Bitcoin (BTC) news today: ETFs bleed $3.8 billion in historic five-week outflow streak

CoinDesk

by Omkar Godbole

February 23, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs have experienced a record-breaking outflow streak, with investors pulling nearly $3.8 billion over five consecutive weeks—an unprecedented period since February 2025. This trend highlights ongoing institutional skepticism toward Bitcoin, which has persisted following the market's October crash. Leading the charge in these outflows is BlackRock's IBIT fund, having lost $2.13 billion during this period. The data suggests that institutions remain cautious about the leading cryptocurrency, extending a pattern of avoidance that began after the crash exposed vulnerabilities in offshore exchanges like Binance. While the current outflow streak matches the duration of a similar event in February 2024, it is notably less severe compared to the $5 billion lost during that period. However, this prolonged aversion has already driven Bitcoin's price below its April low, with the cryptocurrency currently trading just under $65,000. Analysts attribute this risk-averse behavior to a combination of factors, including lingering U.S.-Iran tensions, President Trump's recent tariff announcements, and technical price dynamics. This outflow trend underscores the delicate state of the crypto market, where institutional sentiment plays a critical role in shaping prices and investor confidence. While the current streak is less severe than previous episodes, it serves as a reminder of Bitcoin's susceptibility to external shocks and geopolitical risks. For readers interested in crypto markets, understanding these dynamics is crucial for gauging potential future price movements and assessing the broader market outlook.

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Originally published on CoinDesk on 2/23/2026