Investor Jitters Sink Ether ETFs as Macro Fears Take Hold

Spot Ether ETFs recorded over $1.04 billion in net outflows across six consecutive trading days, driven by macroeconomic uncertainty and fading optimism around rate cuts. The decline in investor sentiment was most pronounced on Friday, with a single-day outflow of $446.7 million, according to SoSoValue data. BlackRock’s ETHA saw the largest withdrawals at $192.7 million on Monday, partially offset by inflows into Fidelity’s FETH, Grayscale’s ETHE, and its mini fund [1].

The outflows reflect a broader shift in market positioning as traders reassess the Federal Reserve’s trajectory. While the CME FedWatch tool indicates a 100% probability of a 25-basis point rate cut in September, concerns persist over the limited economic impact such cuts may have. JPMorgan Asset Management’s chief global strategist, David Kelly, has warned that lower rates could reduce retirement income and dampen business sentiment, exacerbating macroeconomic risks [1]. This growing risk-off sentiment is evident in the softness of Treasury yields, the sideways movement of the U.S. dollar, and a rise in gold prices, which are all consistent with defensive positioning [1].

Ether’s price, however, has shown resilience in the face of these outflows. The cryptocurrency has risen more than 16% over the past month, buoyed by the passage of the GENIUS Act, which has introduced regulatory clarity and potentially boosted institutional interest [2]. Despite this upward trend, ETH has seen a 1.8% decline in the past week, trading near $4,300. Analysts note that Ethereum is currently hovering above the $4,250–$4,300 support level, with key resistance at $4,500. Similar dynamics are observed for Bitcoin, which has shown strength near $108,800 and faces resistance around $114,200 [2].

In contrast to Ether ETFs, spot Bitcoin ETFs saw a positive trend on Monday, with a net inflow of $368.25 million, ending a two-day outflow streak. Total trading volume across Bitcoin ETFs reached $3.02 billion, contributing to a rise in total net assets to $145.41 billion [1]. The Bitcoin ETFs’ inflows helped offset earlier losses, with cumulative net inflows climbing back to $54.86 billion. This divergence between the two leading cryptocurrencies highlights the varied investor responses to macroeconomic developments [1].

Despite the outflows, Ether ETF advocates remain cautiously optimistic. Tom Lee, chairman of BitMine, reiterated his long-term price prediction of $60,000 for ETH, citing growing institutional interest as a potential catalyst for a significant price rebound. Additionally, Santiment reported increased purchasing activity by Ethereum whales, who have added 14.0% more coins in the past five months, suggesting growing confidence in the asset’s long-term potential [3].

Source:

[1] Spot Ether ETFs Bleed $1B as Macro Fears Grow (https://cointelegraph.com/news/spot-ether-etfs-bleed-1b-amid-macro-uncertainty)

[2] Spot Ether ETFs Shed $952M Over 5 Days as Recession ... (https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/09/06/spot-ether-etfs-shed-usd952m-over-5-days-as-recession-fears-grow)

[3] Ether ETFs Post 4-Day Outflows After Strong August (https://cointelegraph.com/news/ether-etf-outflow-week-traders-high-hopes-rebound)