BlackRock IBIT Hemorrhaged $5 Billion Through May and June
BlackRock IBIT lost approximately $5 billion in net flows during May and June 2026, with the streak reaching a low point on May 28 when the fund shed $528 million in a single session. That marked the second-largest daily redemption in BlackRock IBIT's history since its January 2024 launch.
The selling pressure wasn't isolated. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF flows collectively entered a 13-day outflow streak from mid-May through early June, withdrawing $4.4 billion across the complex. BlackRock IBIT accounted for the majority of those exits, posting $1.3 billion in outflows during the week of June 22-26 alone, which represented 73% of all ETF redemptions that week.
By July 13, Bitcoin ETF flows sat at negative $5.8 billion for the year, erasing nearly all of the institutional momentum that had driven inflows to $56.6 billion by the start of 2026. The reversal came as capital rotated toward AI-focused equities and Bitcoin struggled to hold support near $60,000.
September Delivered the Largest Weekly Gain in Nearly a Year
BlackRock IBIT recorded $1.2 billion in net inflows during the week ending September 25, its second-largest weekly total since October 2025. The fund's Monday session alone brought in $386 million, contributing to a $999 million single-day industry-wide inflow that ranked as the ninth-largest since spot products launched.
Across the five trading days, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs collected $2.4 billion in net flows, the strongest weekly performance in 11 months. Fidelity's FBTC added $701.7 million, Ark and 21Shares' ARKB captured $294.7 million, and Morgan Stanley's MSBT posted its best week since its April launch with $203.3 million.
The surge pushed year-to-date flows to positive $934.1 million by Friday, a $6.7 billion swing from the July low. ETF flows had just turned positive at $320 million on September 24, meaning the final day of the week added another $614 million to bring the total above $900 million.
The Reversal Started in Late August
BlackRock IBIT began accumulating again in late August. Over a 20-day period ending September 15, the fund bought $1.218 billion worth of Bitcoin across seven inflow sessions, offset by $297.8 million in outflows. The net result added 786,654 coins to the holdings.
During that same 20-day window, all U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs combined recorded $956.71 million in net inflows, meaning BlackRock IBIT's purchases exceeded the entire industry's total by $261 million. Other funds experienced mixed flows, with Grayscale's GBTC continuing to bleed as investors shifted to lower-fee alternatives.
By September 25, cumulative net inflows across all Bitcoin ETFs reached $57.6 billion, with total net assets at $108.4 billion. BlackRock IBIT held $65.3 billion in cumulative inflows, while GBTC sat at negative $27.8 billion as fee-sensitive holders continued their exit.
What Changed Between June and September
The May-June outflows coincided with Bitcoin failing to reclaim $70,000 after peaking above $126,000 in October 2025. Institutional portfolios rebalanced away from crypto as equities rallied on AI earnings, and retail sentiment cooled after the halving passed without a sustained price reaction.
September's reversal tracked Federal Reserve rate-cut expectations and Bitcoin stabilizing above key moving averages. The September 21 inflow of $999 million came one day after the Fed signaled a slower pace of future hikes, sending Bitcoin toward $87,000 before it pulled back to the low $80,000s.
BlackRock IBIT's fee structure of 0.25% remained unchanged throughout both the outflow and inflow periods, eliminating pricing as a variable. Grayscale's GBTC charges 1.50%, which has driven $27.8 billion in cumulative redemptions since January 2024 as holders rotated into cheaper vehicles like BlackRock IBIT and Fidelity's FBTC.