Investment products drew a week of consistent demand for Bitcoin exposure even while the US, Israel and Iran continued to trade blows and the original cryptocurrency languished more than $50k below last year's high.
Bitcoin ETFs in the US logged their first five-day streak of net inflows this year, bringing in roughly $763mn as volatility gave way to more stable sentiment.
The streak began on Monday 9 Mar with a solid $167mn entry and peaked the next day with $246.9m in net inflows. Even as the week progressed, and Middle East tensions escalated, the "buy" button remained active. Friday (13 Mar) closed the week with a strong $180m surge, according to the latest data from Farside Investors. This is the first 5-day streak the original cryptocurrency has seen since the last week of November 2025.
The activity was not evenly distributed, with BlackRock (IBIT) and Fidelity (FBTC) continuing to act as the primary magnets for fresh capital. Over period, IBIT alone accounted for a significant portion of the total, while Grayscale’s GBTC saw a notable cooling of its customary outflows, recording several "zero" or low-outflow days.
As of 14 Mar, the total net assets held by these ETFs sits well in excess of $90bn. This sustained interest suggests that for many institutional allocators, Bitcoin is increasingly viewed through the lens of a "neutral" asset rather than just a high-beta risk play.
While the inflow data is bullish, the broader macro environment is acting as a ceiling on price action. Rising tensions near the Strait of Hormuz and elevated oil prices have tempered the market's appetite for a total breakout. Bitcoin remains range-bound between $65,000 and $74,000 this month, as investors seem to be prioritizing short-term liquidity over aggressive risk exposure.
The positive sentiment has spilled over into the Ethereum ecosystem as well. Spot Ether ETFs recorded a four-day inflow streak starting on 10 Mar, bringing in roughly $212mn.
This revival comes at a precarious moment for the US economy. With growth revised down to just 0.7% in Q4 2025 and Core PCE, a measure of inflation, remaining sticky at 3.1%, the Federal Reserve is increasingly trapped between a softening labour market and an energy shock.
The escalating conflict in the Gulf has driven oil prices higher and dampened risk appetite across traditional equities. However, the sustained ETF inflows suggest that institutional investors are increasingly viewing Bitcoin and Ether as durable 'exit ramps' from traditional macro volatility, even as the legislative rulebook in Washington remains stalled.
At 13:33UTC on 15 Mar, BTC was trading for around $71,500, and Ether for $2,100.
