Bitcoin, ether ETFs notch best week since October amid renewed demand.

U.S.-listed exchange-traded funds tied to bitcoin and ether drew strong investor demand last week, pulling in billions of dollars and marking their best performance in about three months.

The 11 spot bitcoin ETFs recorded net inflows of $1.42 billion, their largest weekly haul since mid-October, according to TradingView data. BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) dominated the flows, accounting for $1.03 billion of the total.

Ether-linked products also saw a surge in interest. Spot ether ETFs attracted $479 million in net inflows, the highest weekly total since early October. BlackRock’s ETHA led the group, bringing in $219 million.

So far this year, bitcoin ETFs have gathered $1.21 billion in net inflows, while ether ETFs have attracted $584.9 million.

Market participants say the bulk of the recent demand reflects outright bullish positioning, signaling a return of more “sticky” institutional capital. This represents a shift away from the cash-and-carry arbitrage strategy—long ETF exposure paired with short CME futures positions—which has become less appealing as yields have compressed.

Digital asset prices have responded to the renewed inflows. Bitcoin has climbed about 6% this month to around $92,600, while ether is up nearly 8% to roughly $3,200, according to CoinDesk data.

“The relationship between ETF inflows and price action suggests institutional capital is actively driving market structure rather than simply following retail flows,” CoinDesk’s market insights model said. “This dynamic is notably different from late 2025, when bitcoin struggled to gain traction despite steady ETF interest.”

The model added that institutions appear to be positioning ahead of potential regulatory clarity and macroeconomic developments expected in the first quarter of 2026.

Analysts caution that for bitcoin and ether to post more sustained gains in the coming months, ETF inflows will need to remain robust, following the significant outflows seen during late 2025.