Bitcoin News Today: Institutional ETFs Surge: Bitcoin and Ethereum Climb on $3.3B Inflows

Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs have experienced a surge in inflows, signaling renewed institutional and retail confidence in the cryptocurrency markets. Over the four trading days from September 29 to October 2, 2025, U.S.-listed Bitcoin ETFs recorded cumulative inflows exceeding $2.25 billion, with BlackRock's IBIT leading at $466.55 million and Fidelity's FBTC adding $89.62 million title1^[1]. Ethereum ETFs also saw robust inflows of $1.06 billion during the same period, with BlackRock's ETHA and Fidelity's FETH contributing $177.11 million and $60.71 million, respectively title3^[3]. These figures underscore a broader trend of capital accumulation, driven by the "Uptober" narrative-a historical pattern where October has seen positive Bitcoin returns in 10 of the last 12 years title2^[2].

Bitcoin's price has mirrored this inflow momentum, climbing above $120,000 for the first time since August 2025. The cryptocurrency closed the week near $119,800, extending gains supported by consistent ETF inflows and macroeconomic optimism title1^[1]. JPMorgan analysts have raised their year-end price target to $165,000, citing Bitcoin's relative undervaluation compared to gold. Using a volatility-adjusted metric, the bank noted that Bitcoin's $2.3 trillion market cap would need to rise by 42% to match gold's $6 trillion private investment base title1^[1]. Citigroup also revised its forecasts, expecting Bitcoin to reach $132,000 by year-end and potentially $181,000 within 12 months title3^[3].

Ethereum ETFs have similarly attracted significant capital, with $307.05 million in inflows on October 2 alone title3^[3]. The total assets under management (AUM) for Ethereum ETFs now stand at $30.19 billion, representing 5.57% of the asset's market cap title3^[3]. This growth contrasts with Bitcoin ETFs, which manage $161.03 billion in AUM, or 6.70% of Bitcoin's market cap title3^[3]. Ethereum's ETF-driven rally has been bolstered by institutional interest in its ecosystem upgrades and decentralized finance applications, with inflows surging from $0.4 billion in June to $2.27 billion in August 2025 .

The ETF landscape is also witnessing a structural shift, with BlackRock's IBIT and Fidelity's FBTC dominating inflows at the expense of older products like Grayscale's GBTC. Over the past week, IBIT's inflows totaled $598.3 million, while GBTC recorded $187.2 million in outflows title4^[4]. This trend reflects institutional preference for lower-fee, open-structure ETFs over closed-end vehicles. IBIT's AUM now approaches $21 billion, and its trading volume has entered the top 10 ETFs by daily activity, rivaling traditional benchmarks like SPY and QQQ title4^[4].

Market participants are closely monitoring the interplay between ETF flows and price action. Bitcoin's recent consolidation above $114,000 has been attributed to whale accumulation and the "Uptober" effect, while Ethereum's 215% gain since April 2025-outpacing Bitcoin's 198%-has been linked to its ETF-driven liquidity surge . However, risks persist. Analysts caution that prolonged ETF outflows could trigger corrections, as seen in Bitcoin's February–April 2025 pullback when inflows turned negative . For now, the continued inflow momentum suggests both assets remain in accumulation phases, with institutional and retail demand reinforcing bullish sentiment.