Bitcoin ETFs See Highest Outflow Since June As Investor Activity Shifts

Bitcoin saw a shift in investor activity through spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the US during the week of August 10, following stronger inflows into the funds during the previous week.

The 13 US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded net outflows of USD 389.7 million during the week of August 10, according to Bloomberg data. This marked their biggest weekly outflow since the end of June and reversed the USD 853.5 million they attracted in the previous week.

The first week of August had brought the strongest weekly inflows into the funds since April. The increase in inflows came shortly after a hack involving Coldcard-branded offline wallets, which renewed interest in gaining Bitcoin exposure through traditional financial products instead of directly holding and securing the cryptocurrency.

The latest outflows came as investors continued to assess Bitcoin amid concerns over interest rates and regulatory developments. The concerns about the possibility of higher interest rates and the lack of progress on the proposed US Clarity Act, which seeks to establish rules for the crypto market, have also kept investors on the sidelines. Bitcoin ETFs allow investors to gain exposure to the cryptocurrency’s price without directly holding or securing Bitcoin. Their flows are therefore closely watched as an indicator of institutional demand.

Bitcoin’s price remained largely range-bound during the previous week, moving within a roughly 2 per cent range. Its implied volatility index, which uses options prices to estimate expected 30-day price movements, was around 37 on Monday. This was below its average for the year and significantly lower than its peak of 82.2 recorded in early February. A prolonged period of ETF outflows could put pressure on Bitcoin’s price and liquidity, particularly if demand from other sources remains subdued.

Bitcoin’s recent price movement also remains a key factor in assessing the impact of the latest ETF flows. According to CoinMarketCap data, as of August 18, 2026, Bitcoin was trading at USD 64,148.33, up 1.14 per cent over the past 24 hours. Prateek Gupta, Head of Business at Mudrex, said the cryptocurrency’s near-term momentum remains cautiously positive.

Gupta told Outlook Money, “In the near term, Bitcoin’s momentum looks cautiously positive, but not yet strong enough to call a clear trend reversal. The latest ETF outflow has not translated into sustained price weakness, with Bitcoin holding above USD 64,000.”

He added that ETF flows, Fed rate expectations and on-chain activity will be key indicators to watch.