As the year 2026 kicked off, spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States experienced strong initial inflows, only to witness a brief retraction. Despite accumulating over $1.16 billion in net inflows during the first two trading days, the funds encountered a $243 million withdrawal by Tuesday. Bitcoin’s steady price of around $92,000 suggested a market striving for equilibrium, with institutional investors adjusting rather than abandoning their portfolios.
How Did Spot Bitcoin ETFs React?
The downside for spot Bitcoin ETFs emerged on 2026’s third trading day when U.S. exchanges noted outflows. Data from SoSoValue revealed a $243 million net outflow, marking the first negative trading day of the year. Fidelity’s FBTC fund was most impacted, seeing withdrawals over $312 million. Substantial liquidations were also observed in Grayscale’s GBTC and Bitcoin Mini Trust, and products from Ark & 21Shares and VanEck ended in negative territory.
In contrast, BlackRock’s IBIT fund mitigated concerns with a net inflow of approximately $229 million on the same day. This bolstered its total intake to $888 million within the first three trading days of 2026. Market specialists largely agree that the single-day outflow does not diminish the robust demand seen at the beginning of the year.
“The ETF outflows are more a normalization rather than a sign of risk aversion,” expressed Vincent Liu, CIO of Kronos Research, highlighting that institutions are merely readjusting their exposure.
Will Altcoin ETFs Capture Investor Interest?
LVRG Research echoed similar views, with Nick Ruck, their Research Director, describing the shifts as limited pullback and profit realization, natural after the year’s initial buying spree.
Turning the spotlight onto altcoin ETFs, a net inflow of $114.7 million was noted for spot Ethereum ETFs on the same day. Despite outflows affecting Grayscale and Fidelity’s products, the overall figures remained in positive territory. Additionally, XRP and Solana ETFs attracted $19 million and $9 million, respectively.
According to Jeff Mei, COO of BTSE, investors are eyeing the higher return potential in Solana and XRP, suggesting they may offer more upside room in comparison to previous peaks. Liu further remarked that these early-stage investments in Solana and XRP ETFs reflect cautious portfolio adjustments.
Key outcomes indicate that:
- Spot Bitcoin ETFs faced $243 million in outflows on the year’s third trading day.
- BlackRock’s IBIT fund tempered the situation with $229 million in net inflows.
- Interest in Ethereum, XRP, and Solana ETFs showed diversity in investor strategies.
Overall, while the initial days of 2026 presented some challenges, the market’s movement indicates strategic adjustments rather than wholesale disinvestment. This behavior underscores investor confidence in both the broader crypto market and specific altcoin opportunities.
