US Bitcoin and Ether spot ETFs started 2026 on a mighty note, recording total net inflows of approximately $646 million on the first trading day, despite mixed sentiment in the broader cryptocurrency market.
On Friday, Bitcoin (BTC) spot ETFs saw net inflows of $471.3 million, while Ether (ETH) spot ETFs added $174.5 million, bringing the total inflow to both types of ETFs to $645.8 million. According to to Farside data.
U.S. Bitcoin spot ETFs saw their largest net inflow in 35 trading days since November 11, when eleven U.S. ETFs collectively saw $524 million in a single day.
Meanwhile, spot Ether ETFs saw their biggest single-day inflow in 15 trading days, marking the largest day since December 9 when $177.7 million was recorded.
Crypto ETFs had a abrasive December as the market fell
Cryptocurrency market participants often view ETF inflows as an indicator of mainstream investor sentiment towards a given asset class, as well as a potential signal of near-term price direction, depending on whether ETFs experience inflows or steady outflows.
Over the past 30 days, Bitcoin and Ether spot prices have fallen 1.56% and 1.39%, respectively, extending an extended period of market caution that followed increased volatility in October when a edged decline in leveraged positions in cryptocurrency derivatives markets triggered the largest single-day liquidation in history.
The downward trend has led to market participants becoming more cautious towards the cryptocurrency market.
The Crypto Fear & Greed Index, which measures overall market sentiment, has been fluctuating between the “extreme fear” and “fear” areas since early November.
On Sunday, Index returned to “Extreme Fear” with a score of 25.
Institutional investors are ‘loading up’, says cryptocurrency executive
Marketing Director Tonso “Wal” he said on Friday in X’s post stating that Bitcoin ETFs are “making a comeback,” claiming that “many institutional investors have sold their $BTC in the fourth quarter of 2025 to tax loss harvesting.”
“They’re charging now, this is just the beginning,” Wal said.
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Despite stumbles in cryptocurrency markets in the last months of the year, American investors poured over $31.77 billion into U.S. cryptocurrency ETFs in 2025.
US spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted the lion’s share of investor interest, garnering net inflows of $21.4 billion in 2025. However, this marked a decline from net inflows of $35.2 billion in 2024.
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