US Spot Bitcoin ETFs Roar Into 2026 With Record-Breaking Inflows
Quick Breakdown
- US spot Bitcoin ETFs pulled in over $1.2 billion in inflows in the first two trading days of 2026.
- Analysts say sustained ETF demand could trigger a long-term supply squeeze.
- Morgan Stanley has filed to launch Bitcoin and Solana ETFs, intensifying competition among asset managers.
U.S spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have kicked off 2026 with exceptional momentum, posting inflows that could dramatically outpace last year’s totals if the trend holds.
Bloomberg senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas said the funds are “coming into 2026 like a lion,” noting that more than $1.2 billion flowed into spot Bitcoin ETFs in just the first two trading days of the year. Nearly every fund recorded inflows, with the WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund (BTCW) standing out as the lone exception.
The spot bitcoin ETFs are coming into 2026 like a lion, +$1.2 in flows in first two days of year w/ everyone eating. That’s a $150b/yr pace. Told ya’ll if they can take in $22b when it’s raining, imagine when the sun is shining. pic.twitter.com/YdRaLN0Op7
— Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) January 6, 2026
Balchunas added that maintaining this pace would translate to roughly $150 billion in inflows for the year, a figure that would be about six times higher than total inflows recorded in 2025.
ETF demand strengthens market structure
US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted $21.4 billion in net inflows in 2025, down from $35.2 billion in 2024, with BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) leading the pack.
Momentum surged again this week, with Monday’s $697 million net inflow marking the largest single-day intake in nearly three months. The spike coincided with Bitcoin reclaiming and holding above the $90,000 level after a volatile end to 2025.
Fabian Dori, chief investment officer at Sygnum, said ETF demand is becoming increasingly important to Bitcoin’s market dynamics. He explained that sustained ETF buying is gradually absorbing circulating supply, potentially setting the stage for a long-term demand shock rather than short-lived speculative activity.
That said, early data on Tuesday suggested momentum may be slowing, with a notable outflow from Fidelity’s Bitcoin fund, pending confirmation from BlackRock’s figures.
Morgan Stanley enters the crypto ETF arena
Adding to the bullish narrative, Morgan Stanley filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday to launch Bitcoin and Solana ETFs, joining major players such as BlackRock and Fidelity in the space.
According to the filing, the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust will track Bitcoin’s spot price and will not employ leverage or derivatives.
Balchunas welcomed the move, calling it a strategic decision.
“They oversee around $8 trillion in advisory assets and have already approved advisors to allocate to Bitcoin,”
he said. “It makes sense to offer their own branded product rather than paying fees to competitors.”
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
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