US spot Bitcoin ETFs see third consecutive day of net inflows, breaking weeks-long drought

US spot Bitcoin ETFs just strung together three straight days of net inflows, a modest but meaningful reversal after weeks of investors heading for the exits. The total haul on April 23 came in at $31.64 million. Not exactly a tidal wave, but after five consecutive days of outflows, even a trickle feels like rain in the desert.

Who’s buying, who’s selling

The breakdown across individual ETFs tells a familiar story. BlackRock’s IBIT fund led the pack with $37.92 million in inflows on April 23, extending what had been a remarkable 70-day consecutive inflow streak.

ARK Invest’s ARKB followed with $33.28 million, and Bitwise’s BITB pulled in $23.23 million. These three funds have consistently been the magnets for new capital since spot Bitcoin ETFs launched in January 2024.

Then there’s the other side of the ledger. Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust, GBTC, continued its role as the group’s chronic bleeder, shedding $66.88 million on the same day. The pattern has been relentless since GBTC converted from a closed-end fund structure: investors rotate out of the higher-fee legacy product and into newer, cheaper alternatives.

Here’s the thing. The net inflow number, $31.64 million, only looks small because GBTC’s outflows are dragging down the total. Strip out Grayscale, and the rest of the field had a genuinely strong day.

The bigger picture since January

Zoom out and the cumulative numbers tell a more compelling story. Since their January 2024 debut, US spot Bitcoin ETFs have attracted $12.42 billion in total net inflows. Assets under management across the group stood at $55.82 billion as of April 23.

BlackRock’s IBIT alone accounts for $15.48 billion in cumulative inflows. Bitcoin was trading around $66,675 during the reporting period.

Why the halving changes the calculus

Bitcoin’s fourth halving event, which cuts the block reward miners receive in half, is the elephant in the room. Every previous halving has preceded a significant bull run, though the timing and magnitude have varied. The supply reduction is straightforward economics: fewer new coins entering circulation while demand stays constant or grows.

What’s different this cycle is the existence of spot ETFs as a demand channel. In previous halvings, institutional investors had limited options for gaining Bitcoin exposure. Now they can buy shares of a regulated fund through their existing brokerage accounts.

What this means for investors

The competitive landscape among Bitcoin ETF issuers is starting to crystallize. BlackRock, ARK Invest, and Bitwise are emerging as the clear winners in the fee war and distribution battle. GBTC continues to hemorrhage assets, and the gap between the leaders and the rest of the pack is widening with each passing week.

GBTC’s persistent outflows remain a structural headwind that won’t disappear overnight. With nearly $56 billion in assets under management, these products have already cemented themselves as permanent fixtures of the institutional investment landscape.