Bitcoin spot ETFs have experienced net outflows for 17 out of the last 19 days, with investors withdrawing a total of $5.6 billion from these products during this period. The numbers have pushed year-to-date flows for US-traded Bitcoin ETFs into negative territory, landing at negative $2.17 billion. Analyst James Seyffart highlighted the 13-day outflow streak, revealing that approximately $4.4 billion worth of Bitcoin was sold through those products in just the past month.
Since May 14, Bitcoin has experienced a decline of approximately 20%, decreasing from $82,040 to roughly $64,000. The slide accelerated after Strategy, the business intelligence firm led by executive chairman Michael Saylor, disclosed it had sold 32 BTC for approximately $2.5 million — a small fraction of its total holdings, but enough to rattle sentiment across the broader market. Saylor took to X on Thursday to provide his insights regarding the decline. Capital markets are channelling funds into artificial intelligence infrastructure at what he characterised as an unprecedented scale, diverting capital from Bitcoin and other assets along the way.
According to Saylor, over $400 billion has been funnelled into AI-related investments in the last six months, with significant participation from major Wall Street institutions. He argued that the flood of capital is the reason behind the outflows hitting Bitcoin ETFs, rather than any fundamental weakness in Bitcoin itself. He characterised the pullback as an opportunity for buying. “Volatility creates opportunity,” Saylor stated. Not every fund has been swept away by the current. The BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust and Grayscale’s Mini Bitcoin Trust have both maintained positive flows since January 1, according to reports.
Across all US-traded Bitcoin spot ETFs, the cumulative lifetime net inflow remains at approximately $54 billion — a figure that underscores the ongoing demand since these products debuted just over two years ago. The overall picture reveals a scenario of immediate tension set against a foundation of enduring capital investment. It remains an open question whether the ongoing AI spending wave will continue to overshadow Bitcoin investment or if both can draw from distinct pools of capital.