Spot Ethereum ETFs See $59M Outflows After 8-Day $3.7B Inflows

Published: 2025-08-16 14:57:28 |

Spot Ethereum ETFs recorded $59.3 million in net outflows on August 15, ending an eight-day $3.7 billion buying streak. Only BlackRock’s ETHA ETF saw $338 million of inflows amid broader rotation. The pullback followed Ethereum’s rise to $4,781, just 10.2% below its November 2021 peak, and a $1.05 billion crypto liquidation triggered by hotter-than-expected US inflation data. During the same selloff, BlackRock accumulated $488 million of ETH and $526 million of BTC for its funds. BitMine acquired 106,485 ETH (valued at $470.5 million), while a mystery whale moved 92,899 ETH ($412 million) off Kraken, highlighting $882 million of institutional ETH accumulation. Over the past 30 days, BlackRock’s ETH holdings jumped 65%, compared with a 4% gain in BTC positions. Market sentiment diverged as retail traders grew fearful of Ethereum’s rally, even as institutional demand strengthened. Ethereum’s spot trading volume hit 1.66 times Bitcoin’s last week, its highest ratio since June 2017. Technical indicators show ETH consolidating around $4,400 with support at $4,367, opening a path toward $5,200–$5,400 on potential short squeezes in the $4,800–$5,200 liquidity zone. In this context, the brief outflows in Ethereum ETFs may offer an institutional accumulation window rather than a bearish signal. Traders should watch ETF flows, ETH/BTC ratio trends, and liquidity clusters for potential entry points.

Bullish

Despite the $59.3 million outflow, the broader context points to continued strength in ETH. Institutional players like BlackRock and BitMine aggressively accumulated 882,000 ETH worth $882 million during the selloff, underscoring resilient demand. Retail sentiment remains fearful even as ETH breaks key technical levels and trading volume outpaces Bitcoin for the first time since 2017. Historical precedents show that ETF outflows during high retail fear often precede renewed rallies, as institutions buy dips. The ETH/BTC ratio crossing above its 365-day moving average and liquidity clusters between $4,800 and $5,200 set the stage for potential short squeezes. In both the short and long term, the combination of institutional accumulation, contrarian sentiment readings, and technical breakouts supports a bullish outlook.