As the cryptocurrency market suffered heightened volatility in early February, BlackRock continued to reduce its exposure to both Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH).
Across the five trading days from February 2 to February 6, the asset manager recorded a combined net outflow of approximately $343.3 million from its spot crypto ETFs, reflecting a cautious stance amid a turbulent week for digital assets.
The bulk of the reduction came from BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF, IBIT, which posted a net outflow of about $191.3 million over the period.
While the fund attracted a notable inflow on February 2, this was more than offset by heavy redemptions later in the week, particularly as broader risk sentiment deteriorated and investors trimmed exposure following sharp price swings in Bitcoin.
Meanwhile, BlackRock’s spot Ethereum ETF, ETHA, also came under sustained selling pressure throughout the week. Between February 2 and February 6, ETHA recorded a net outflow of approximately $152 million.
The fund saw withdrawals of about $82.1 million on February 2, followed by a further $58.9 million on February 4, $8.5 million on February 5, and $45.4 million on February 6. These outflows were only partially offset by a $42.9 million inflow on February 3, leaving ETHA firmly in negative territory by the end of the week.
Mixed BlackRock ETF inflows
Despite the overall drawdown, the week was not without pockets of resilience. On select days, BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF still managed to attract fresh capital, suggesting that institutional interest has not disappeared entirely but has become more selective.
These inflows, however, were overshadowed by larger redemptions as traders reacted to broader market stress.
The pullback coincided with a volatile week for the crypto market more broadly. Bitcoin and Ethereum both experienced sharp declines early in the week, followed by uneven rebounds that failed to restore confidence. At some point, Bitcoin dropped below the $65,000 spot while Ethereum is struggling to sustain its price above teh $2,000 spot.
Market data and sentiment indicators pointed to a clear risk-off mood, with investors prioritizing capital preservation amid concerns over macroeconomic uncertainty, liquidations, and fading momentum after January’s rally. While some altcoins showed relative strength and short-term speculative interest, flows into major assets remained under pressure.
It is worth noting that the week’s redemptions from BlackRock’s ETFs were significantly smaller than those seen in the final week of January, when the world’s largest investment manager recorded outflows of roughly $1.2 billion.
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