U.S. Bitcoin ETFs See Over $1.2 Billion in Outflows

TLDR

• U.S. Bitcoin ETFs faced $1.2 billion in net outflows this week.
• BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust had the largest outflow of $268.6 million.
• Bitcoin price dropped from $115,000 to below $104,000 this week.

This week, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs experienced substantial outflows, with over $1.2 billion withdrawn. Major financial entities such as BlackRock and Fidelity showed notable decreases in their ETFs. Despite these outflows, Charles Schwab is still looking to expand its crypto product offerings, highlighting continued institutional interest.

BlackRock, the largest asset manager globally, saw the largest single outflow with $268.6 million leaving its iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). Fidelity’s FBTC ETF also faced a significant withdrawal of $67.2 million. Grayscale, a pioneer in institutional Bitcoin products, registered a $25 million outflow.

Key Players and Their Roles in Bitcoin ETFs

BlackRock and Fidelity, prominent names in traditional finance, have been significant players in the digital asset market since the SEC approved their spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024. Grayscale, renowned for operating the largest U.S. Bitcoin trust, has played a pivotal role in providing institutional Bitcoin exposure.

Charles Schwab, a major U.S. brokerage firm, has expanded its digital asset offerings in recent years. Despite the recent outflows, CEO Rick Wurster remains confident in the potential of crypto ETPs, with Schwab clients holding about 20% of all U.S. crypto ETPs.

“Crypto ETPs have been very active.”

Rick Wurster, CEO, Charles Schwab

Weekly Outflow Details and Market Reactions

The week witnessed a net outflow of $1.2 billion from U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs. The largest single-day withdrawal amounted to $366 million. This trend is attributed to profit-taking, macroeconomic caution, and recent crypto market volatility.

Institutional involvement remains strong despite these outflows. Schwab’s substantial client holdings in U.S. ETPs suggest continued interest and allocation during market declines. This reflects a more liquidity-driven event than a sector-wide retreat.

Market Impacts and Historical Context

Bitcoin experienced a sharp decline this week, falling from over $115,000 on Monday to just below $104,000 by Friday. This price movement is closely tied to the ETF outflows. Although not explicitly quantified, there are potential impacts on trading volumes and derivatives markets.

Historically, September has been a weak month for Bitcoin, often resulting in ETF outflows and price drops. Similar past events in July and September 2025 resulted in market corrections, but they typically led to recovery periods when institutional flows returned.