Bitcoin ETF Inflows Accelerate: $1.6B Returns as Price Reclaims $96K

The cautious tone that defined the first week of 2026 has shifted materially. 

Over the past two trading sessions, institutional investors have added around $1.6 billion to U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, fully offsetting the prior week’s outflows and restoring upward momentum in the market.

Data from Farside Investors and Glassnode shows a clear reversal in positioning, led by sustained inflows into BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). The move suggests that sub-$90,000 levels were viewed as an opportunity rather than a breakdown in the broader trend.

Keep More On Every Order: 0% Maker, 0.02% Taker

Sign Up Now

From Outflows to Reallocation

The opening days of January were marked by consistent ETF redemptions. Between January 6 and January 9, net outflows exceeded $1.3 billion, reflecting short-term risk reduction following year-end strength.

That dynamic changed decisively this week.

On January 13, spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $753.8 million in net inflows, followed by an additional $840.6 million on January 14. The scale and speed of this reallocation indicate renewed institutional conviction rather than tactical short covering.

Above: ETF fund flows reverse sharply from early-January outflows to strong inflows on Jan 13–14.

Price Response Confirms Spot Demand

The relationship between ETF flows and price action has remained closely aligned. On-chain data from Glassnode highlights the timing of renewed demand entering the market.

As daily ETF inflows exceeded 8,700 BTC on January 14, Bitcoin’s spot price advanced steadily, reclaiming the $96,000–$97,000 range. Notably, this move occurred without a corresponding spike in leverage metrics, reinforcing the view that the rally is being driven by spot accumulation rather than derivatives positioning.

Above: ETF net inflows (green) align with Bitcoin’s recovery toward $96K on Jan 14.
Source: Glassnode.

BlackRock Continues to Absorb Supply

BlackRock’s IBIT remains the dominant channel for institutional exposure. While flows across other ETFs were mixed, IBIT was the primary driver of net inflows during the two-day rebound.

As of January 14, IBIT’s net assets stood at approximately $75.5 billion, reinforcing its role as the primary conduit for large-scale Bitcoin allocation. At current levels, the fund alone represents a meaningful share of daily available liquidity in the spot market.

Above: BlackRock’s IBIT net assets exceed $75.5B as of Jan 14, 2026.
Source: iShares.

Market Implications

The return of sustained ETF inflows suggests that selling pressure observed in early January has largely been absorbed. With ETFs now holding more than 6.5% of Bitcoin’s circulating supply, continued accumulation at this pace tightens market liquidity and reinforces downside support.

While near-term volatility remains likely, the structure of recent inflows points to strategic allocation rather than short-term positioning. If this trend persists, attention will naturally shift back toward the $100,000 level as the next major psychological and technical threshold.