U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recorded nearly $1 billion in inflows on Monday, a notable increase following a week of historically low activity. This development coincided with Bitcoin’s price rising above the estimated cost basis for the average ETF holder, returning them to profitability for the first time since January.
On Monday, the ETFs collectively saw inflows totaling $998.95 million, according to SoSoValue. This marks a substantial turnaround from the week ending September 18, when the funds experienced their smallest weekly net inflow of $6.2 million across 141 weeks of trading. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Eric Balchunas noted that Monday’s total inflow was the largest single-day haul since last October.
The price increase pushed Bitcoin above an estimated ETF holder cost basis of $81,722 per coin. With Bitcoin trading near $85,900 at the time, the average holder of a U.S. spot Bitcoin fund was back in profit, a milestone not reached since January, as reported by Balchunas’ colleague James Seyffart.
Key ETFs saw significant inflows: BlackRock’s IBIT attracted $381.37 million, Ark & 21Shares’ ARKB followed with $289.12 million, and Fidelity’s FBTC brought in $238.84 million. Morgan Stanley’s MSBT added $61.67 million, and Bitwise’s BITB saw $21.56 million. Grayscale’s funds received single-digit millions each, while VanEck’s HODL and Valkyrie’s BRRR recorded no inflows.
Trading volume for the ETFs was noted as not exceptionally high relative to the price move, with approximately $4.5 billion traded on Monday, slightly below Friday’s $4.6 billion, according to Seyffart. However, Balchunas highlighted that this volume was elevated compared to stock and gold ETFs, with IBIT ranking among the top 10 by volume.
Experts caution that flows booked to one session often reflect the previous day’s activity. Seyffart suggested that Monday’s total likely captured Friday’s buying, meaning the market’s full reaction to Monday’s price action may still be unfolding.
David Wachsman, president of Hawkeye Digital, emphasized the significance of reaching the break-even point for holders who have been at a loss, noting that this can influence selling pressure. With the average buyer now in the green, it may become clearer whether recent institutional interest signifies a desire for more Bitcoin exposure or was primarily a response to the recent rally.
Commentary from industry figures suggests Bitcoin’s recovery toward the $86,000–$87,000 range is supported by renewed institutional demand and stronger spot ETF inflows, alongside evolving U.S. regulatory developments. Vikas Gupta, country manager for India at Bybit, observed that the market has shown resilience despite the Federal Reserve’s rate hike and the failure of the Clarity Act, indicating that sentiment is influenced by factors beyond monetary policy.
Cumulatively, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen net inflows of $56.16 billion since their launch. The funds currently hold $110.14 billion in assets, representing 6.30% of Bitcoin’s total market capitalization. The market may continue to observe whether the return to profitability for average holders translates into sustained demand or increased selling pressure.
Broader Context
U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs took in $998.95 million on Monday, according to SoSoValue, one week after the same funds posted the smallest weekly net inflow of their history.
