Bitcoin News Today: BlackRock Sells $111M BTC as Crypto ETFs Bleed $1.9B in Outflows

BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, has recently become the biggest known holder of Bitcoin, according to blockchain tracking data. The firm, which manages over $10 trillion in assets, has been actively liquidating its Bitcoin holdings, with recent transactions totaling 1,885 BTC—valued at approximately $111.66 million—as of the latest data from Arkham Intelligence. This follows a broader trend of outflows from BlackRock’s crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as investor sentiment in the crypto space has cooled.

The transfers to Coinbase Prime, a prominent digital asset trading platform, indicate a strategic move toward selling the coins. This aligns with broader outflows from BlackRock’s Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. For instance, the iShares Bitcoin ETF recorded outflows of $220 million on August 20, according to SoSo Value data. Similarly, the iShares Ethereum ETF saw outflows of $257.78 million on the same day, marking it as the only Ethereum-focused ETF to register a net outflow on that date. Grayscale and Fidelity’s Ethereum ETFs, by contrast, saw net inflows of $9 million and $8.64 million, respectively, but the overall Ethereum ETF category still recorded a daily outflow of $240.14 million [1].

The outflows are part of a wider pattern of declining investor interest in crypto ETFs. Bitcoin ETFs have experienced four consecutive days of outflows starting from August 15, totaling $970.82 million. As a result, asset managers have been forced to liquidate their holdings to meet redemption requests. Notably, Ark Invest and BlackRock combined have already sold over 1,000 BTC earlier in the week, as reported by CoinGape. The Ethereum ETFs have also followed a similar trend, with four consecutive days of outflows totaling $925.83 million [1].

The persistent outflows have had a visible impact on the broader crypto market. Bitcoin and Ethereum have both seen significant price corrections in the past week. TradingView data shows Bitcoin fell more than 8% in the last seven days after reaching an all-time high of $124,000. Ethereum’s price dropped from a 2025 high of approximately $4,700 to as low as $4,100 in the same period. These price declines reflect a shift in investor sentiment, with profit-taking and risk aversion contributing to the downward trend [1].

BlackRock’s position as the largest known Bitcoin holder, despite its ongoing sell-offs, highlights the complex interplay between asset management strategies and market dynamics. While the firm has been a key driver of institutional adoption of crypto through its ETFs, the recent trend of outflows suggests that investor confidence is waning amid macroeconomic uncertainties and broader market corrections. Analysts suggest this may indicate a shift in risk appetite among institutional investors as global markets continue to adjust to a higher interest rate environment [1].

Source: [1] BlackRock Dumps $111M BTC and $254M ETH as Crypto ETFs Outflows Persist (https://coingape.com/blackrock-dumps-111m-btc-and-254m-eth-as-crypto-etfs-outflows-persist/)