Bitcoin Stalls as ET...

Bitcoin Stalls as ETF Outflows and Iran Deal Speculation Shake Crypto Markets

By José Oramas May 26, 2026 In Bitcoin, ETF

Bitcoin traded near US$76,900 after spot BTC ETFs recorded US$1.26 billion in weekly outflows.
Combined Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF outflows reached nearly US$2.7 billion over two weeks, according to market summaries.
XRP, Solana and HYPE-linked funds still drew inflows, pointing to rotation rather than a full institutional exit.

Bitcoin (BTC) traded near US$76,900 (AU$106K) on May 25 after spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded US$1.26 billion (AU$1.75 billion) in weekly outflows, keeping the market below US$78K (AU$108K) despite evidence that institutional demand is rotating into smaller crypto products.

Live market data showed Bitcoin around US$76,938 (AU$106K), with an intraday high of US$77,761 (AU$108K) and low of US$76,872 (AU$106K). The price action kept BTC below the resistance band that has capped several recent rebounds.

Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) ETFs lost nearly US$2.7 billion (AU$3.75 billion) over two weeks. The latest Bitcoin week included US$1.26 billion in outflows, with May flow data showing US$776.6 million (AU$1.08 billion) in inflows against US$2.26 billion (AU$3.14 billion) in withdrawals.

Rotation Replaces Exit

The ETF data does not show a clean exit from digital assets. Analysts pointed to inflows into XRP, Solana and Hyperliquid-linked products during the same period, suggesting allocators are moving from crowded Bitcoin and Ethereum trades into newer or higher-beta crypto narratives.

That distinction matters because Bitcoin ETF outflows alone can overstate the bearish case. If capital leaves BTC but enters other regulated crypto funds, the institutional bid has changed shape rather than disappeared.

HYPE spot ETF products pulled in US$25.5 million (AU$35.4 million) in a single session during their debut week, while other summaries said XRP and Solana funds attracted fresh allocations as Bitcoin products weakened.

Bitcoin ETFs remain the largest regulated crypto products by assets, so even small percentage moves in BTC funds can exceed inflows into newer altcoin products in dollar terms.

Renewed US-Iran deal speculation has kept risk appetite sensitive to geopolitical headlines, while BTC has failed to reclaim levels around US$78,000 and remains well below the US$82,400 (AU$114K) 200-day moving-average zone watched by traders.