BlackRock Clients Sell $130M in Bitcoin in Single-Day Move

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) recorded $130.79 million in outflows on January 7, 2026. This marked a notable shift in flow direction for the ETF, which had previously seen significant inflows in the early part of the month. The move was interpreted by some market participants as a routine portfolio rebalancing.

The outflows came after a strong start to the year for U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, which had attracted over $1.2 billion in inflows in the first two trading days of January. BlackRock’s IBIT was a key driver of that momentum, but the January 7 outflow signaled a pause in that trend.

Analysts and investors viewed the move as a tactical rebalancing rather than a sign of declining confidence in Bitcoin. Some noted that the $130 million outflow was relatively small in the context of BlackRock’s broader asset management portfolio, which spans over $10 trillion in total assets.

Why Did This Happen?

The outflow from BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF occurred on the same day that the broader U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF market saw net outflows of $487 million. This marked the first major pullback after a strong inflow streak at the start of January.

Fidelity’s Bitcoin ETF was the largest outflow contributor, with $312 million leaving the fund. Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust and Mini Trust also saw outflows totaling $116 million. BlackRock’s IBIT was the only major fund with inflows, adding $228 million according to crypto reporting.

The shift was attributed by some to short-term profit-taking and portfolio rebalancing. Vincent Liu of Kronos Research described the outflows as “post-inflow normalization,” noting that institutions were adjusting exposure without signaling a broader loss of conviction.

How Did Markets React?

Bitcoin’s price dipped slightly following the outflow news, though it remained near recent highs. The cryptocurrency was trading just over $92,000 after dropping from a weekly high above $94,000.

The broader crypto market also showed signs of selective rotation, with Ethereum and Solana ETFs seeing inflows despite Bitcoin’s pullback. Ethereum ETFs added $114.74 million in inflows, while Solana ETFs added $9 million.

Despite the outflow, analysts expressed optimism that the move was not a sign of long-term concern. Sergey Kravtsov of Papaya Finance described the shift as temporary and not structural. Illia Otychenko of CEX.IO echoed this sentiment, noting that the outflows were more a normalization of recent inflows than a reversal of investor sentiment.

What Are Analysts Watching Next?

Investors are closely watching ETF flows as a key indicator of institutional appetite for Bitcoin. The January outflow comes after a year in which U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $21.4 billion in net inflows in 2025, a figure that pales in comparison to the $35.2 billion in 2024.

Analysts like Fabian Dori of Sygnum see potential for a longer-term supply-demand imbalance as consistent ETF inflows continue to absorb circulating Bitcoin. The recent outflow, however, suggests that flows can still be volatile in the short term.

Looking ahead, the market will focus on whether inflows resume and whether Bitcoin can reclaim key resistance levels. The 0.5 Fibonacci level at $94,007 is a critical near-term target. If Bitcoin fails to reclaim that level, the next line of support is at $90,868.

BlackRock’s actions and the broader ETF flows will remain a focal point for market observers as Bitcoin moves through 2026.