Ethereum News Today: Investors Hit Pause as Trade War Fears Spark Crypto ETF Exodus

Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) experienced a combined net outflow of $755 million on October 13, marking one of the largest single-day withdrawals since their market debut. The sell-off followed a weekend of volatility triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of a 100% tariff on Chinese imports, which erased over $500 billion from global crypto valuations. Bitcoin ETFs recorded $326.52 million in outflows, while Ethereum ETFs saw a sharper decline of $428.52 million Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETFs see $755M in outflows as traders turn cautious after weekend wipeout^[2]Spot Bitcoin ETFs Roar Back with $2.71B Inflows, IBIT Carries the Surge^[3].

For Bitcoin ETFs, BlackRock's IBIT reported inflows of $60.36 million, contrasting with outflows from Grayscale's GBTC ($145.39 million) and Fidelity's FBTC ($93.28 million) Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETFs see $755M in outflows as traders turn cautious after weekend wipeout^[2]. Ethereum ETFs faced universal outflows, with BlackRock's ETHA losing $310 million and Grayscale's ETHE shedding $30.57 million. No Ethereum ETF recorded inflows on the day Spot Bitcoin ETFs Roar Back with $2.71B Inflows, IBIT Carries the Surge^[3]. Total assets under management for Bitcoin ETFs remained at $157.18 billion, while Ethereum ETFs held $28.75 billion, representing 6.81% and 5.56% of their respective market caps Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETFs see $755M in outflows as traders turn cautious after weekend wipeout^[2].

The sell-off reflected institutional caution rather than panic, according to Vincent Liu, CIO at Kronos Research. "Monday's outflows reflect post-liquidation caution," Liu stated. "Investors are pausing, clearly waiting for clearer macro signals before putting more capital to work." The market reaction was exacerbated by fears of a renewed U.S.-China trade war, with Trump's initial hardline stance causing crypto prices to drop 10% before partial recovery Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETFs see $755M in outflows as traders turn cautious after weekend wipeout^[2].

Ethereum ETFs, in particular, showed resilience despite outflows. While ETH ETFs posted a 6% price gain on the day, analysts attributed this to arbitrage activity and repositioning by market makers following weekend liquidations. Bitcoin ETFs, meanwhile, maintained stronger institutional backing, with cumulative net inflows of $62.44 billion since inception Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETFs see $755M in outflows as traders turn cautious after weekend wipeout^[2].

Short-term volatility is expected to persist. Min Jung of Presto Research noted that the outflows likely represent "institutional risk management rather than a structural shift." However, renewed U.S.-China tensions, including China's "fight to the end" rhetoric, could reignite market jitters. As of October 14, Bitcoin traded at $112,283, down 2.54% from the previous week, while Ethereum fell 3.39% to $4,030 Spot Bitcoin ETFs Roar Back with $2.71B Inflows, IBIT Carries the Surge^[3].

The ETF outflows contrasted with earlier strong inflows. Bitcoin ETFs had recorded $2.71 billion in weekly inflows from October 6–10, reversing a $902.5 million outflow the prior week Crypto Carnage: Trump Tariff Tape-Bomb Triggers Largest Liquidation Event in History^[4]. Ethereum ETFs also rebounded with $488.27 million in inflows during the same period Crypto Carnage: Trump Tariff Tape-Bomb Triggers Largest Liquidation Event in History^[4]. This suggests the October 13 outflow was an anomaly rather than a trend, driven by macroeconomic uncertainty rather than deteriorating fundamentals.

Analysts remain cautious but optimistic. "ETF flows should stabilize as markets absorb volatility," Jung said. Institutional investors are expected to remain selective, trimming exposure without abandoning crypto entirely. The next critical period will hinge on macroeconomic signals, with Trump's trade policy and China's response serving as key catalysts Spot Bitcoin ETFs Roar Back with $2.71B Inflows, IBIT Carries the Surge^[3].