Institutional Investors Flock to Ethereum ETFs, Bitcoin Funds See Outflows

Bitcoin ETFs saw net outflows of $14.1 million on Friday, with BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust securing $114.4 million in inflows, while ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF and Grayscale Bitcoin Trust posted outflows. Ethereum ETFs ended a record-breaking streak of inflows with net outflows of $59.34 million, but remain the fastest-growing corner of the crypto ETF landscape. Analysts note that the pause may reflect near-term profit-taking, rather than a shift in sentiment.

Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs experienced modest net outflows on Friday, August 14, 2025, marking the end of ongoing inflow streaks for both asset classes. Despite the overall outflows, BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) continued to attract significant inflows, underscoring their leadership in the crypto ETF market.

On Friday, U.S.-based spot Bitcoin ETFs saw an overall net outflow of $14.13 million, ending a seven-day inflow streak. However, BlackRock's IBIT, the industry-leading spot Bitcoin ETF, recorded a net inflow of $114.4 million on $2.64 billion in volume. This inflow was offset by outflows from Grayscale's GBTC and Ark & 21Shares' ARKB, totaling $81.8 million and $46.7 million, respectively [2]. No other spot Bitcoin ETFs logged significant net inflows or outflows.

U.S.-based spot Ethereum ETFs logged their highest trading volume week on record last week, with $18.2 billion worth of value trading hands. However, the funds saw a net outflow of $59.3 million on Friday, ending a record-breaking streak of inflows. BlackRock's ETHA fund scored an inflow of $338.1 million, which was offset by outflows from Fidelity's FETH, Grayscale's ETHE, and other Ethereum ETFs [2].

The pause in inflows may reflect near-term profit-taking rather than a shift in sentiment, as institutional investors continue to treat Bitcoin and Ethereum as part of a diversified portfolio. The development of more robust financial infrastructure has made it easier for large investors to allocate capital into crypto, supporting the growth of ETFs as a regulated and liquid vehicle for crypto exposure.

BlackRock's growing presence in the crypto market is evident in its expanding holdings. The firm now holds 774,240 Bitcoin and 3.2 million Ethereum, valued at approximately $88.43 billion and $14.78 billion, respectively. Since the start of 2025, BlackRock's crypto holdings have grown by about $50 billion, reaching a total of $103.98 billion as of the latest data [3].

As the market continues to evolve, the performance of BlackRock’s ETFs and the price behavior of Bitcoin and Ethereum will remain key indicators of institutional confidence. If the current trend of inflows persists and prices stabilize, it could mark a turning point in the maturation of the crypto market.

References:
[1] BlackRock Bitcoin, Ether ETFs buy $1B as BTC price mostly fills CME gap - Cointelegraph (https://cointelegraph.com/news/blackrock-bitcoin-ether-etfs-buy-1b-btc-price-mostly-fills-cme-gap)
[2] BlackRock Bitcoin, Ether ETFs buy $1B as BTC price mostly fills CME gap - advfn.com (https://mx.advfn.com/bolsa-de-valores/COIN/BTCUSD/crypto-news/96649184/blackrock-bitcoin-ether-etfs-buy-1b-as-btc-price)
[3] BlackRock's Crypto Holdings Balloon As Bitcoin, Ethereum ... - Mitrade (https://www.mitrade.com/insights/news/live-news/article-3-1043675-20250815)