Bitcoin News Today: Institutions Pour $3.2B into Bitcoin ETFs as Digital Gold Gains Strategic Asset Status

The U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recorded a net inflow of $3.236 billion this week, driven by strong institutional demand and sustained confidence in Bitcoin as a strategic asset class. BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) led the inflow surge, contributing $287.3 million on September 3, 2025, while Fidelity's Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) added $9.7 million. The weekly totals underscore the ETFs' role in stabilizing Bitcoin's liquidity and price trajectory, with cumulative inflows since their launch in January 2024 surpassing $50 billiontitle1^[1].

BlackRock's IBIT has emerged as the dominant player, amassing $53 billion in net inflows since its inception, while Fidelity's FBTC followed with $12.29 billion. Grayscale's Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), however, faced a net outflow of $23.34 billion, highlighting divergent investor sentiment across platformstitle2^[2]. The ETFs' total assets under management (AUM) now exceed $144.5 billion, with IBIT alone holding 55% of the Bitcoin inventory across all U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs. This dominance is further reflected in IBIT's recent trading volume of $4.3 billion, placing it among the top 10 ETFs globally by daily activitytitle6^[5].

Institutional adoption has accelerated, with corporations such as Japan's Metaplanet and European firms The Blockchain Group and Smarter Web Company increasing their Bitcoin holdings. Metaplanet's $237 million acquisition of BTC elevated it to the fifth-largest corporate holder, while Remixpoint, a Tokyo-listed company, announced plans to accumulate 3,000 BTC. These moves align with broader corporate treasury strategies, where Bitcoin is increasingly viewed as a hedge against macroeconomic uncertaintytitle2^[2].

The ETF inflows have coincided with Bitcoin's price nearing an all-time high. On October 3, 2025, Bitcoin traded at $122,777, with U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs collectively attracting $985.08 million in inflows. BlackRock's IBIT dominated with $791.55 million in single-day flows, while Ethereum ETFs saw $233.55 million in inflows, albeit at a slower pacetitle5^[4]. The correlation between ETF activity and Bitcoin's price is evident, as institutional flows have historically preceded price rallies. For instance, similar inflow patterns in previous months pushed Bitcoin toward key resistance levels, suggesting potential for further upward momentumtitle8^[6].

Analysts project continued growth for Bitcoin ETFs, with Bitwise's Matt Hougan estimating $50 billion in inflows for 2025. This optimism is bolstered by the ETFs' outperformance of ESG and gold ETFs, as well as the impending approval of altcoin ETFs. However, BlackRock's Eric Balchunas cautions that while altcoin ETFs may introduce new opportunities, Bitcoin's first-mover advantage ensures its dominance in the sector. The sector's resilience was also demonstrated in Q3 2025, where $7.8 billion in inflows offset temporary outflows, reinforcing the ETFs' long-term appeal despite market volatility.