Global Crypto ETFs Post $2.39 Billion in May Outflows, Led by U.S. Market

CoinShares' weekly fund-flows report tracks digital-asset investment products worldwide, including ETFs and ETPs, and is a key gauge of institutional investors' risk appetite. As the United States advanced the CLARITY Act, rising geopolitical risks linked to Iran prompted a shift toward safe-haven assets and weighed on major cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin.

CoinShares said on May 26, 2026, that cryptocurrency investment products recorded net outflows of $1.47 billion in the preceding week, marking a second consecutive week of withdrawals. Bitcoin products lost about $1.3 billion, while Ether products shed $223 million. Bucking the trend, XRP and Solana attracted $31.8 million and $7.7 million, respectively, while nine assets recorded inflows exceeding $1 million.

U.S. spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs are key channels for institutional capital moving into and out of the crypto market, and their flows are often viewed as a gauge of demand. The products had attracted inflows for four consecutive weeks, but the U.S.-Iran conflict drove up oil prices and inflation concerns. Markets even shifted from expecting a Federal Reserve rate cut in June to anticipating a rate increase, dampening risk appetite.

In the week ended March 27, 2026, the 11 U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded net outflows of $296.18 million, while Ether ETFs lost more than $200 million, according to SoSoValue. Bitcoin ETFs saw $225.5 million in outflows on March 27 alone, with $201.5 million coming from BlackRock’s IBIT. On Monday, March 30, BTC rose nearly 2% and ETH gained more than 3%, but the fund outflows limited the scope for further gains.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved the first spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024, followed by the launch of spot Ether ETFs in July that year, allowing institutions to gain exposure to the two largest crypto assets through regulated funds. ETF flows have consequently become a key gauge of Wall Street demand and market risk appetite.

SoSoValue data through the end of February 2026 showed that investors had withdrawn money from U.S.-listed products for four consecutive months since November 2025. Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded net outflows of $6.39 billion, while spot Ether ETFs lost $2.76 billion, for a combined $9.15 billion. This marked the longest streak of monthly outflows for Bitcoin funds since their January 2024 debut.