Key Highlights
- Bitcoin dominates inflows, pulling $793M as investors seek a safe haven amid Middle East tensions.
- Ethereum sees $315M inflows, led by new U.S. staking ETFs, while XRP faces outflows again.
- U.S. ETFs show strong institutional demand, with BlackRock’s IBIT leading Bitcoin purchases.
Institutional investors added $1.06 billion to crypto funds last week, extending a three-week streak of inflows, according to data from CoinShares. The steady demand suggests large investors remain confident in digital assets despite rising tensions in the Middle East.
Bitcoin led with $793 million (75% of total inflows), reinforcing its role as a potential safe haven, while Ethereum attracted $315 million, partly supported by new U.S. staking ETFs. XRP, however, saw $76 million in outflows, marking its second consecutive week of withdrawals.
James Butterfill, Head of Research at CoinShares, emphasized that “last week’s inflows highlight how investors have increasingly viewed bitcoin as a relatively safe haven during periods of market stress.” The total money managed in digital asset funds has grown 9.4% since the Iran crisis began, now reaching $140 billion.
Most of the new investments came from the United States, making up 96% of the inflows. Canada, Switzerland, and Hong Kong added smaller amounts, while Germany saw the only outflow, losing $17.1 million—the first weekly drop recorded this year.
ETF activity mirrors strong demand for Bitcoin and Ethereum
U.S. spot crypto ETFs followed the same pattern of strong inflows. According to Sosovalue data, Bitcoin ETFs pulled in $767 million between March 9 and 13. BlackRock’s IBIT led the surge, taking in $600.1 million, while Grayscale’s GBTC recorded $25.9 million in outflows.
Ethereum ETFs also attracted significant attention, adding $160.9 million during the same period. Fidelity’s FETH led Ethereum purchases, bringing in $90.1 million, while Grayscale’s ETHE saw minor outflows.
Solana ETFs saw smaller inflows of $10.7 million, indicating early interest from institutions. However, XRP ETFs continued to experience withdrawals, totaling $28.07 million. The outflows add to a difficult March for XRP ETFs, which have seen persistent institutional selling despite the token’s cumulative ETF inflows still sitting above $1.2 billion since launch.
BlackRock launches staked Ethereum ETF
Besides regular ETFs, BlackRock launched the iShares Staked Ethereum Trust (ETHB) on March 12. The fund combines direct Ethereum exposure with staking rewards. Trading picked up quickly, with first-day volume topping $15 million. Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart noted on X that ETHB’s $15.5 million turnover “reflects solid performance for a new crypto product.”
The activity shows that institutional investors are increasingly putting money into Bitcoin and Ethereum products, while remaining cautious on XRP. Sustained inflows also underline crypto’s growing appeal as a defensive investment. With ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, Bitcoin’s dominance in investment flows appears likely to continue.
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