
U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw record inflows early in 2026 before a $243 million outflow, underscoring fragile market momentum amid declining crypto prices and cautious U.S. investor demand.
U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, which had attracted over $1.2 billion in inflows during the first two trading days of 2026, registered a $243 million outflow on Tuesday, according to SoSoValue data. Bitcoin fell over 1.5% alongside other major cryptocurrencies, while all 16 CoinDesk sectoral indexes were in the red, led by the DeFi Select Index down 3.6%. Analysts noted the recent rally may have been driven by seasonal factors rather than conviction buying, with U.S. investors still absent as indicated by a negative Coinbase Premium. Positive signs included rising cumulative crypto futures open interest and improving funding rates, suggesting some capacity for recovery.