Bitcoin ETFs Undergo $946 Million in Withdrawals

American Bitcoin ETFs suffered a massive capital outflow last week. Institutional investors turned their backs after Jerome Powell dashed hopes of a rate cut in December. Against the tide, Solana ETFs carve out their niche with record inflows.

A hemorrhage of capital on Bitcoin ETFs

Bitcoin exchange-traded funds had a difficult week. According to asset manager CoinShares, $946 million flew out of the eleven American spot Bitcoin ETFs.

BlackRock’s flagship product, the iShares Bitcoin Trust, suffered the largest loss with $400 million in withdrawals. Overall, all digital asset-indexed products show $360 million in net outflows.

Investors interpreted Jerome Powell’s recent statements as a warning signal. The Federal Reserve chairman indeed cast doubt on a possible rate cut in December. 

“ This restrictive tone, combined with the notable absence of key U.S. economic data releases, seems to have thrown investors into uncertainty.” explained James Butterfill, director of research at CoinShares.

This paralysis in economic data results from the U.S. government “shutdown” which has now lasted over 33 days. Investors are therefore navigating blindly, deprived of the usual indicators that guide their decisions. This situation creates a climate of uncertainty particularly unfavorable to risky assets like Bitcoin.

The debacle of American ETFs contrasts however with the performance of European funds. Germany and Switzerland recorded over $30 million in net inflows. 

Canada and Australia respectively attracted $8.5 million and $7.2 million. A geographic diversification that illustrates the still-intact interest in digital gold, despite American turbulences.

Solana establishes itself as the alternative during the storm

While Bitcoin weathers the storm, Solana is becoming investors’ darling. SOL-based ETFs attracted $421 million in one week. This spectacular performance is explained by the recent launch of American funds at the end of October, which triggered a real enthusiasm.

The Bitwise Solana ETF (BSOL), listed on Nasdaq, already manages $105 million a week after its launch. Its competitor, the Rex-Osprey Solana Staking ETF (SSK), surpassed the $100 million mark in twelve days of trading. These figures reflect the growing appetite of institutions for the Solana ecosystem, long considered a serious alternative to Ethereum.

Crypto markets nonetheless experienced a gloomy Monday. Over one billion dollars in contracts were liquidated, with Bitcoin and Ethereum representing respectively $312 million and $303 million. At the time of writing, bitcoin was trading at $106,663 after a 2.5% drop. Ethereum lost 5.1% to reach $3,657.

A breath of fresh air in sight for 2026

The horizon could brighten in early 2026. The Fed plans to resume Treasury bond purchases in the first quarter, ending three years of balance sheet reduction. 

This decision, though technical, could stabilize financial markets and give digital assets some breathing room. Analysts anticipate about $35 billion in monthly purchases, enough to maintain liquidity in the system.

For now, crypto investors must cope with an uncertain macroeconomic environment. The Fed’s caution, coupled with the lack of reliable economic data, creates a delicate cocktail. 

But the enthusiasm for new financial products such as Solana ETFs shows that institutional appetite remains intact. The market is simply waiting for clearer signals from the U.S. central bank.