Bitcoin Surges to New ATH as Spot ETF Inflows Hit $2.75 Billion in One Week
Bitcoin hits a new all-time high of $111,970 amid record-breaking institutional inflows into U.S. spot ETFs, led by BlackRock’s IBIT. Institutional dominance reshapes the crypto bull run.
$2.75 Billion in Weekly ETF Inflows
According to data from Farside, Bitcoin ETFs witnessed $2.75 billion in net inflows this week — a 4.5x increase over the $608 million from the previous week. The biggest daily influx occurred on May 23, with $211.7 million in a single day.
Leading the charge was BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), which attracted $430.8 million in fresh capital, marking its eighth consecutive day of net positive flows.
Meanwhile, Grayscale’s GBTC saw a net outflow of $89.2 million, followed by ARK 21Shares’ ARKB, which lost $73.9 million — signaling a shift in institutional preference toward lower-fee ETFs.
Market Sentiment: Fear Cools Despite Price Records
Even as BTC climbed to record levels, investor sentiment became slightly more cautious. The Crypto Fear and Greed Index dropped from 78 to 66 in 24 hours, hinting at a cooling of short-term euphoria.
Analysts from CryptoQuant noted that funding rates and capital inflows remain moderate, suggesting minimal profit-taking by short-term investors. This could signal more sustainable upward momentum as the rally broadens.
Institutional Capital Now Driving the Bull Market
According to a new report from Matrixport, this bull market is being shaped not by retail FOMO but by a silent institutional shift.
“This rally is largely progressing without traditional retail hype,” the analysts wrote. “There is a notable absence of social media frenzy — instead, the buying pressure is coming from institutions seeking inflation-resistant assets.”
The report identifies a paradigm shift, where Bitcoin is transitioning from an early-adopter asset to a macroeconomic hedge for corporate treasuries and large funds.
Among the leaders in this trend is Strategy, one of the largest corporate holders of Bitcoin. The firm recently announced plans to raise $2.1 billion via Series A perpetual preferred shares, with the proceeds expected to be used for further Bitcoin acquisitions.
As per Bitcoin Treasuries, over 204 institutions currently hold Bitcoin on their balance sheets, more than half of which are publicly traded companies. Notably, 11 new firms added Bitcoin to their books just in the past month.
Looking Ahead: May Could Break ETF Records
With several trading days left in May, the month is already nearing the $6.49 billion ETF inflow record set in November 2024. So far, May has attracted $5.39 billion, putting the record well within reach.
This institutional momentum, paired with restrained retail participation, suggests the current bull market could be more resilient and structured than past cycles.
