Bitcoin and Ether ETFs smash $1.55B as skeptics warn of bubble risks

Bitcoin and Ether ETFS have seen their second-biggest inflows after investors poured $1.17 billion into U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs and $383.1 million into Ether ETFs on Thursday. This will be the second-largest single-day inflow since their launch.

The rally coincided with Bitcoin hitting an all-time high of $113,800, while Ether spot ETFs saw record-breaking demand for BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA), which attracted $300.9 million alone.

“This is institutional validation at scale,” said Nate Geraci, president of NovaDius Wealth Management, in a Friday X post. “Despite gatekeeping from firms like Vanguard, Bitcoin and Ether ETFs are proving they’re here to stay.”

The inflows trail only the $1.37 billion record set on November 7, 2024, when Donald Trump’s presidential election victory spurred a crypto market surge.

BlackRock and Fidelity lead the charge

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) dominated with $448 million in inflows, followed by Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund at $324 million. The trend highlights growing institutional confidence in Bitcoin and Ether ETFs as long-term holdings, even as traditional financial advisers remain hesitant.

“Major platforms are still slow to adopt these products, but demand is undeniable,” Geraci noted.

 According to Farside Investors, Ether ETFs absorbed 60 times the daily net issuance of Ethereum (2,110 ETH, worth $6.33 million), underscoring the supply-demand imbalance fueling ETH’s price rise.

ETFs outpace crypto mining supply

Galaxy Research data reveals Bitcoin and Ether ETFs are swallowing new supply at an unprecedented rate. In 2025 alone, spot Bitcoin ETFs have bought $28.22 billion worth of BTC, over 3.5 times the $7.85 billion in new coins mined.

“The ETFs are effectively starving the market of sell-side pressure,” said Alex Thorn, head of research at Galaxy Digital. “When demand outpaces production, prices have nowhere to go but up.”

The trend mirrors Bitcoin’s 2020–2021 bull run, where institutional accumulation preceded major price breaks.

What’s next for Bitcoin and Ether ETFs?

With Bitcoin and Ether ETFs now holding over $50 billion in combined assets, analysts warn that volatility could intensify if inflows slow. Yet the sheer scale of institutional participation—coupled with shrinking exchange reserves—suggests sustained upward momentum.

“This isn’t retail FOMO anymore,” Thorn added. “Wall Street is building positions for the long haul.”