Investors ramp up crypto outflows as tokenized metals and short Bitcoin absorb the shock

Digital asset sentiment has soured sharply in recent days, with crypto outflows reshaping positioning even as some investors rotate into tokenized metals and short exposure.

Weekly fund data show sharp reversal in digital asset flows

Crypto investment products suffered $1.7 billion in net outflows last week, marking a second straight week of heavy redemptions and pushing year-to-date flows into a net $1 billion loss. However, the pressure has been building for longer.

After $1.73 billion left crypto funds in the week ending January 23, products shed another $1.69 billion in the latest period, according to CoinShares. Moreover, the sustained withdrawals have accelerated a broader contraction in assets under management.

Total digital asset AuM has declined by $73 billion since its peak in October 2025. That said, the drop reflects not only ongoing redemptions but also weaker market prices across major tokens.

US-led exodus underscores macro and policy concerns

James Butterfill, head of research at CoinShares, links the downturn to a mix of macro and structural factors. He highlights the appointment of a more hawkish US Federal Reserve Chair, continued whale selling tied to the four-year crypto cycle, and elevated geopolitical risks.

In his note, Butterfill wrote that these forces are combining to push allocators toward safer assets and away from digital tokens. As a result, the United States accounted for $1.65 billion of last week's global withdrawals, underscoring the country's outsized role in setting risk appetite.

The scale of US selling shows how sensitive crypto markets remain to shifting Federal Reserve expectations and tightening financial conditions. Elsewhere, flows were negative but smaller, suggesting global investors are cautious yet somewhat less aggressive than their US counterparts.

Bitcoin and Ethereum bear the brunt of redemptions

The latest crypto fund flows reveal broad-based selling across major assets. Bitcoin (BTC) absorbed the largest hit, with $1.32 billion in weekly outflows as investors cut exposure to the leading crypto asset, a move that likely contributed to recent BTC price weakness.

Ethereum (ETH) followed with $308 million in redemptions, signaling waning conviction even in platforms often viewed as long-term infrastructure plays. Moreover, previously favored layer-1 and cross-border payment tokens were not spared.

XRP and Solana (SOL) recorded outflows of $43.7 million and $31.7 million, respectively. That said, the pattern across assets is consistent with investors trimming higher-beta positions as risk appetite declines.

Defensive positioning lifts short Bitcoin and tokenized metals

Despite the broad sell-off, segments tied to hedging and alternative stores of value saw a modest bid. Short Bitcoin investment products attracted $14.5 million in inflows last week, pushing year-to-date AuM in these vehicles up 8.1%. This suggests traders are increasingly positioning for further downside rather than a quick recovery.

At the same time, so-called Hype products were a rare bright spot, drawing $15.5 million in fresh capital. Moreover, these vehicles benefited from heightened on-chain activity linked to tokenized precious metals, which are gaining traction as an alternative store-of-value narrative during periods of crypto market stress.

For some allocators, tokenized metals offer exposure to traditional safe-haven assets while still using blockchain-based investment rails. That said, these inflows remain small compared with the scale of redemptions from the largest cryptocurrencies.

Market outlook hinges on macro data and whale behavior

Taken together, the latest numbers depict a market firmly in defensive mode, with the ongoing crypto outflows from core assets contrasting with selective inflows into hedging tools and niche themes. Overall, investor behavior points to a preference for caution over aggressive dip-buying.

Whether sentiment stabilizes will depend on several catalysts, including key US economic releases this week, any moderation in large-holder selling, and a reduction in geopolitical tensions. However, with policy uncertainty still elevated and whales active on the sell side, digital asset markets may struggle to attract sustained new capital in the near term.

In summary, the combination of macro headwinds, policy shifts, and risk-off positioning has turned what was once a strong inflow story into a broad-based pullback, leaving only a handful of defensive strategies and tokenized metal plays on the right side of current crypto flows.