Bitcoin News Today: Institutional Buys Can't Stem Bitcoin ETF Exodus as Outflows Hit $3B

Bitcoin ETFs, once hailed as a cornerstone of institutional adoption for the cryptocurrency, are experiencing a notable decline in demand, with BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) at the center of a record exodus. Data from Farside Investors shows that U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs are on track for their worst month yet, with nearly $3 billion in net outflows as of November 2025. BlackRock alone accounted for $2.1 billion of these outflows, including a historic $523 million single-day redemption for its flagship fund, marking its largest since its January 2024 debut. The Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC) and Harvard University, both significant institutional players, have recently increased their stakes in Bitcoin ETFs, yet these moves have not stemmed the broader trend of redemptions. The ADIC nearly tripled its holdings in BlackRock's IBIT during the third quarter, amassing 8 million shares valued at $520 million. Despite Bitcoin's volatile performance-peaking at $125,100 in October before retreating below $90,000-ADIC's investment was widely interpreted as a vote of confidence in Bitcoin's role as a digital store of value. Similarly, Harvard University's endowment tripled its IBIT holdings to 6.8 million shares ($442.8 million), making it the university's largest public holding. Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas called the move "as good a validation as an ETF can get," noting that such investments by traditional institutions are rare.

However, these bullish signals have been overshadowed by a broader sell-off. IBIT's share price has dropped 23% since the end of the third quarter, closing at $50.71 as of November 2025. Analysts attribute the outflows to macroeconomic uncertainty, including the U.S. government shutdown and anticipation of Federal Reserve rate decisions. Vincent Liu of Kronos Research emphasized that the redemptions reflect institutional portfolio rebalancing rather than outright abandonment of Bitcoin, with allocators "trimming risk and testing entry points" until market clarity emerges.

The selloff has also impacted Ethereum and XRP ETFs, though Solana ETFs have bucked the trend with $420 million in net inflows over 16 consecutive days. Standard Chartered's Geoff Kendrick noted that Bitcoin ETF inflows were a primary driver of the asset's momentum in 2025, making the current outflows a stark reversal. Meanwhile, Bitcoin's price has retreated nearly 30% from its all-time high, trading at $92,000 as of late November.

Institutional adoption remains a double-edged sword. While ADIC and Harvard's investments signal growing acceptance, the ETF outflows highlight fragility in the face of market stress. As the Fed's December rate decision looms, analysts are divided on Bitcoin's trajectory. Some, like analyst VICTOR, suggest the current drawdown is a "close your eyes and bid" range, while others remain cautiously optimistic about a rebound once macroeconomic signals stabilize. According to recent analysis, the market's resilience is being tested.