Bitcoin ETF flows turn positive with $137M inflow after $390M outflow week

US spot bitcoin ETFs recorded a net inflow of $137.3 million on August 17, reversing a five-session stretch that pulled roughly $390 million out of the funds between August 10 and August 14.

That week was the group’s largest weekly withdrawal since June, according to flow data compiled by Farside Investors. It wiped out most of what the funds had gathered in the first week of the month. The episode also sits against a weaker 2026 backdrop: US spot bitcoin ETFs shed a net $5.4 billion in the first half of the year, their worst half since launching in January 2024.

Daily redemptions from August 10 to 14

Redemptions began immediately. The funds lost a net $144.6 million on August 10. August 11 broke the run with a small net inflow of roughly $5 million to $8 million, depending on the tracker. Selling then resumed: $61.1 million out on August 12, $131.1 million on August 13, and about $56 million to $58 million on August 14.

Trackers differ slightly on the exact weekly total. Farside’s daily table sums to about $385 million. Other compilers put the figure near $389.7 million to $390 million and described it as the largest weekly redemption since June’s larger exodus.

Despite the week, August remained net positive through the first ten trading sessions. One compiler counted $463.83 million of net August inflows, helped by a $244.4 million day on August 5.

Fidelity led the exits, then led the return

Fidelity’s FBTC gave up the most over the outflow week at $153.2 million, followed by Grayscale’s GBTC at $88.3 million, BlackRock’s IBIT at $78.9 million, ARK 21Shares’ ARKB at $70.3 million, Bitwise’s BITB at $31.6 million and Franklin Templeton’s EZBC at $23.9 million.

Fidelity also drove the August 17 rebound, taking in $111.9 million of the day’s $137.3 million. ARKB added $14.2 million and Morgan Stanley’s MSBT $11.2 million. IBIT’s figure was not yet reported for the session, so the day’s headline number remains incomplete rather than a sign that BlackRock’s fund stood still.

IBIT remains the dominant vehicle. It has drawn more than $61 billion since launch against roughly $52 billion for the category as a whole, meaning other issuers have collectively given back money. As of early August it held about $47 billion, or roughly 61 percent of total spot bitcoin ETF assets near $77–78 billion. Combined assets stood near $76.6 billion by August 14.

Macro and policy backdrop

Bitcoin fell about 3 percent during the outflow week and traded near $63,300 on August 17. It recovered roughly 2 percent to about $64,500 by August 18 after finding support around $62,600 to $63,000, with resistance cited near $65,000 to $65,600.

Elevated Treasury yields continued to pull capital toward bonds and equities. Brent crude rose about 3 percent to roughly $91 a barrel amid tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. Money continued to flow into US equity and bond funds, giving investors alternative places to allocate.

Policy remained an overhang. Senate Majority Leader John Thune confirmed on August 6 that the chamber would not vote on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act before its recess and pointed to September instead. The Senate returns September 14.

Hashdex closes the first US spot bitcoin ETF

August 17 also marked the last trading day for the Hashdex Bitcoin ETF (DEFI), the first US spot bitcoin ETF to shut down. Hashdex announced the closure on August 3 and told the SEC the fund held about $14.7 million as of July 30. It cited assets under management, trading liquidity, operating costs, investor interest and product fit. Liquidation is set for on or about August 28, with shareholders receiving a cash distribution at net asset value.

Hashdex said it continues to manage more than $200 million in other US investor products.