The American ETF Bitcoin spot records $697 million in net inflows in a day, a record since October, bringing the total cumulative flows since the beginning of 2026 to over $1.16 billion.
The Rise of Institutional Appetite
Confirmation of institutional appetite is evident. On Monday, US-listed Bitcoin Spot ETFs saw $697 million in net inflows, their highest single-day total since October. This figure pushes cumulative flows in the first two days of 2026 to over $1.16 billion, adding depth to the observed crypto market rebound.
A Net Restart after the December Purge
These flows mark a clear departure from the end of 2025, dominated by outflows due to tax arbitrage and risk reduction. Nine out of twelve ETFs recorded positive inflows on the day.
BlackRock attracted the majority of the flows, with nearly $372 million injected into its ETF IBIT. Fidelity followed with $191 million via FBTC. Other providers such as Grayscale, Bitwise, Ark & 21Shares, VanEck, Invesco, Franklin Templeton, and Valkyrie also contributed to the movement.
The market consensus is that institutional investors are gradually returning to regulated crypto exposure, taking advantage of the new year reset to reposition after weeks of caution.
Bitcoin Supported by Flows, Market Respires
This renewed interest was immediately reflected in prices. Bitcoin exceeded $94,000 on Monday and currently trades around $93,600, up more than 7% in a week. Ethereum is above $3,200, while XRP shows a spectacular performance, rising over 12% in 24 hours and nearly 30% in seven days.
ETFs play a central mechanical role here. Each net inflow results in direct purchases of BTC or ETH on the spot market, creating structural price support. In a context where liquidity remains partially constrained, this effect is even more noticeable.
A Momentum Beyond Bitcoin Alone
The movement was not limited to BTC. ETFs related to ETH recorded approximately $168 million in net inflows on the same day. Products linked to XRP, Solana, Dogecoin, and Chainlink also attracted capital, confirming a gradual expansion of institutional interest beyond Bitcoin.
This is a crucial point. It suggests that investors are no longer settling for a defensive exposure to BTC but are beginning to rebuild diversified allocations within the crypto ecosystem.
Measured Optimism
Despite these impressive figures, caution remains. Analysts speak of a ‘conditional’ optimism. While flows are present, conviction still heavily relies on the macroeconomic context and regulatory stability in 2026.
The market remains divided. Institutions appear committed to a long-term strategy, using ETFs for strategic allocation vehicles, while retail investors remain tactical, watching technical levels and macro signals.
However, these $697 million in inflows are a clear signal: the crypto market begins the year with tangible institutional support. If this momentum continues, ETFs could once again become the main driver of the cycle in 2026, provided the macro environment does not derail this nascent momentum.
