The bitcoin ETF recovery in flows is real. It is just not complete yet

Markets Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email The bitcoin ETF recovery in flows is real. It is just not complete yet While ETF inflows have resumed, the recovery has yet to match last fall’s peak. By Omkar Godbole | Edited by Sam Reynolds May 4, 2026, 7:14 a.m. 1 min read Make preferred on Spot ETFs are yet to match last fall's peak. (Markus Winkler/Pixabay, modified by CoinDesk) What to know : U.S.-listed spot bitcoin ETFs have attracted $3.29 billion over the past two months, bringing cumulative net inflows since their January 2024 launch to $58.72 billion, still below the $61.19 billion peak reached in October. The current rebound in ETF demand has not yet fully offset the $6.38 billion in outflows seen between November 2025 and February 2026, underscoring that the recovery from last fall’s peak remains incomplete. The 11 U.S.-listed spot bitcoin BTC $ 79,854.07 exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have now recorded two consecutive months of net inflows in a sign of renewed institutional appetite for the leading cryptocurrency. But zoom out, and the recovery looks more modest than the monthly headlines suggest. ETFs have pulled in a total of $3.29 billion in investor funds over the past two months, according to data source SoSoValue . May began on a positive note, with ETFs registering a net inflow of $629 million on Friday. That has lifted the cumulative net inflows since the launch in January 2024 to $58.72 billion, which is still shy of the record high of $61.19 billion in October. It's also the month when bitcoin's spot price hit its lifetime peak of over $126,000. The gap shows that, though demand has recovered, it has yet to compensate for the outflows between November 2025 and February 2026. The four-month stretch saw investors yank $6.38 billion alongside a sharp slide in bitcoin to nearly $60,000 from over $100,000. It's not necessarily a reason for alarm, but a useful reality check on where things stand compared to the peak of October's bullish sentiment. It tells us that the recovery in ETF flows is real but incomplete. Whether it gains enough momentum remains to be seen in the days ahead. Bitcoin News ETFs More For You Veteran trader Peter Brandt sees bitcoin hitting $250,000, but only after a bottom later this year By Omkar Godbole 2 hours ago Veteran trader Peter Brandt sees bitcoin rallying to $250,000 in 2029, but only after the market finishes a long drawn-out bottoming process that could last into September 2026. What to know : Veteran trader Peter Brandt projects bitcoin could reach $250,000 in late 2029, but only after a prolonged bottoming phase that may last until September or October 2026. His outlook is based on bitcoin’s historical four-year halving cycle, in which bull markets typically peak 16 to 18 months after a halving... Read full story Latest Crypto News Strategy pauses bitcoin buys before Tuesday earnings 2 hours ago Veteran trader Peter Brandt sees bitcoin hitting $250,000, but only after a bottom later this year 2 hours ago XRP zooms above $1.40 on rising volume, putting focus on further breakout 2 hours ago Dogecoin jumps 4% to lead gains among majors as bitcoin zooms higher 2 hours ago Bitcoin reclaims $80,000 as flows build, but traders hedge and doubt a breakout 3 hours ago Morgan Stanley's Oldenburg: Bitcoin on U.S. bank balance sheets is coming, just not yet 7 hours ago Top Stories U.S. voters don't trust Trump administration to oversee crypto sector, CoinDesk poll finds 17 hours ago Americans still prefer banks over crypto for financial access, CoinDesk's survey shows 17 hours ago Crypto is at bottom of U.S. voters' priorities heading into elections, CoinDesk survey shows 17 hours ago Crypto industry backs CLARITY Act yield compromise, pushes Senate Banking for markup May 2, 2026 The $292M crypto hack exposed DeFi's weak spots. Here’s what must change, insiders say May 2, 2026 Clarity Act text lets crypto firms offer stablecoin rewards while shielding bank yield May 1, 2026 In this article BTC BTC $ 79,854.07 ◢ 1.92 %