This week, the bitcoin price skyrocketed past $97,000, reaching its highest point in over two months, fueled by a combination of economic developments and a resurgence of inflows into U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds. Crypto investors seem to be starting 2026 with a well-known strategy: making significant allocations to Bitcoin ETFs. On Tuesday, the twelve U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin funds saw approximately $760 million in net inflows, marking the largest single-day total since October. Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund took the lead, attracting approximately $351 million, with Bitwise’s BITB and BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust also showing impressive growth.
The momentum surged on Wednesday. According to data, spot Bitcoin ETFs have attracted an additional $843.6 million, marking a positive trend for three straight days and raising total inflows during this timeframe to around $1.71 billion. Eight of the 12 funds reported net inflows, with BlackRock’s IBIT alone attracting $648 million, highlighting its strong position among institutional investors. Bitcoin’s price movement showcased that resurgence of interest. This week, BTC made a significant move after lingering below $92,000 for much of November and December.
The cryptocurrency has decisively reclaimed the $94,000–$97,000 range and is now pushing toward the $100,000 mark. The action resulted in approximately $700 million in short liquidations, heightening volatility and propelling the rally, as reported. Since the launch of spot products in early 2024, ETF flows have emerged as a crucial indicator of institutional sentiment. Despite cumulative inflows surpassing $56 billion by mid-January, the trend shifted to negative in late December, reflecting the usual year-end caution in the market. This week’s sharp reversal indicates that investors are once more considering Bitcoin as both a growth asset and a diversification tool. Macro conditions have indeed influenced the landscape. A less aggressive-than-anticipated U.S. Consumer Price Index reading published on January 13 alleviated concerns regarding additional monetary tightening, boosting “risk-on” sentiment.
Simultaneously, rising geopolitical tensions and political uncertainty in the U.S. have heightened interest in alternative stores of value, notably impacting the Bitcoin price. Volatility risks continue to persist, as markets are keenly observing the impending U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding President Donald Trump’s tariffs. As of now, Bitcoin is priced at $97,046, reflecting a 2% increase in the last 24 hours, accompanied by approximately $67 billion in daily trading volume. The asset currently stands approximately 1% beneath its seven-day peak of $97,705 and 2% above its seven-day trough of $95,318, with a circulating supply of 19.98 million BTC and a total market capitalization of around $1.94 trillion.