Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin ETFs Power $1.21B Surge as Ethereum Loses Investor Momentum

Bitcoin ETFs saw a record $1.21 billion in net inflows on October 6, 2025, the largest single-day inflow of the year, according to data from SoSoValue and Farside. BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) led the surge, attracting $969.95 million, while total U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF assets under management (AUM) now exceed $169.48 billion, representing 6.79% of Bitcoin's market cap . This marks the seventh instance of $1 billion+ inflows since March 2024, with historical patterns suggesting such inflows often precede short-term price peaks. On October 6, Bitcoin reached an intraday high of $126,000, a level not seen since July 2024 .

The inflows follow a six-day streak of net inflows totaling $4.35 billion, with Bitcoin ETFs contributing $3.5 billion to the $5.95 billion in weekly inflows across digital assets. This momentum aligns with "Uptober," a period historically favorable for crypto markets. Analysts note that October's performance is driven by macroeconomic stability, including lower Treasury yields and reduced volatility indices, which have bolstered risk appetite . BlackRock's IBIT has become the firm's most profitable ETF, generating $244.5 million in annual revenue with nearly $100 billion in AUM, a milestone achieved in 435 days-far faster than traditional ETFs like Vanguard's S&P 500 ETF (VOO), which took 2,011 days to reach $100 billion .

Ethereum ETFs, by contrast, faced $505 million in outflows in September 2025, according to data from Sosovalue. This marked a reversal after July's record $2.34 billion inflow streak. Ethereum's spot ETFs now hold $27.6 billion in AUM, or 4.77% of the asset's market cap, but outflows have pressured its dominance, which has fallen to 13.8% from a peak of 17% in early 2025. Ethereum's price slipped to $4,113 as of October 7, down 15% from its September 12 high, amid declining institutional confidence and weak on-chain demand . On-chain data reveals Ethereum's circulating supply increased by 76,488.71 ETH in September, driven by reduced burn rates as user activity waned .

The divergence between Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF flows underscores shifting investor priorities. Bitcoin's inflows have historically correlated with price appreciation, with six of the seven $1 billion+ inflow events preceding short-term peaks. In July 2025, a $1.18 billion inflow preceded a $119,000 high, while October's inflow coincided with Bitcoin nearing $126,000. Ethereum's ETF performance, however, has been more volatile, with outflows intensifying in September as investors rotated capital into Bitcoin. This shift reflects Ethereum's higher sensitivity to macroeconomic risks, such as Fed rate uncertainty, compared to Bitcoin's perceived role as a macro hedge .

Market analysts attribute Bitcoin's ETF-driven strength to its growing institutional adoption and regulatory clarity. The SEC's approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024 catalyzed a $50 billion influx into crypto ETFs by year-end, with Bitcoin ETFs capturing 28% of U.S. trading volume by December 2024 . Ethereum's ETFs, approved in July 2024, faced an initial lag but gained traction through staking yields and DeFi integration. However, recent outflows highlight challenges, including competition from newer blockchains and regulatory constraints like the SEC's exclusion of staking from ETFs .

Looking ahead, Bitcoin ETFs could continue to drive price momentum if inflows persist. Historical data shows a moderate correlation (R² ~0.32) between ETF flows and daily returns, with multi-day inflow streaks amplifying price signals . Ethereum's recovery may depend on macroeconomic stability and technological upgrades, such as the Dencun hard fork, which reduced gas fees by 90% and boosted DeFi TVL by 38% in Q3 2025. However, Ethereum's ETF outflows suggest investors remain cautious, with derivatives markets reflecting neutral-to-bearish sentiment .

Coindesk (https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/10/07/u-s-bitcoin-etfs-log-usd1b-inflows-again-a-level-that-s-marked-local-tops-six-times-before)

Yahoo Finance (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-etfs-post-biggest-inflow-113215131.html)

XT.com (https://www.xt.com/en/blog/post/2025-scorecard-how-bitcoin-and-ethereum-spot-etfs-are-changing-investing)

The Currency Analytics (https://thecurrencyanalytics.com/marketmovers/bitcoin-and-ethereum-show-diverging-investor-behavior-in-the-etf-era-200434)

BeInCrypto (https://beincrypto.com/what-to-expect-from-ethereum-october-2025/)

OneSafe (https://www.onesafe.io/blog/ethereum-etfs-navigating-market-trends-and-investor-sentiment)

The Currency Analytics (https://thecurrencyanalytics.com/altcoins/ethereum-etfs-face-505m-outflows-after-record-inflows-can-eth-regain-momentum-195437)