Bitcoin ETFs Roar Into 2026 With Record Pace as Inflows Surge 600%

Bitcoin ETF Demand Explodes Out of the Gate

US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds have opened 2026 with a level of demand rarely seen in the ETF market, even by last year’s standards.

According to Bloomberg senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas, more than $1.2 billion flowed into spot Bitcoin ETFs during the first two trading days of the year, with inflows spread broadly across nearly every issuer.

“The spot Bitcoin ETFs are coming into 2026 like a lion,” Balchunas wrote, noting that “everyone is eating,” with the exception of the WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund (BTCW).

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At the current pace, Balchunas estimates annual inflows could reach $150 billion, roughly six times larger than the total recorded during 2025.

A Potential 600% Jump Over 2025 Inflows

US spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted approximately $21.4 billion in net inflows during 2025, led overwhelmingly by BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). While that figure was strong, it marked a decline from $35.2 billion in inflows seen in 2024.

Early 2026 data suggests that slowdown may already be reversing.

Balchunas framed the shift as a function of market conditions:

“If they can take in $22 billion when it’s raining, imagine when the sun is shining.”

The renewed demand comes as Bitcoin prices stabilized back above $90,000 following a volatile end to 2025.

Largest Inflow Day in Three Months

Monday alone delivered $697 million in net inflows, the strongest single-day performance for spot Bitcoin ETFs in roughly three months.

According to Fabian Dori, Chief Investment Officer at Sygnum, the importance of ETF demand goes beyond short-term price action.

Dori noted that steady ETF accumulation is structurally absorbing circulating Bitcoin supply, creating the conditions for a longer-term demand shock rather than speculative, momentum-driven inflows.

That said, early data on Tuesday suggested momentum may be cooling slightly, with preliminary figures pointing toward potential net outflows driven largely by redemptions from Fidelity’s fund, pending confirmation from BlackRock’s daily data.

Morgan Stanley Prepares to Enter the Bitcoin ETF Market

Institutional momentum may soon accelerate further.

On Tuesday, Morgan Stanley filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to launch Bitcoin and Solana ETFs, formally entering the crypto ETF race alongside BlackRock, Fidelity, and other major issuers.

According to the filing, the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust will be a spot-based, passive vehicle, designed to track Bitcoin’s price directly without leverage or derivatives.

Balchunas welcomed the move, pointing to Morgan Stanley’s vast distribution network.

“They have like $8 trillion in advisory assets, and they already approved advisor allocations,” he said. “Might as well offer a house-branded product instead of paying BlackRock.”

Why ETF Momentum Matters for Bitcoin in 2026

The early surge in ETF inflows highlights a broader shift in how institutional capital is approaching Bitcoin. Rather than tactical exposure during rallies, ETFs are increasingly being used as strategic allocation vehicles, particularly within advisory platforms and wealth management portfolios.

If ETF demand continues anywhere near its current pace, Bitcoin’s supply-demand dynamics could tighten materially over the course of 2026.

Conclusion

Bitcoin ETFs have entered 2026 with rare intensity. More than $1.2 billion in inflows in two days, the strongest performance in months, and new heavyweight issuers preparing to launch products all point to a market where institutional participation is deepening, not fading.

Whether the current pace proves sustainable remains to be seen—but the opening signal is clear: ETF demand is once again becoming a central force in Bitcoin’s market structure.

See all our insights: Bitcoin World News