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Crypto ETFs See $1B+ Daily Outflows as Markets Slide

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Crypto Breaking News

A broad pullback in crypto investment products coincided with a broader market softness, as the total crypto market capitalization slipped roughly 6% on Thursday. Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and Ether (CRYPTO: ETH) funds together recorded nearly $1 billion in outflows, among the year’s largest single-day moves, according to SoSoValue. Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) led the retreat, shedding about $817.9 million and marking the largest daily outflow since November 2025. The dip arrived as risk-off sentiment extended beyond digital assets, with gold retreating about 4% after a recent spike above $5,300 per ounce, based on TradingView data. The day’s market mood also reflected pointers from the traditional technology space, as AI-related stock worries and a sharp slide in Microsoft shares added to the caution in equities.

Key takeaways

  • Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and Ether (CRYPTO: ETH) funds registered nearly $1 billion in net outflows on Thursday, one of the year’s largest moves, underscoring a shift in appetite for top-tier crypto exposures.
  • Spot Bitcoin ETFs alone saw $817.9 million leave the market in a single session, the steepest daily withdrawal since late 2025, highlighting the fragility of near-term demand for physically backed BTC products.
  • Gold prices fell about 4% as risk sentiment soured and equities, including those tied to AI, faced pressure; Microsoft (EXCHANGE: NASDAQ: MSFT) shares sank about 10%, amplifying the cross-asset pullback.
  • Bitcoin ETF flows for January turned negative as weekly outflows persisted, with the week tally nearing $978 million and December-to-January transitions remaining unsettled for many funds.
  • Altcoin fund performance remained negative, with spot Ether ETFs pulling out around $155.6 million and XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) funds off about $92.9 million; Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) ETFs also posted modest withdrawals of $2.2 million.
  • Overall, crypto ETPs still command significant assets under management, with about $178 billion across crypto exchange-traded products, while spot BTC ETFs account for roughly 6.5% of Bitcoin’s estimated market capitalization of about $1.65 trillion; still a meaningful liquidity channel for institutional players.

Tickers mentioned: $BTC, $ETH, $XRP, $SOL, $MSFT

Sentiment: Bearish

Price impact: Negative. The ongoing outflows and asset-price declines indicate a risk-off environment pressuring both crypto equities and spot assets.

Trading idea (Not Financial Advice): Hold. A wait-and-see stance may be prudent until there is clearer evidence that liquidity improves and macro catalysts stabilize.

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Market context: The retreat in crypto ETFs mirrors a wider liquidity pullback in risk assets, with investors reassessing exposure as macro headlines and sector rotations drive correlations higher between digital-asset products and traditional markets.

Why it matters

The weekend and week’s flows paint a portrait of a market still heavily driven by sentiment and macro risk rather than purely on-chain signals. The dual pressure on spot BTC/ETH products and the outflows in altcoin ETFs reveal how sensitive crypto investment products remain to broad risk-off dynamics. With ETF inflows/funding often used by institutional participants to gain or unwind exposure, a sustained pattern of redemptions can translate into thinner daily price moves for the underlying assets. The data suggest that even well-established products — including spot BTC ETFs, which continue to represent a sizable slice of the asset’s investable demand — are susceptible to shifts in investor risk tolerance that accompany geopolitical and macro headwinds.

From a market structure perspective, the outflows widen the disconnect between headline price action and long-run narrative of crypto as a macro-hedge or risk-on asset. While Bitcoin and Ether still command tens of billions in AUM across ETPs, and despite their relative dominance in investor allocations, fund flows point to a cautious crowd prioritizing liquidity protection and redemptions over new capital allocation. The Bitcoin ETF segment alone has accumulated roughly $107.65 billion in assets under management, representing approximately 6.5% of Bitcoin’s current market capitalization, underscoring the brokerage and fund-structure role in the pricing and liquidity framework of the space.

The broader risk environment is also shaping how crypto markets interact with traditional tech equities. The indiscriminate sell-off in AI-related shares, as illustrated by Microsoft’s rapid drawdown, feeds into a larger narrative of selective risk appetite rather than a targeted crypto downturn. This broader cross-asset mood can complicate trading strategies that rely on near-term catalysts in crypto markets, making the coming weeks a test of whether the weakness is transitory or a signal of a more persistent capital reallocation away from crypto-priced instruments.

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Bitcoin ETF flows since Jan. 15. Source: SoSoValue

Industry observers have pointed to elevated leverage in certain derivatives venues as another contributor to the slide. In a note cited by CryptoQuant, high leverage positions at a decentralized derivatives exchange were found to have suffered material losses in a short period, illustrating how leverage can amplify market moves across a downturn. The biography of risk surrounding crypto ETPs is not purely driven by on-chain metrics; it also reflects how investors deploy (and unwind) leverage via derivatives and related products when sentiment shifts.

Beyond the price action, underlying structural elements such as asset stewardship and regulatory signals continue to shape the landscape. The UK market has already shown a willingness to adopt crypto ETPs through new launches, as Valour and other providers received regulatory clarity in the wake of lifting certain restrictions; these evolutions could reintroduce fresh demand channels for BTC and ETH exposures once the macro fog clears.

