Highlights: Bitcoin ETFs lost $3.8 billion over five weeks of steady withdrawals. Ether ETFs recorded $123.4 million outflows last week despite bri Highlights: Bitcoin ETFs lost $3.8 billion over five weeks of steady withdrawals. Ether ETFs recorded $123.4 million outflows last week despite bri

Bitcoin ETFs Lose $3.8B in Five Weeks as Bullish Sentiment Cools

2026/02/21 19:54
4 min read
For feedback or concerns regarding this content, please contact us at crypto.news@mexc.com

Highlights:

  • Bitcoin ETFs lost $3.8 billion over five weeks of steady withdrawals.
  • Ether ETFs recorded $123.4 million outflows last week despite brief inflows.
  • Santiment reported fading $150k Bitcoin predictions, which shows retail optimism is cooling.

U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are facing steady pressure. For five weeks in a row, investors have been pulling money out. In total, more than $3.8 billion has left in these funds during this period.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs Face Record $1.49B Weekly Outflow

The heaviest weekly withdrawal came in the week ending January 30. That week alone saw $1.49 billion in redemptions. It was the largest single weekly exit since the products launched. The selling did not stop there. Last week, net outflows reached $315.9 million, according to SoSoValue. While there were a few days when money flowed back in, it was not enough to balance the overall withdrawals.

On February 12, more than $410 million was pulled out in just one day. After that, smaller outflows continued from February 17 to February 19. By Friday, there was a brief moment of relief, with $88 million in inflows. Still, the week ended negatively. Even with this recent downturn, the long-term picture remains strong. Since launch, spot Bitcoin ETFs have brought in $54.01 billion in net inflows. Their total net assets now stand at $85.31 billion. That equals around 6.3% of Bitcoin’s total market value.

Ether ETFs Also Under Pressure

Spot Ether exchange-traded funds are seeing a similar pattern. They have now recorded five straight weeks of net outflows, matching the trend seen in Bitcoin funds. Last week alone, investors withdrew $123.4 million from Ether ETFs. There were a few positive days.

On February 17, funds saw $48.6 million in inflows. Earlier, on February 13, another $10.3 million came in. But those gains were small compared to the overall selling. In the end, the heavier redemptions outweighed the inflows. The week still closed in negative territory.

Santiment Highlights Fading Bullish Predictions

Blockchain analytics firm Santiment has observed a clear drop in aggressive bullish predictions around Bitcoin. In its latest update, the platform said fewer traders are now calling for fresh all-time highs. Forecasts targeting $150k to $200k, as well as broader ranges like $50k to $100k, are becoming less common.

According to Santiment, this shift may actually support a healthier market structure. The firm noted that hype driven behavior, including FOMO and flashy “Lambo” narratives, has cooled down. That fading retail excitement suggests speculative pressure is easing. When crowd-driven optimism slows, price action can become more stable and less reactive.

Bitcoin fell to nearly $60,000 on February 6 but quickly rebounded. At the time of reporting, it traded close to $68,129, according to CoinMarketCap.

BTC Price ChartBTC Price Chart: CoinMarketCap

Even with this recovery, the overall mood in the market has not turned fully positive. Santiment reported that sentiment has shifted from extreme bearishness into neutral territory. This middle ground often creates uncertainty because neither buyers nor sellers holds clear control, which makes signals harder to read. The firm advised traders to act cautiously in such conditions.

Santiment also noted a decrease in network activity. Transaction volumes, active wallet addresses, and network growth are all trending downwards. These are a measure of how often the blockchain is being used and how quickly new participants are joining. The decrease in these areas indicates a decrease in activity, which could impact the near-term price action.

eToro Platform

Best Crypto Exchange

  • Over 90 top cryptos to trade
  • Regulated by top-tier entities
  • User-friendly trading app
  • 30+ million users
9.9
Visit eToro

eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment, and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong.

Market Opportunity
Notcoin Logo
Notcoin Price(NOT)
$0.0003589
$0.0003589$0.0003589
-2.89%
USD
Notcoin (NOT) Live Price Chart
Disclaimer: The articles reposted on this site are sourced from public platforms and are provided for informational purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the views of MEXC. All rights remain with the original authors. If you believe any content infringes on third-party rights, please contact crypto.news@mexc.com for removal. MEXC makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the content and is not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided. The content does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice, nor should it be considered a recommendation or endorsement by MEXC.

You May Also Like

Ripple’s Hidden Road acquisition could ‘supercharge XRP’s utility’

Ripple’s Hidden Road acquisition could ‘supercharge XRP’s utility’

The post Ripple’s Hidden Road acquisition could ‘supercharge XRP’s utility’ appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. On Monday, March 2, 2026, the Depository Trust
Share
BitcoinEthereumNews2026/03/03 18:12
S&P 500 Slides as Gas Prices Rise

S&P 500 Slides as Gas Prices Rise

The post S&P 500 Slides as Gas Prices Rise appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. U.S. stocks opened sharply lower Tuesday with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and
Share
BitcoinEthereumNews2026/03/03 18:35
Aave DAO to Shut Down 50% of L2s While Doubling Down on GHO

Aave DAO to Shut Down 50% of L2s While Doubling Down on GHO

The post Aave DAO to Shut Down 50% of L2s While Doubling Down on GHO appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. Aave DAO is gearing up for a significant overhaul by shutting down over 50% of underperforming L2 instances. It is also restructuring its governance framework and deploying over $100 million to boost GHO. This could be a pivotal moment that propels Aave back to the forefront of on-chain lending or sparks unprecedented controversy within the DeFi community. Sponsored Sponsored ACI Proposes Shutting Down 50% of L2s The “State of the Union” report by the Aave Chan Initiative (ACI) paints a candid picture. After a turbulent period in the DeFi market and internal challenges, Aave (AAVE) now leads in key metrics: TVL, revenue, market share, and borrowing volume. Aave’s annual revenue of $130 million surpasses the combined cash reserves of its competitors. Tokenomics improvements and the AAVE token buyback program have also contributed to the ecosystem’s growth. Aave global metrics. Source: Aave However, the ACI’s report also highlights several pain points. First, regarding the Layer-2 (L2) strategy. While Aave’s L2 strategy was once a key driver of success, it is no longer fit for purpose. Over half of Aave’s instances on L2s and alt-L1s are not economically viable. Based on year-to-date data, over 86.6% of Aave’s revenue comes from the mainnet, indicating that everything else is a side quest. On this basis, ACI proposes closing underperforming networks. The DAO should invest in key networks with significant differentiators. Second, ACI is pushing for a complete overhaul of the “friendly fork” framework, as most have been unimpressive regarding TVL and revenue. In some cases, attackers have exploited them to Aave’s detriment, as seen with Spark. Sponsored Sponsored “The friendly fork model had a good intention but bad execution where the DAO was too friendly towards these forks, allowing the DAO only little upside,” the report states. Third, the instance model, once a smart…
Share
BitcoinEthereumNews2025/09/18 02:28