Key Highlights

  • US spot bitcoin ETFs lost $635.6 million on Thursday, October 22, the largest daily outflow since $484.9 million on October 7.
  • Inflows were $526.7 million on October 19 and $524.8 million on October 21, which is $1.05 billion across the two days (calculated).
  • The iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF took in $665.2 million on October 19, then lost $254.1 million on October 22.
  • The four sessions from October 19 to October 22 netted $439.1 million (calculated from daily figures).
  • Bitcoin ETFs lost about $681 million in the week of October 5 to October 9, ending three weeks of inflows.

Bitcoin ETF Flows This Week: Why Did Thursday Bring $635.6 Million of Outflows?

US spot bitcoin ETFs recorded net outflows of $635.6 million on Thursday, October 22, the day bitcoin dipped below $80,000 for the first time in about a month. It was the largest daily withdrawal since the $484.9 million recorded on October 7, and it followed two unusually large inflow days.

The iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (Nasdaq: IBIT) lost $254.1 million, Fidelity's FBTC lost $217.5 million and Grayscale's GBTC lost $29.5 million. IBIT shares closed down 3.72% at $46.06, and the fund holds about $66.89 billion of assets.

Bitcoin ETF Inflows: How Did the Week Start With Over $1 Billion?

The week began strongly. Funds drew $526.7 million on Monday, October 19, led by $665.2 million into IBIT, the largest single-day intake for that fund since October 2025. Fidelity's FBTC and Grayscale's GBTC saw withdrawals that day of $83.6 million and $54.9 million.

Tuesday, October 20 added just $23.2 million. Wednesday, October 21 brought $524.8 million, with IBIT taking in $235.0 million, FBTC $212.7 million and GBTC $32.6 million. The four sessions together netted $439.1 million, a figure calculated from the daily totals.

Another large asset manager also filed for a third bitcoin ETF on October 20, an options-based fund designed to limit potential gains and losses.

Bitcoin ETF Outflows in October: Is the Pattern Choppy or Turning?

October has alternated between heavy outflows and heavy inflows. Daily figures show outflows of $484.9 million on October 7 and $244.1 million on October 8, an inflow of $175.7 million on October 13, then outflows of $261.4 million on October 14.

The week of October 5 to October 9 ended with about $681 million of net outflows, snapping three weeks of inflows. The October 12 to 16 stretch netted about $128 million of outflows, calculated from daily totals.

Over a longer view, the funds took in $6.34 billion in the third quarter, including $2.65 billion in September. As of October 1, cumulative net inflows stood at $57.6 billion and combined net assets at $109.3 billion.

Year-to-date net inflows were roughly $809 million as of October 20, which shows how much of the 2026 total has been given back and regained within weeks.

Bitcoin ETF Watch: What Could Decide the Next Flow Swing?

The next test is the Federal Reserve meeting on October 27 and 28, followed by earnings from crypto-linked companies and further inflation readings. Bitcoin's reaction around $80,000, and a possible return toward $87,700 that one on-chain research firm described as a key level, will likely shape whether Monday's pattern of large inflows or Thursday's outflows dominates.