In today’s News US Spot Bitcoin ETFs Set Lifetime Flow Record as Market Recovers
US-listed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have reached a new milestone, with total lifetime flows surpassing $40.3 billion as of 8 May, according to data from Bloomberg.
The record comes as Bitcoin prices rebound from recent lows, and investors return to crypto markets following a volatile start to the year.
There is huge Resilient Demand for Bitcoin ETFs
Bloomberg senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas described lifetime net flows as the most important metric for gauging an ETF’s health, noting that it is “very hard to grow” and offers a clear, long-term measure of investor sentiment.
“Impressive they were able to make it to a new high water mark so soon after the world was supposed to end,” Balchunas remarked, referring to the broader market turbulence earlier this year.
He added that minimal investor outflows left the funds with “only a tiny hole to dig out of” during the recovery.
After falling to a year-to-date low of $74,441 on 7 April, Bitcoin steadily climbed back, reaching over $103,000 by 8 May.
The performance was closely mirrored by inflows into Bitcoin ETFs, with nearly $4.8 billion in net new investments recorded over the same period, according to data from Farside Investors.
That figure represents more than 10% of the ETFs’ total lifetime flows.
Only eight out of 23 trading days during Bitcoin’s rebound saw net outflows, amounting to $1 billion — a sign of strengthening investor confidence in digital asset funds.
BlackRock’s IBIT Leads the Pack
The clear leader in this resurgence has been BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), which accounted for a remarkable 92% of net inflows from 7 April to 8 May.
Balchunas noted this dominance reflects a trend he dubbed “beta with a side of Bitcoin” a pattern where mainstream investors seeking market exposure increasingly prefer IBIT’s structure and backing.
As of 8 May, IBIT had attracted $44.3 billion in total net flows since launch, nearly quadruple the amount invested in the next largest spot Bitcoin ETF, Fidelity’s FBTC, which recorded $192.4 million in net inflows during the recent rally.
A recent report by blockchain analytics firm Glassnode observed that, alongside improving sentiment among retail investors, the surge in ETF inflows since early April points to strengthening institutional demand and potential tailwinds for Bitcoin’s broader market outlook.
Institutional Appetite Remains Strong
The new lifetime high in total flows for US spot Bitcoin ETFs underscores a growing appetite from institutional and traditional investors, even amid regulatory uncertainties and market volatility.
With Bitcoin’s price recovery gaining momentum and spot ETFs increasingly seen as a safer, regulated entry point into the crypto market, analysts suggest the sector could continue to attract capital in the months ahead provided market conditions remain favourable.
