BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) recorded a $287.4 million inflow on January 2, its largest single-day intake in nearly three months as Bitcoin approached $93,000. The surge pushed U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF inflows to $471.3 million for the day and contributed to weekly net inflows of $459 million, signaling renewed institutional activity at the start of the year.
On January 2, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a strong surge in inflows, with total daily additions reaching $471.3 million. IBIT accounted for a significant share of that figure, attracting $287.4 million in new capital and emerging as the leading fund of the day, signaling a notable shift in recent market dynamics.
Data showed the Jan. 2 inflow into IBIT followed a period of mixed flows: the fund had experienced outflows in eight of the preceding ten weeks. Analysts attributed the sudden pickup to a confluence of factors, including heightened geopolitical tensions, routine start-of-year portfolio rebalancing after Q4 2025 performance, and a growing perception of Bitcoin as a geopolitical safe haven and hedge against macro uncertainty.
These daily inflows translated into roughly $459 million in net inflows for the week, pointing to renewed demand for Bitcoin exposure through regulated investment vehicles. The move is particularly noteworthy given that IBIT had experienced outflows in eight of the previous ten weeks, suggesting recent investor rotation rather than a clear, long-term reversal in fund flow trends.
Context and implications for investors
Despite the strong single‑day numbers, broader indicators point to a more cautious base: capital inflows have shown signs of slowing and realized losses among long‑term holders have increased, suggesting profit‑taking and repositioning beneath the headline figures.
The episode illustrates the gap between headline institutional demand and underlying investor sentiment; large, episodic inflows can coexist with weeks of outflows as managers rebalance and respond to macro triggers.
Investors have turned attention to how Q4 2025 performance will influence allocations in the weeks ahead, and flows will be watched for signs that the recent uptick represents a durable shift rather than a short‑term tactical move.
