The US Spot Bitcoin ETF Sees Highest Single-Day Outflow Since January

On May 19th, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a net outflow of roughly $648.6 million this Monday—marking their largest single-day pullback since January 29, 2026, and extending last week’s trend of around $1 billion in weekly net outflows. Breaking down the outflows: BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) saw the biggest single-day drain, with approximately $448.3 million in net redemptions. Next in line were the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) and Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC). Products from Bitwise, VanEck, Invesco, and Franklin Templeton also registered net outflows. Analysts attribute the trend to key factors: ongoing U.S.-Iran geopolitical tensions, rising oil prices, and climbing U.S. Treasury yields. These developments have amplified market concerns about inflation’s sustainability, pushing some institutional investors to temporarily shift to safe-haven assets and lock in profits. Additionally, higher risk-free Treasury yields have dulled the appeal of Bitcoin ETFs for institutional players. Despite the short-term market volatility, some analysts maintain Bitcoin’s broader structural trend remains intact. Meanwhile, steady growth in the stablecoin market cap signals that funds sitting off exchanges are still waiting to enter at attractive lower price levels.