Bitcoin (BTC-USD) Regains $108K as BlackRock’s IBIT Dominates $477M ETF Inflows

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) Regains $108K as BlackRock’s IBIT Dominates $477M ETF Inflows

BlackRock’s IBIT adds $210.9M, fueling Bitcoin’s recovery toward $110K after heavy liquidations. ETF assets surge to $151.6B, signaling renewed institutional confidence | That's TradingNEWS

TradingNEWS Archive 10/22/2025 8:49:14 PM
Crypto BTC/USD BTC USD IBIT

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) Rebounds Toward $108,000 as Spot ETF Inflows Hit $477 Million, Signaling Renewed Institutional Confidence After $19 Billion Market Shakeout

The Bitcoin (BTC-USD) market is entering a critical turning point after one of the most volatile stretches of 2025. On October 21, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $477.19 million in net inflows, ending a four-day losing streak that saw nearly $1.04 billion in outflows. This resurgence marks the strongest single-day inflow since mid-September, reversing a sentiment collapse triggered by the $19 billion liquidation wave on October 10. Despite short-term selling pressure that drove BTC down 2.87% to $107,781, institutional data suggest capital rotation rather than panic, as large investors step back into the market with renewed conviction.

ETF Inflows Show Structural Strength: $477 Million in One Day, Led by BlackRock and ARK 21Shares

According to SoSoValue data, nine of twelve spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded inflows on Tuesday, led by BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) with $210.9 million. The ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) followed with $162.85 million, while Fidelity’s FBTC added $34.15 million. Bitwise’s BITB and VanEck’s HODL reported $20.08 million and $17.41 million, respectively.

Cumulative assets under management for Bitcoin ETFs have climbed back to $151.58 billion, representing roughly 6.9% of Bitcoin’s total market capitalization, while daily trading volume across all funds reached $7.41 billion — almost triple the monthly average seen in September. Trading activity across ETFs like IBIT, FBTC, and ARKB surged between 0.81% and 1.07%, reflecting resilient investor demand even amid price weakness.

Institutional Sentiment Turns Positive as Gold Demand Peaks

Institutional flows into Bitcoin ETFs coincide with a sharp pullback in gold demand. Spot gold prices fell 5.9% on Tuesday, the steepest single-day drop since 2020. This rotation suggests that Bitcoin’s risk-adjusted return profile is reasserting itself as a hedge within institutional portfolios. Analysts at LVRG Research noted that the recent inflows signal “a stabilization of institutional sentiment” as funds look for alternative stores of value amid fiscal uncertainty and geopolitical stress.

The capital shift also underscores Bitcoin’s growing parity with gold as a portfolio hedge. Standard Chartered’s Geoff Kendrick reiterated that “ETF inflows will remain the dominant driver for BTC’s path toward $200,000,” adding that even under conservative scenarios, Bitcoin should remain “north of $150,000” by late 2025 if ETF momentum persists and the Federal Reserve’s policy cycle turns dovish.

Liquidity Conditions Still Tight, but Institutions See the Dip as Opportunity

Despite ETF strength, liquidity across exchanges remains constrained after the October 10 deleveraging event erased over $20 billion in leveraged positions. Annabelle Huang, founder of Altius Infrastructure, described the selloff as “one of the largest technical resets since 2021,” adding that “recovery will take time as derivative positions stabilize.”

However, Jordan Knecht, head of institutional strategy at GlobalStake, framed the liquidation as a cleansing event rather than systemic damage: “The infrastructure underpinning institutional access — from custody to regulated spot and lending markets — is far more developed today. For firms with dry powder, this is a re-entry window, not an exit.”

This sentiment is echoed in flow data: cumulative net inflows since ETF approval now exceed $62 billion, even after last week’s volatility. Institutional buyers are increasingly viewing drawdowns as opportunities to scale exposure under improved risk conditions.

Technical Landscape: BTC Holds $107,000–$108,000 as Key Support Amid Heavy ETF Volume

On the technical front, BTC-USD is consolidating between $107,000 and $114,000, holding above its 100-day moving average ($106,800) after multiple tests. RSI sits near 42, reflecting neutral momentum after last week’s 15% decline. Short-term support at $107,000 remains pivotal; a sustained break below could expose $105,000, while reclaiming $110,000 would confirm a near-term bullish reversal.

Trading volume remains elevated at $102.67 billion, up 64% from the prior session — the strongest liquidity day since July. Analysts highlight the $110,000 zone as a critical psychological barrier: crossing it could shift market structure back to a medium-term uptrend with potential targets at $126,000 and $150,000.

