Digital asset markets delivered a mixed weekly scorecard: U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds barely stayed in positive territory, spot Ether ETFs broke a four-week inflow streak, and global NFT sales dropped 15.28% to $37.54 million, according to CryptoSlam data captured on Sept. 19.
Bitcoin ETF flows were rescued by a $433 million inflow on Friday, leaving a modest $6.2 million net weekly inflow for the week ending Sept. 18, The Block’s analysis of SoSoValue data showed. That compared with $462.7 million in outflows the prior week. Fidelity’s FBTC accounted for $310.7 million of Friday’s buying, while BlackRock’s IBIT added $108.4 million. Over the full week, IBIT absorbed $120.7 million and FBTC took in $79.9 million, but other Bitcoin funds lost roughly $194.4 million. The funds remain down about $1.45 billion in net flows this year, with cumulative inflows of $55.16 billion and net assets of $102.53 billion.
Ether ETFs were not as fortunate. They posted a $140 million weekly outflow despite attracting $143.8 million on Friday, ending a four-week inflow streak during which the funds collected a combined $1.94 billion. BlackRock’s ETHA drew $114.3 million on Friday but finished the week with $56.1 million in outflows, while Fidelity’s FETH lost $25.8 million for the week even after a $26.2 million Friday addition. Ether ETFs remain positive for the year with about $922 million in net inflows and $16.72 billion in net assets.
Trading volume rose across both categories: Bitcoin ETF volume reached $16.17 billion, up from $8.77 billion a week earlier, while Ether ETF volume climbed to $6.82 billion from $5.14 billion. Last week also had an extra trading day because the prior week was shortened by Labor Day.
NFT market weakness contrasted with higher participation. Global NFT sales fell to $37.54 million from about $44.31 million a week earlier, yet buyer addresses increased 174.04% to 114,977 and seller addresses rose 151.72% to 108,037. Transactions slipped 9.08% to 808,432, suggesting activity was spread across more wallets. Ethereum led organic NFT sales with $15.32 million, down 2.66%, despite a 63.82% jump in buyer addresses to 13,546. Polygon ranked second with $7.09 million in organic sales, though its reported volume was inflated by $18.07 million in wash trading. Bitcoin NFT sales plunged 53.99% to $4.33 million, while BNB Chain recorded $2.58 million, Base $2.16 million, and Solana $1.89 million.
Courtyard on Polygon was the top collection with $6.3 million in sales. Ethereum-based Argonauts followed with $2.74 million, while Alchemix V3 Transmuter tokens dominated high-value sales. Alchemix V3 Transmuter #219 sold for $770,985.44, and three other Alchemix V3 Transmuter tokens filled four of the five largest individual NFT transactions during the week.
Broader crypto prices remained firmer: Bitcoin traded near $81,311 and Ethereum near $2,647, with total crypto market capitalization around $2.79 trillion, according to CoinGecko. Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas noted Bitcoin ETF investors’ resilience, saying cumulative flows remained around $55 billion after peaking near $63 billion and describing their holding power as “incredible intestinal fortitude from the Boomers given they saw a 50% drawdown.”