What to watch next

  • Next batch of crypto ETP flow data and updated weekly aggregates to assess whether outflows persist or begin to reverse.
  • Regulatory developments in the UK and elsewhere that enable new ETPs and potential shifts in product structure for BTC and ETH exposures.
  • Liquidity and leverage metrics in key derivatives venues, particularly around Hyperliquid and other decentralized platforms mentioned by market analytics firms.
  • Price action for BTC and ETH in the near term, with attention to macro catalysts and potential support levels that could trigger a capex-based repricing of risk assets.

Sources & verification

  • SoSoValue data on outflows for BTC and ETH and the scale of spot BTC ETF withdrawals
  • TradingView data on gold price movements and context around XAUUSD
  • CoinShares and related AUM updates for crypto ETPs and overall crypto ETP market share
  • CryptoQuant commentary on leverage exposure and Hyperliquid’s long positions wiped out during the session
  • UK regulatory moves and related ETP launches such as Valour’s BTC/ETH products post-FCA developments

Risk & affiliate notice: Crypto assets are volatile and capital is at risk. This article may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure

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Crypto World

$55B in BTC Futures Positions Unwound In 30 Days: Will Bitcoin Recover?

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Coinbase, Cryptocurrencies, Business, Bitcoin Price, Markets, United States, Cryptocurrency Exchange, Derivatives, Financial Derivatives, Bitcoin Futures, Binance, Price Analysis

Bitcoin’s (BTC) struggle to hold above $70,000 carried on into Wednesday, raising concerns that the a drop into the $60,000 range could be the next stop. The sell-off was accompanied by futures market liquidations, a $55 billion drop in BTC open interest (OI) over the past 30 days, and rising Bitcoin inflows to exchanges.

The price weakness has analysts debating whether crypto-specific factors or larger macro-economic issues are the driving factor behind the sell-off and what it may mean for BTC’s short-term future.

Key takeaways: 

  • Around 744,000 BTC in open interest exited major exchanges in 30 days, equal to roughly $55 billion at current prices.

  • BTC futures cumulative volume delta (CVD) fell by $40 billion over the past 6-months.

  • Crypto exchange reserves have risen by 34,000 BTC since mid-January, increasing the near-term supply risk.

Coinbase, Cryptocurrencies, Business, Bitcoin Price, Markets, United States, Cryptocurrency Exchange, Derivatives, Financial Derivatives, Bitcoin Futures, Binance, Price Analysis
Bitcoin weekly chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

BTC open interest collapse points to large-scale deleveraging

CryptoQuant data noted that Bitcoin’s 30-day open interest change shows a sharp contraction across exchanges, reflecting widespread position closures, not just freshly opened short positions. 

On Binance, the net open interest fell by 276,869 BTC over the past month. Bybit recorded the largest decline at 330,828 BTC, while OKX saw a reduction of 136,732 BTC on Tuesday.

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In total, roughly 744,000 BTC worth of open positions were closed, equivalent to more than $55 billion at current prices. This drop in open positions coincided with Bitcoin’s drop below $75,000, indicating deleveraging as a driving factor, not just spot selling.

Coinbase, Cryptocurrencies, Business, Bitcoin Price, Markets, United States, Cryptocurrency Exchange, Derivatives, Financial Derivatives, Bitcoin Futures, Binance, Price Analysis
Bitcoin open interest 30D change. Source: CryptoQuant

Onchain analyst Boris highlighted that the cumulative volume delta (CVD) data shows market sell orders continue to dominate, particularly on Binance, where derivatives CVD sits near -$38 billion over the past six months.

Other exchanges show varying dynamics: Bybit’s CVD flattened near $100 million after a sharp December liquidation wave, while HTX stabilized at -$200 million in CVD as the price consolidates near $74,000.

Related: Bitcoin bounces to $76K, but onchain and technical data signal deeper downside

Increased exchange flows add pressure as analysts watch key levels

Meanwhile, Bitcoin inflows to exchanges surged in January, totaling roughly 756,000 BTC, led by Binance and Coinbase. Since early February, inflows have exceeded 137,000 BTC, underscoring traders’ repositioning and not necessarily leaving the market.

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On the supply side, analyst Axel Adler Jr. noted that exchange reserves have risen from 2.718 million BTC to 2.752 million BTC since Jan. 19. The analyst warned that continued growth above 2.76 million BTC could increase selling pressure. The analyst believed that a complete capitulation is yet to take place, which may happen at lower price levels.

Coinbase, Cryptocurrencies, Business, Bitcoin Price, Markets, United States, Cryptocurrency Exchange, Derivatives, Financial Derivatives, Bitcoin Futures, Binance, Price Analysis
Bitcoin exchange reserves. Source: CryptoQuant

Market analyst Scient said Bitcoin is unlikely to form a bottom in a single day or week. Durable market bottoms may develop through two to three months of consolidation near the major support zones, with higher time frame indicators. Scient noted that whether this structure forms in the high $60,000 range or the low $50,000 level remains unclear.

Bitcoin Trader Mark Cullen continues to see potential downside toward $50,000 in a broader macro scenario, but expects a short-term reversion toward the local point of control ($89,000 to $86,000) after BTC swept weekly lows below $74,000 on Tuesday. 

Coinbase, Cryptocurrencies, Business, Bitcoin Price, Markets, United States, Cryptocurrency Exchange, Derivatives, Financial Derivatives, Bitcoin Futures, Binance, Price Analysis
Mark Cullen’s LTF BTC analysis. Source: X

Related: Bitcoin’s $68K trend line seen as potential BTC price floor: Traders