adminIn recent developments, bitcoin’s exchange-traded funds closed last week on a rough note — outflows hit $277 million on Thursday, followed by another $145 million on Friday. Yet when the dust settled, the week still ended in positive territory, extending a run that has now lasted six straight weeks. Inflows Total $3.4 Billion Since Early April US spot Bitcoin ETFs have recorded net inflows every week since April 2, pulling in a combined $3.4 billion over that stretch, according to data from SoSoValue. That makes it the longest consecutive inflow streak in more than nine months — the last time funds saw a run this long was a seven-week period between June 13 and July 18, 2025, which drew in roughly $7.57 billion. The current streak’s best week came in mid-April. For the week of April 17, inflows reached $996 million. The most recent week logged $622 million, while the streak’s weakest showing was its very first — just $22 million for the week of April 2. Last week’s numbers told a story of two halves. Monday and Tuesday alone brought in $532 million and $467 million respectively. Then Wednesday slowed sharply to $46 million, before Thursday and Friday swung into outflow territory, nearly erasing what had been a strong start. Macro Pressure Kept Traders On Edge Reports from Bitunix analysts point to broader market caution ahead of the US April Non-Farm Payrolls report. Consensus estimates called for payroll growth of just 62,000 — a steep drop from the prior reading of 178,000 — which reinforced expectations that the labor market was cooling. An ADP report earlier in the week showing 109,000 jobs added complicated that picture, leaving investors uncertain heading into the data release. Geopolitical tensions also weighed on sentiment. Reports indicate that the US and Iran exchanged fire near the Strait of Hormuz, though both sides were said to be leaving room for negotiations. A partial understanding on maritime issues between the two countries was reportedly reached. Bitcoin slipped below $80,000 on Thursday. Analysts flagged heavy liquidity clustering around the $78,000 level, warning that a break below it could set off cascading liquidations. Dense short positioning between $82,000 and $83,000 kept the market caught between two forces. Ether ETFs Bounce Back After Prior Week’s Losses Ether ETFs also returned to positive ground. For the week ending May 8, they posted a little over $70 million in net inflows after recording $82 million in outflows the week before. The recovery followed a strong three-week run from April 10 to April 24, which brought in a combined $618 million, with the week of April 17 alone accounting for $276 million. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Looking closer, market participants highlight key drivers such as liquidity flows, macro risk appetite, regulatory headlines, and on-chain activity. Short-term swings often reflect liquidation cascades and funding imbalances, while spot volumes and exchange inflows set the broader tone.
Analysis: The medium-term picture hinges on whether buyers can sustain momentum without excessive leverage. If flows continue favoring majors like BTC and ETH, altcoins could experience a staggered rotation instead of a broad-based rally. Meanwhile, policy clarity in key jurisdictions remains a decisive catalyst; clearer rules typically compress risk premia and attract institutional allocations. Beyond price action, on-chain metrics such as active addresses, fees, and stablecoin velocity help validate trend strength.
Outlook: Over the next few weeks, observers will watch price acceptance above recent resistance, derivatives positioning, and ETF-related flows. A constructive setup would feature rising spot demand, contained leverage, and improving breadth across sectors such as DeFi, infrastructure, and Layer-2 ecosystems.
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