Bitcoin ETFs Face Outflows as Ethereum ETFs Gain Capital

TLDR

• Bitcoin ETFs had $616.1 million in outflows on May 31.
• Ethereum ETFs experienced $70.2 million in inflows on the same day.
• BlackRock Bitcoin ETF saw a $430 million outflow, largest to date.

Recent data indicates a significant trend in the cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) market. Bitcoin ETFs are experiencing considerable outflows, while Ethereum ETFs are attracting new capital. This shift reflects changing institutional investor dynamics.

On May 31, 2025, Bitcoin ETFs saw large outflows totaling $616.1 million. This followed $346.8 million in outflows the previous day. In contrast, Ethereum ETFs recorded $70.2 million in inflows on May 31. This suggests potential rotation by institutional investors from Bitcoin to Ethereum.

Contrasting Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF Flows

Crypto Rover, a popular cryptocurrency influencer, highlighted the contrasting flows on Twitter. The current data showcases significant capital movement between the two major cryptocurrency ETFs.

Farside Investors noted a substantial outflow of $346.8 million from Bitcoin ETFs on May 29, with redemptions from major funds like FBTC, GBTC, and ARKB. IBIT was an exception, showing notable inflows on that day. This underscores the varied institutional approaches in the Bitcoin ETF market.

Key Institutional Changes in ETF Investments

The BlackRock Bitcoin ETF experienced its largest single-day outflow of $430 million on May 31. Despite this, it was the only Bitcoin ETF showing inflows on May 29. This indicates diversity in investor strategies within the declining Bitcoin ETF space.

Conversely, all Ethereum ETF inflows on May 30 were attributed to the ETHA fund. Additional data pointed to continued significant inflows for both ETHA and Fidelity’s Ethereum ETF (FETH). This consistent increase in Ethereum funds highlights institutional preference shifts.

Market Context Influencing Crypto ETFs

The pattern in asset flows is occurring amidst broader market uncertainty. The S&P 500 index dropped by 0.8% on May 30. This risk-off sentiment in traditional markets appears to be impacting crypto ETF flows differently between Bitcoin and Ethereum.

For Bitcoin, the continued outflows suggest a bearish sentiment and potential price declines. For Ethereum, the inflows indicate a bullish momentum and possibly stronger performance when compared to Bitcoin, according to reports from market analysts.

Major Players Driving ETF Movements

The primary cryptocurrencies impacted include Bitcoin, which is experiencing ETF outflows, and Ethereum, which is benefiting from inflows. Related altcoins may experience secondary effects based on their correlation with these major assets.

Key ETF issuers involved in these asset movements include BlackRock, Fidelity, Grayscale, ARK Invest, and ETHA. Data indicates that while inflows for Ethereum ETFs are impressive, concerns remain. Glassnode reported that the average Ethereum ETF investor is “substantially underwater” on their investments despite recent inflows.