 

Bitcoin ETFs Now Represent 7% of Market Cap — BlackRock and ARK Lead Institutional Dominance

Since January’s ETF approvals, spot Bitcoin ETFs have evolved into dominant market participants. IBIT alone manages $65.09 billion in assets, while ARKB oversees $15.22 billion, and Fidelity’s FBTC sits near $12.6 billion. Together, these three funds account for nearly two-thirds of all ETF-held Bitcoin.

In contrast, Grayscale’s GBTC continues to experience capital erosion, with a cumulative outflow of $24.5 billion, though it still holds $19.38 billion in assets. Analysts attribute this shift to fee differentials and improved liquidity across newer ETFs, which have overtaken GBTC as the preferred institutional vehicle.

The average daily trading spread among all Bitcoin ETFs remains tight at –0.06% to +0.12%, signaling deep and stable liquidity conditions. For institutional traders, that spread consistency is critical to arbitrage and execution efficiency.

Correlation With Ethereum ETFs and Cross-Asset Impact

Ethereum ETFs also contributed to the week’s rebound, adding $141.66 million in new inflows led by Fidelity’s FETH ($59.07M) and BlackRock’s ETHA ($42.46M). Combined crypto ETF trading volumes topped $10.5 billion, underlining broad investor engagement across both major digital assets.

Cross-market behavior between BTC and ETH remains tightly aligned, with a correlation coefficient of 0.89 — suggesting ETF-driven capital allocation strategies are increasingly diversified but still interlinked. Institutional desks are now using Bitcoin as a primary macro hedge and Ethereum as a yield and growth proxy.

Macroeconomic Drivers: Fed Path, U.S.-China Tensions, and Fiscal Policy

Macro factors continue to weigh heavily on Bitcoin’s short-term trajectory. Ongoing trade tensions between Washington and Beijing, combined with uncertainty surrounding the U.S. government shutdown, have curbed risk appetite in traditional markets. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve’s delay in rate cuts has kept real yields elevated near 4.9% (2-year) and 4.67% (10-year), restricting immediate upside for risk assets.

However, institutional rotation toward digital stores of value suggests growing confidence in Bitcoin’s resilience under inflationary pressure. Standard Chartered’s research desk reaffirmed that “macro easing and fiscal expansion in 2026 will set the next major accumulation phase,” with BTC poised to benefit disproportionately due to limited supply elasticity.

Retail and Derivatives Data: Traders Position for Volatility Rebound

Derivatives metrics reveal growing anticipation of a volatility spike. Open interest in Bitcoin futures remains above $22 billion, while funding rates have normalized after last week’s liquidation. Coinglass data show $36 million in total liquidations over the last 48 hours — a relatively low figure that implies stability rather than panic.

Retail participation remains subdued but stable, with cumulative wallet activity down 4.7% week-over-week. Still, ETF-driven liquidity appears to compensate for this gap, with total market depth on exchanges improving by 12% compared to post-crash levels.

Long-Term Outlook: From Structural Consolidation to Potential Parabolic Phase

The strategic narrative surrounding Bitcoin has shifted from speculative enthusiasm to structural adoption. With ETF inflows now representing 6.9% of circulating supply, the market dynamic increasingly resembles traditional commodities like gold or oil ETFs. Liquidity is concentrating under regulated frameworks, reducing volatility risk over time.

Standard Chartered, JPMorgan, and several major asset managers forecast that the next accumulation wave could lift BTC toward $200,000 by late 2025, provided ETF participation continues and global M2 liquidity expands to pre-2020 levels. Even under conservative assumptions, a $150,000–$160,000 fair value range appears sustainable by Q2 2026, given ongoing corporate treasury participation and sovereign wealth fund allocations under review.


Verdict: BTC-USD — Buy on Institutional Strength (Bullish Bias)

  • Current Price: $107,781 (–2.87%)

  • ETF Inflows: +$477.19M (IBIT $210.9M, ARKB $162.8M, FBTC $34.1M)

  • Total ETF AUM: $151.58B (6.9% of market cap)

  • Key Support: $107,000 → $105,000

  • Targets: $110,000 → $126,000 → $150,000

  • Macro Catalyst: Liquidity reset, Fed easing path, ETF reaccumulation phase

Bitcoin’s renewed ETF inflows, tightening supply structure, and stabilizing institutional flows form the strongest foundation for a recovery toward $110,000 and beyond. While macro headwinds persist, the data suggest that the institutional phase of adoption has only just begun — positioning BTC-USD for long-term appreciation once risk appetite returns.

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