 600% more than total inflows recorded in 2025.
“I said, if they can get $22 billion during the rain, imagine when the sun comes out,” Balchunas said.
U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs attracted $21.4 billion in net inflows in 2025, down from $35.2 billion in 2024.
IBIT from BlackRock accounted for the bulk of last year’s inflows.
Momentum accelerated sharply on Monday when bitcoin ETFs posted $697 million in net inflows — the largest one-day inflow in three months — as bitcoin prices recovered and held above $90,000 following a volatile end to 2025.
Adding to the sector’s activity, Morgan Stanley on Tuesday filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission plans to launch Bitcoin and Solana ETFs.
According to the filing, the proposed Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust would be a passive instrument designed to track the spot price of bitcoin and would not use leverage or derivatives.