Bitcoin ETFs Face Outflows While Ethereum Sees Inflows

TLDR

• Bitcoin ETFs experienced $526 million in total outflows.
• Ethereum ETFs recorded $94.8 million in net inflows.
• iShares/BlackRock led Ethereum inflows with $33.96 million.

On June 5 and 6, 2025, Bitcoin spot ETFs experienced significant net outflows. The total outflow amounted to $278 million on June 5, while on the following day, an additional $248.23 million was recorded as funds exited Bitcoin ETFs.

In contrast, Ethereum spot ETFs showed a different trend with net inflows. On June 6, Ethereum ETFs registered a net inflow of $16.6 million, reinforcing a positive streak over the previous 11 days, during which an additional $78.2 million was added to these funds on June 2.

Key Institutional Players and Their Roles

iShares/BlackRock was a significant player, leading the inflows into its Ethereum ETF, with an inflow of $33.96 million recorded on June 6. However, all 12 U.S.-listed Bitcoin spot ETF issuers recorded aggregate outflows, with no net inflows on June 5.

ARK Invest, known for its crypto engagement, announced a 3-for-1 stock split for the ARKB ETF. This strategic move aims to attract retail participation following the declining flows in Bitcoin ETFs.

Impact on Bitcoin and Ethereum Markets

The recent Bitcoin ETF outflows highlighted a retreat in institutional risk appetite for Bitcoin, potentially reallocating these funds into other assets or safer investments due to volatile macro conditions. Meanwhile, Ethereum ETFs’ steady inflow suggests renewed institutional accumulation of ETH, possibly in anticipation of upcoming technical upgrades or regulatory clarity.

Despite Bitcoin’s recent negative net flows, the overall size of ETF-held assets remains in the billions. These movements highlight a preference divergence in institutional investors, suggesting differing expectations for Bitcoin and Ethereum.

On-Chain and Market Data Insights

According to CoinGlass data, approximately 2,530 Bitcoin exited ETF holdings on June 2, whereas about 30,810 Ethereum were added. This data underscores the contrast in institutional interest between Bitcoin and Ethereum during this period.

Total Value Locked (TVL) in Ethereum staking and DeFi remained relatively stable, and no significant changes in TVL were directly linked to these ETF flow events. Furthermore, no substantial staking exits or miner sales for ETH or BTC were observed.

Historical Context and Comparisons

Similar ETF flow divergences have occurred previously, often coinciding with approval cycles, macroeconomic shifts, or regulatory events. For example, large Bitcoin outflows in March and May 2024 led to drawdowns, while Ethereum’s inflow correlated with increases in DeFi activity and market engagement.

Historically, Bitcoin and Ethereum’s flow patterns have influenced market dynamics significantly. Ethereum’s spot ETF inflows have sometimes been linked to increased DeFi activity and a bullish sentiment in the Ethereum ecosystem.

No New Regulatory Updates

As for regulatory updates, there have been no new statements from the SEC, CFTC, or other global regulatory entities on these specific daily ETF flows. The existing regulatory stance continues unchanged from previous approvals regarding spot ETFs and their custody.

Among the crypto community and developers, there has been no significant shift in sentiment or notable activity attributed to these ETF flows. However, trading discussions on platforms like Twitter suggest a focus on Ethereum’s potential strength and further Bitcoin corrections.

Summary of Affected Cryptocurrencies

Mainly, Bitcoin and Ethereum have been directly affected by these ETF flows. Indirectly, the impact on Layer 1 and Layer 2 tokens follows broader sentiment trends. Governance tokens for DeFi protocols may also experience changes in volume due to Ethereum ETF inflows, although such movements are typically lagging indicators.

This recent divergence in ETF flows highlights the evolving preferences among financial institutions, with analysts watching closely for further cues from ETF volumes and on-chain data.