Key highlights:
- Spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted more than $1.7 billion in inflows over three days, marking the strongest January surge on record.
- Institutional demand intensified as Bitcoin reclaimed levels above $97,000, reversing earlier bearish sentiment.
- BlackRock led ETF inflows, reinforcing its growing influence on institutional Bitcoin exposure.
Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded their strongest January performance on record, attracting more than $1.7 billion in inflows over just three trading days. The surge coincided with Bitcoin’s move above the $97,000 level, signaling a notable shift in investor sentiment after a muted start to the year.
Capital flows into US Bitcoin ETFs. Source: Farside Investors
The renewed interest suggests that institutional investors are reassessing their exposure to Bitcoin as price momentum returns and broader market confidence improves.
Bitcoin ETFs see record inflows as price recovers
Wednesday, January 14, marked the most active day of the month for spot Bitcoin ETFs, with inflows totaling $843.6 million, the largest single-day inflow recorded so far in 2026. The scale of buying reflected a sharp reversal from the outflows seen earlier in the month.
Over a three-day period of consecutive inflows, Bitcoin ETFs more than offset the $1.4 billion that exited funds between January 6 and January 9. This rapid turnaround highlights how quickly institutional positioning can shift when market conditions improve.
BlackRock leads as institutional demand accelerates
BlackRock once again topped the inflow rankings, with its iShares Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) attracting more than $648 million in a single day. The fund accounted for the majority of total ETF inflows, underscoring BlackRock’s dominant role in shaping institutional Bitcoin demand.
Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) also recorded strong inflows of $125.4 million, while ARK Invest’s ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) added $30 million. The Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB) followed with inflows of $10.6 million.
Investor sentiment shifts toward optimism
Bitcoin’s price action reinforced the shift in sentiment. On January 13, the asset peaked at $97,939 before consolidating above $96,000, marking its highest level since mid-November.
At the same time, the Cryptocurrency Fear and Greed Index climbed to 61, entering the “greed” zone for the first time since October. The change reflects a broader psychological shift among investors, moving from caution to renewed confidence.
While it remains uncertain whether the momentum will persist, the scale of ETF inflows and the rapid recovery in sentiment suggest that institutional investors are once again viewing Bitcoin as a strategic portfolio asset.
The strong start to the year has set a high benchmark for ETF performance in 2026.
Source: https://coincodex.com/article/80186/bitcoin-etfs-break-yearly-records-with-17-billion-inflows-in-three-days/
