BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) has demonstrated sustained institutional interest in Bitcoin by posting 15 consecutive days of inflows, highlighted by the acquisition of 5,613 BTC—valued at $530 million—on May 5 alone. IBIT’s aggressive accumulation underscores its dominance over other crypto ETFs, many of which reported flat or negative inflows during the same period.
Since launch, IBIT's total inflows have surpassed $44 billion, with analysts noting this surge as evidence of renewed confidence in Bitcoin and institutional appetite for crypto exposure. The streak reflects not only IBIT’s increasing market share but also reinforces BlackRock’s influence in shaping ETF market trends and flows.
Market observers, including Bloomberg’s Eric Balchunas, attributed IBIT’s performance to the possible return of the hedge fund basis trade and significant institutional engagement following a recent market decoupling and rally. Bitcoin’s price, holding above $90,000 despite minor short-term dips, paired with bullish technical indicators (CMF and RSI), points toward healthy consolidation and potential for a push towards the $100,000 mark.
BlackRock’s success isn't limited to Bitcoin. The firm’s Ethereum ETF (ETHA) is also cited as a major driver behind increasing inflows into spot ETH ETFs, signaling broader institutional positioning for further upside across leading cryptocurrencies. The scale of these inflows strengthens the case for a sustained crypto rally in the near future.