#SpotBTCETFsLogFiveWeekOutflows

As of February 25, 2026, U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs have completed their fifth consecutive week of net outflows — the longest streak since February-March 2025. This sustained redemption wave has removed approximately $3.8 billion from the funds over those five weeks, with year-to-date (YTD) 2026 net outflows reaching around $4.5 billion (offset by roughly $1.8 billion in inflows during the first and third weeks of the year). The most recent (Presidents' Day-shortened) week saw outflows of about $316 million to $479 million, depending on the tracker (SoSoValue, CoinShares, etc.).

Cumulative net inflows since the ETFs' January 2024 launch remain solidly positive at roughly $53–54 billion (down from a peak near $63 billion in late 2025). Total assets under management (AUM) now hover between $82–98 billion (sources vary slightly due to real-time BTC price fluctuations and tracking differences), representing about 5.9–6.3% of Bitcoin's total supply (around 1.26 million BTC held across the 12 funds, down from a peak of 1.36 million BTC).

Spot BTC ETFs Recap
These are regulated vehicles (e.g., BlackRock's IBIT, Fidelity's FBTC, Grayscale's GBTC) that hold actual Bitcoin in cold storage. Shares trade on traditional exchanges, giving investors seamless exposure without direct crypto custody. They revolutionized institutional access, but flows now act as a high-frequency sentiment gauge.

Breaking Down the Five-Week Outflow Streak
Week-by-week pattern: Consistent redemptions since late January 2026, with the heaviest single week pulling ~$1.49 billion.

Key contributors: BlackRock's IBIT led with ~$2.1–2.13 billion outflows over the period; Fidelity's FBTC saw ~$954 million.
Broader context: This mirrors a similar (but larger) streak in early 2025 tied to macro shocks. 2026's version aligns with risk-off conditions, including U.S. tariff uncertainties, geopolitical noise, and rotation to safer assets like gold (which saw strong inflows).
Deeper Metrics: Price, Percentage Impact, Liquidity, Volume + More
Price Dynamics

Bitcoin trades around $64,000–$65,800 today (up ~2–3% intraday from recent lows near $63,900), but down roughly 24–28% YTD in 2026 — the steepest January-February drop on record and on track for a fifth straight monthly loss (longest since 2018). ETF outflows directly add selling pressure: managers sell BTC to fulfill redemptions, creating a feedback loop during low-demand periods. Key levels watched: support at $58,000–$62,000; resistance near $68,000. The streak has capped rallies and amplified downside volatility.

Percentage Perspective
Five-week outflows (~$3.8B) equal ~4–5% of current AUM. YTD bleed ($4.5B) is ~5–6% of peak 2025 levels. Relative to lifetime inflows ($53–54B), this is a correction — not a collapse. ETF-held BTC has dropped ~7–8% from peak holdings (87,000 BTC shed since Nov 2025, including ~15,000 in Feb). Still, ETFs control a meaningful slice of supply, so even modest % outflows matter when conviction wanes.

Liquidity Conditions
Outflows thin spot market buy-side depth. Bid-ask spreads widen during volatility spikes, and large orders move price more easily. On-chain and exchange liquidity has declined alongside ETF AUM drawdown. European/Canadian buyers added minor inflows (~$59M recently), offsetting some U.S. selling, but overall market depth remains subdued — increasing tail risk for sharp moves.

Volume Trends
Spot + derivatives weekly volumes hit multi-month lows (~$17 billion), the weakest since July 2025. Low volume on down days indicates measured, conviction-based selling (e.g., institutions rotating) rather than retail panic or cascading liquidations. This "quiet bleed" prolongs consolidation: fewer participants absorb supply, delaying bottoms until volume rebounds with fresh demand.
Additional Layers: Drivers, Rotations, and Sentiment

Macro & Sentiment Drivers: Risk-off mood dominates — Fear & Greed Index in "extreme fear" (8–11 range). Capital rotates to gold ETFs (strong inflows), stablecoins, cash, or altcoins like Solana. U.S. hedge funds trimmed positions sharply (e.g., some 13F filings show 28–86% cuts in Q4 2025–Q1 2026).
Regional Split: U.S. outflows heavy; Europe/Canada sees dip-buying.
On-Chain Angle: Some BTC moves off exchanges or into long-term holds, suggesting rotation rather than full exit.
Comparison: Gold ETFs attracted billions recently while BTC bled — classic flight-to-safety.

What This Means & Outlook Signals
This isn't structural failure — ETFs remain a core bridge for traditional capital, with AUM still massive and inflows historically explosive. But five weeks of red signals caution: institutional conviction is testing, and BTC lacks a strong catalyst (regulatory clarity, macro pivot, or retail resurgence) to flip flows positive. Watch for:
Flow reversal (even small inflows spark momentum).
Volume spike above $20–25B weekly.
BTC holding $60k zone amid macro noise.