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U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have experienced their second consecutive week of significant outflows, totaling over $500 million leading up to February 21. This trend has raised concerns about shifting investor sentiment and the potential implications for the cryptocurrency market.
Weekly Outflows Reach $559.41 Million
The 12 spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $559.41 million in net outflows over the past week, continuing the negative momentum from the previous week when they saw $585.65 million in net redemptions. The majority of outflows on February 21 came from Grayscale’s GBTC, which saw $60.08 million exit the fund.
Other notable outflows included Bitwise’s BITB with $16.58 million and Fidelity’s FBTC with $12.47 million. However, BlackRock’s IBIT returned to positive inflows, receiving $21.64 million, while VanEck’s HODL recorded a slight gain of $4.71 million.
Monthly Outflows Reach $1.1 Billion
Since February 6, Bitcoin ETFs have recorded $1.1 billion in net outflows, making February 2025 the worst month for withdrawals since their inception over a year ago. Despite the negative monthly trend, BTC ETFs managed to record net inflows on a few days: February 4, 5, 7, and 14.
Investor Concerns and Market Indicators
Markus Thielen, head of research at 10x Research, noted that most spot Bitcoin ETF investors are primarily using these products for arbitrage strategies rather than long-term holdings. This suggests that the real demand for Bitcoin as a long-term asset in diversified portfolios may be lower than commonly portrayed in the media.
“While Bitcoin ETFs are seeing capital outflows, Gold ETFs are experiencing inflows. This shift could indicate that investors are bracing for economic uncertainty.” – Kadan Stadelmann, CTO at Komodo Platform
Another potential indicator is Berkshire Hathaway’s recent disclosure that it is holding a record-breaking $334.2 billion in cash. This suggests the company is waiting for a market dip to buy assets and commodities at lower prices.
Market Uncertainty and Bitcoin Trends
Donald Trump’s recent statement that the U.S. will impose reciprocal tariffs on almost every country if re-elected has raised concerns about inflation and trade disruptions. At the same time, Bitcoin, often viewed as a leading indicator of market trends, has shown resistance and begun trending downward.
This could signal a broader market selloff, particularly following Friday’s stock market decline. As Stadelmann concluded, “These are the clues Bitcoin ETF investors are seeing, prompting them to move from ETFs into cash.”
For more information on cryptocurrency market trends and analysis, visit Global Crypto News.
