Quick Takeaways
- U. S. spot bitcoin and ether ETFs saw close $750 million in combined weekly outflows.
- XRP ETFs bucked the trend, set a record weekly trading volume, and continued inflows.
- Investors appear to be spread out toward newer crypto ETFs amid early-2026 uncertainty.
U.S. spot bitcoin and ether ETFs opened in 2026 under pressure. Combined net outflows reached $749.6 million during the first full trading week. Bitcoin ETFs recorded $681 million in net outflows. Ethereum ETFs lost another $68.6 million.
The losses followed a strong opening day on Jan. 5. That session saw nearly $700 million flow into bitcoin ETFs. Momentum reversed quickly over the following days. Four straight sessions of outflows erased early gains.
The data highlights fragile investor confidence. Macro uncertainty continues to influence crypto fund flows.
BlackRock and Fidelity Show Diverging ETF Trends
Outflows were not evenly distributed across funds. Some issuers bore far greater pressure than others.
BlackRock’s IBIT led bitcoin ETF outflows. The fund saw $252 million exit on Jan. 9 alone.
Bitwise’s BITB also posted modest outflows. In contrast, Fidelity’s FBTC attracted $7.9 million that day.
Despite the pullback, bitcoin ETFs remain sizable. They now hold $116.9 billion in net assets.
That figure equals roughly 6.48% of bitcoin’s market cap. Cumulative net inflows since launch still exceed $56 billion.
Ether ETFs showed similar volatility. Early-week inflows reversed sharply by week’s end.
Grayscale’s ETHE and BlackRock’s ETHA led ether outflows. Total ether ETF assets now stand near $18.7 billion.
XRP ETFs Buck the Trend With Record Volume
While bitcoin and ether funds struggled, XRP ETFs surged. The contrast was striking during the same trading week.
XRP ETFs recorded $38.1 million in net inflows. They also posted their highest weekly trading volume yet.
Total weekly volume reached $219 million. That nearly doubled the prior week’s $117.4 million.
The milestone signals growing investor interest. XRP funds launched only in mid-November 2025.
Several issuers contributed to the momentum. Canary Capital’s XRPC leads with $375.1 million in assets.
Bitwise, Franklin Templeton, Grayscale, and 21Shares followed closely. Together, XRP ETFs now hold $1.47 billion in net assets.
Cumulative inflows total $1.22 billion. That represents about 1.16% of XRP’s market capitalization.
The strong activity suggests institutional curiosity. Some investors appear willing to explore newer ETF products.
Solana ETFs Also Attract Fresh Capital
XRP was not alone in drawing inflows. Solana-based ETFs also posted positive numbers.
Solana ETFs added $41.1 million for the week. That inflow contrasted sharply with bitcoin’s losses.
Bitwise’s BSOL continues to dominate the category. It has attracted more than $648 million in cumulative inflows.
Fidelity’s FSOL trails with $131.4 million. The gap highlights uneven issuer competition.
The inflows suggest selective risk appetite. Investors appear open to alternatives beyond bitcoin and ether.
Investor Rotation Shapes the Crypto ETF Landscape
The diverging flows point to rotation, not retreat. Capital is shifting within crypto ETFs rather than exiting entirely.
Bitcoin and ether remain core holdings. However, short-term sentiment appears cautious.
Newer ETFs offer differentiated exposure. XRP and Solana funds may benefit from that dynamic.
Trading volume provides another signal. High turnover often precedes broader adoption.
At the same time, volatility remains elevated. Early 2026 has yet to establish a clear trend.
For ETF issuers, product breadth matters. Investors increasingly compare options within crypto.
The first full trading week set the tone. Rotation and experimentation define the current phase.
As markets stabilize, flows may rebalance again. For now, XRP ETFs stand out as the week’s surprise winner.