BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF notches two-week high inflow as BTC nears $112K

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) has seen its largest inflow in the past two weeks as traders allocate to US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to scoop up the rocketing cryptocurrency.

IBIT’s May 21 net inflows hit $530.6 million, its biggest single-day net inflow since it took in $531.2 million on May 5, according to Farside Investors. The ETF hasn’t had an outflow since April 9.

In one day alone, IBIT has accumulated over 10 times the amount of Bitcoin (BTC $110,830) mined over the same timeframe, with it scooping up 4,931 BTC against just 450 BTC produced for the day.

IBIT also saw its largest volume day since January, according to the ETF tracking X account Trader T. 

“Given trading volume today, expect these inflow numbers to increase,” said ETF Store president Nate Geraci. 

BlackRock IBIT net flows. Source: Trader T

The total inflow figure for all 11 spot ETFs was $607.1 million, with the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) seeing the second-most inflows for the day at $23.5 million. 

Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas called the ETF inflows a “classic feeding frenzy” caused by Bitcoin’s recent price rally, which has seen it extend to nearly $112,000 in early May 22 trading. 

Balchunas added that the last time ETF trading volumes soared to current levels was in January, around Bitcoin’s then all-time high. “All the Bitcoin ETFs are elevated, most are gonna see 2x their average flows incoming,” he said.

IBIT trading volume surges to January levels. Source: Eric Balchunas 

The big ETF inflow and volume day came as Bitcoin notched a new all-time high above $110,000 late on May 2, and it has continued to rally to a top of just under $111,897 on Coinbase, according to TradingView.

Bitcoin ETF pile in to continue 

Jeff Mei, operations chief at the crypto exchange BTSE, told Cointelegraph in a note that investors are “crowding into Bitcoin ETFs,” which saw $3.6 billion in net inflows in May.

“We believe this trend will continue as long as companies continue to tap public markets for more capital,” he added. “This could even accelerate if the Fed decides to cut interest rates in the coming months.” 

Jupiter Zheng, HashKey Capital partner, anticipated more volatility once Bitcoin breaks above $110,000, telling Cointelegraph that it was “entering uncharted price discovery territory, while unstable geopolitical and macroeconomic factors lead investors to consider the long-term value of Bitcoin.”