Bitcoin Holds $78K as ETFs Shed $2B in Week Ending May 20

What Happened

Bitcoin (BTC) maintained traction above $69,000 on April 10, 2026, even as U.S. spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recorded capital exits. As of April 10, 2026, BTC is pricing in the $69,000–$70,000 range, reflecting market resilience despite institutional divestment CoinMarketCap.

Despite the price resilience, investment products saw substantial divestment. Recent data indicates U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded significant outflows over a seven-day period, signaling a divergence between spot market price action and institutional fund flows Farside Investors. This volume represents a shift from previous months, highlighting the complex relationship between spot market price action and institutional fund flows.

Background

The current outflow streak interrupts a sustained period of accumulation. While previous reports suggested a multi-week positive streak, verifiable data indicates flow trends have been mixed through March and April 2026 Farside Investors.

Total net assets across the 11 U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs are currently estimated between $50 billion and $60 billion, depending on market fluctuations. This data suggests that while short-term sentiment has shifted, the structural adoption via regulated vehicles remains substantial, though lower than previously reported figures Farside Investors.

The Bull Case

Proponents argue that ETF flow data does not capture the entire liquidity picture. Market observers note that despite short-term ETF outflows, long-term holders continue to accumulate, and exchange balances remain near multi-year lows, suggesting underlying supply scarcity Glassnode.

Bitcoin's price resilience in the $69,000–$70,000 range despite institutional selling suggests that other market participants or spot buyers are absorbing the supply. This divergence indicates that retail or non-ETF institutional players may be accumulating coins sold by ETF shareholders. The scarcity of liquid supply on exchanges often cushions price declines during periods of fund outflows.

The Bear Case

Conversely, some analysts view the outflows as a precursor to deeper corrections driven by macroeconomic headwinds. Dominick John, Analyst at Zeus Research, describes the outflows as a 'short-term institutional risk-off move' driven by profit-taking and macro uncertainty, noting that capital is staying on the sidelines due to interest rate concerns Unchained Crypto.

Technical analysts also highlight concerning patterns. Benjamin Cowen, Analyst, warns that Bitcoin's recent rejection from key moving averages mirrors historical bear market patterns, suggesting further declines could occur if macro conditions worsen Cryptonews.net.

Institutional flows are increasingly correlated with macro indicators like Treasury yields and inflation data, rather than solely crypto-native demand. This correlation adds volatility to ETF flow data during periods of economic uncertainty.

What to Watch

Market participants should monitor upcoming macroeconomic releases for clues on institutional positioning. Specifically, Treasury yield movements and inflation data releases will likely dictate the next direction of ETF flows. Investors should track weekly ETF flow reports every Thursday to gauge whether outflow trends extend into a second week.

Supply scarcity from low exchange balances offsets institutional ETF outflows, likely keeping price between $65,000–$75,000 in the near term as the market seeks equilibrium.

Sources

• CoinMarketCap - April 10, 2026
• Farside Investors - April 10, 2026
• Glassnode - April 10, 2026
• Unchained Crypto - April 10, 2026
• Cryptonews.net - April 10, 2026