Bitcoin stabilized near the $88,000 to $90,000 range after a volatile holiday period, even as US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded more than $780 million in net outflows over the past week. The outflows mark a continuation of December’s selling pressure following strong inflows earlier in the year that supported the rally to October highs.
Institutional sentiment has remained restrained as expectations for near-term Federal Reserve rate cuts faded and year-end liquidity thinned. ETF data shows more than $1 billion has exited spot Bitcoin funds so far this month, signaling reduced conviction among longer-term allocators amid shifting macro conditions and elevated derivatives positioning.
At the same time, derivatives markets showed renewed activity, with futures open interest and funding rates rising modestly. Analysts noted that recent price resilience has been driven largely by short-term traders rather than sustained institutional demand. The divergence between derivatives activity and ETF flows highlights ongoing uncertainty around Bitcoin’s near-term role within broader risk and macro portfolios.
