U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs post $635M net outflow as BTC breaks below $80,000
U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw heavy selling as Bitcoin slid under the key $80,000 level, with funds posting a combined net outflow of about $635 million. The move marked the largest one-day institutional exit since February, as risk appetite cooled after U.S. inflation data surprised to the upside.
On May 13, the group recorded roughly $635 million in net redemptions, the biggest single-day withdrawal since Jan. 29. BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) accounted for the bulk of the move, logging nearly $285 million in outflows. The pullback followed another $233.2 million leaving the category the prior day, pointing to a rapid deterioration in sentiment over a 48-hour window.
The selling intensified after the latest U.S. CPI report came in hotter than expected. Inflation rose 3.8% year over year versus a 3.7% consensus forecast, and accelerated from the previous 3.3% reading. The data renewed concerns the Federal Reserve could keep rates higher for longer and delay any cuts.
Glassnode data showed the seven-day moving average of U.S. spot ETF flows fell to negative $88 million per day, the weakest level since mid-February. Analysts noted a key distinction from the earlier episode: February's outflows coincided with price weakness, while the latest redemptions occurred with BTC still trading relatively firm near $80,000, suggesting some institutions used the rebound as an exit. Another potential pressure point is the estimated ETF holder cost basis around $82,100.
Bitcoin also failed to hold above resistance near $81,000 before slipping below $80,000 support.
Weakness extended to other crypto ETF segments. Spot Ethereum ETFs recorded another $36 million in outflows, bringing their three-session total close to $184 million. Ether traded around $2,267, down about 1.6% over the past 24 hours. XRP ETFs were largely flat following multiple zero-flow sessions this month, though the products still drew $25.8 million of inflows earlier in the week, one of their strongest intake days of 2026.
