$142M exits Bitcoin ETFs as Ether, XRP funds attract fresh interest

Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) began the new week under pressure, posting net outflows of $142.2 million on December 22, underscoring continued caution among institutional investors as the year-end approaches.

According to flow data, BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) was the lone bright spot, recording modest net inflows of $6.0 million.

However, those gains were insufficient to offset selling across other major products.

Funds managed by Fidelity, Bitwise, and Ark Invest all registered net outflows, reinforcing the uneven tone that has defined ETF flows throughout December.

Bitcoin ETF volatility persists

The latest outflows extend a choppy and indecisive pattern for spot Bitcoin ETFs this month.

A strong $457.3 million inflow recorded on December 17 was swiftly unwound, with more than $460 million exiting over the following three sessions.

The reversal suggests that while investors are still willing to deploy capital opportunistically, conviction remains fragile amid uncertain macro and regulatory signals.

Market participants have pointed to year-end positioning, profit-taking, and regulatory delays as factors keeping institutional allocators cautious.

The stop-start nature of Bitcoin ETF flows indicates that many investors are treating rallies as tactical rather than committing to sustained exposure.

Ether ETFs stage a rebound

In contrast, US-listed spot Ether ETFs showed signs of stabilisation.

On Monday, Ether products recorded $84.6 million in net inflows, snapping a seven-day streak of outflows in one of the largest single-day reversals seen this month.

The rebound followed a sharp wave of selling last week, when more than $400 million flowed out of spot Ether ETFs.

Data from SoSoValue show that the latest inflows lifted cumulative net inflows for Ether ETFs to approximately $12.5 billion, suggesting at least a pause in the recent liquidation trend.

While the inflows do not yet signal a decisive shift in sentiment, they point to buyers stepping back in after what had become an extended period of pressure on Ether-linked products.

XRP ETFs maintain consistent inflows

The strongest relative momentum among crypto ETFs continued to come from XRP-linked products.

US spot XRP ETFs extended their uninterrupted inflow streak on Monday, attracting $43.9 million in net inflows — their best daily showing since early December.

Notably, XRP ETFs have not recorded a single net outflow day since their launch.

As a result, cumulative inflows have now surpassed $1.1 billion.

Although absolute volumes remain smaller than those seen in Bitcoin or Ether funds, the consistency of demand stands out.

Flow patterns suggest that investors are gradually building exposure rather than rotating in and out for short-term trades.

The steady accumulation implies XRP is being treated as a longer-term positioning asset by early institutional adopters.

Broader market headwinds remain

Despite pockets of resilience among select altcoin ETFs, overall flows across crypto exchange-traded products remain under pressure.

Last week, global crypto ETPs recorded approximately $952 million in net outflows, driven primarily by selling in spot Bitcoin and Ether funds.

Asset manager CoinShares attributed the pullback to delays surrounding the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, which has prolonged regulatory uncertainty.

CoinShares also noted that the legislative slowdown coincided with increased selling from large holders, further weighing on flows.

As December winds down, ETF data suggest investors remain selective, with capital rotating toward assets perceived to have clearer narratives or steadier demand, even as broader sentiment across crypto markets stays cautious.

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