On Tuesday, investors yanked substantial amounts from the U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as macroeconomic uncertainties cast a shadow over the cryptocurrency’s price prospects.
Bitcoin ETFs Continue Their Losing Streak Amid Risk Aversion
Eleven BTC ETFs recorded a combined net outflow of $326 million, marking their largest daily net outflows since March 11, data compiled by Farside Investors shows. BlackRock’s IBIT led the outflows, losing a record $252.9 million, with Bitwise’s BITB bleeding $21.7 million.
The massive outflows coincide with a rocky period for global markets sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of sweeping reciprocal tariffs a week ago, sending risk assets lower.
This tariff war marks a new low in U.S.-China trade relations, with both sides now imposing near-prohibitive tariffs on each other’s goods.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs are currently on a four-day losing streak, with only one day of inflows so far this month. On April 2, when Trump announced his “Liberation Day”, spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted $218 million.
The US Bitcoin ETFs investing directly in the world’s largest and oldest crypto debuted in January 2024 with much fanfare. Unprecedented strong demand for the investment vehicles helped to propel the token to a then lifetime high of $73,798 in March of the same year.
Over the past seven days, Bitcoin’s price has plummeted by roughly 4.9%, marking yet another bull failure to rebound above the $100,000 milestone. The apex crypto, often considered a hedge against geopolitical turmoil, briefly tumbled below $75,000, according to crypto data provider CoinGecko.
However, BTC spiked nearly 5% in less than an hour to hit a local high of $82,665 after President Trump said on Wednesday that he will allow a 90-day pause on the implementation of reciprocal tariffs against most countries, prompting crypto and stock prices alike to jump in the immediate aftermath.
Meanwhile, the Crypto Fear and Greed Index, a measure of crypto markets’ sentiment, has plummeted from 24 to 18, remaining in the “extreme fear zone.”