ETF Bitcoin and Ether Become the Strongest Tanks in the World Last Week

The largest funds in the capital markets are now looking at Bitcoin and Ether through a new lens, positioning both digital assets as the world’s strongest tanks to protect institutional wealth from macroeconomic uncertainty. Last week, spot ETFs Bitcoin and Ether listed in the United States recorded billions of dollars in combined inflows, marking their strongest momentum in the past three months and indicating a fundamental shift in institutional investment strategies.

Billion-dollar inflows: Strongest tanks strengthen

Eleven spot Bitcoin ETFs garnered $1.42 billion in funding receipts in the past week—the largest amount since mid-October—with BlackRock’s IBIT leading the flow with $1.03 billion. In parallel with Bitcoin’s growth, the Ether ETF also experienced similar momentum, attracting $479 million in funding in the same period, the highest figure since early October. ETHA BlackRock alone secured $219 million of that amount.

Year-to-date data shows that the two assets have raised $1.21 billion (Bitcoin) and $584.9 million (Ethereum), respectively, providing a clear picture of how major financial institutions are starting to consider crypto as the strongest tank for long-term asset protection.

Institutional Capital Replacing Arbitrage Strategy

A significant shift is happening behind the scenes. Market analysts note that the majority of ETF inflows reflect long-term bullish positions rather than the previously dominant short arbitrage trades. The “cash and carry” strategy—which involves long positions in ETFs at the same time as CME short futures—is now showing less attractive results, prompting institutional capital to take a more strategic stance.

These dynamics signal that large institutions are building positions ahead of the potential regulatory clarity and macroeconomic changes expected to occur in the first quarter of 2026. The strongest tank for institutional portfolios seems to be no longer a traditional product, but rather a digital asset that is increasingly integrated in the global financial infrastructure.

Market Contradictions: Momentum Meets Reality

However, this picture is not entirely rosy. While last week saw strong inflows, the price movements of Bitcoin and Ether at the beginning of this week showed the market’s vulnerability. Bitcoin is now trading at $85,080 with a 5.31% decline in the last 24 hours—falling to a 2026 low after a rally supported by ETF flows. Ethereum also corrected sharply at $2,830 with a 6.35% decline, erasing most of the previous week’s gains.

This quick sell-off coincided with a surprising reversal of gold’s rally (down from $5,600+ back to $5,200) and broad action market weakness—the Nasdaq fell 1.5% with Microsoft slumping 11% after its disappointing fourth-quarter results.

Big Question: Can the strongest tank hold a position?

For Bitcoin and Ether to achieve significant gains in the coming months, the flow of ETFs should maintain the momentum it has just recorded. This condition is crucial considering the huge losses that occurred at the end of 2025. Institutional capital has indeed returned, but their resilience to remain in a bullish position will be key to whether these strongest tanks are able to afford the expected value protection or simply a temporary momentum that will quickly fade.

The correlation between ETF flows and price action remains an important indicator—if the flow of funds can continue despite market volatility, then Bitcoin and Ether may indeed have gained a new status as the strongest tanks in modern institutional portfolios.