U.S. Bitcoin ETFs Lost $713M Last Week Amid Trade War Tensions

Bitcoin-linked investment products in the United States are feeling the pressure as tensions between Washington and Beijing weigh heavily on risk markets.

Over the past week, U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen persistent capital flight, with investors pulling back amid mounting trade uncertainty.

New data reveals that these funds recorded a combined $713 million in outflows over the past seven days, marking the longest streak of negative net flows since their launch. Friday, April 11 alone saw a modest $1.03 million withdrawn, capping off a week where most major ETFs—including BlackRock’s IBIT—saw no new capital at all.

Only a few outliers registered any movement: ARK 21Shares’ Bitcoin ETF ended a six-day dry spell with a modest $11.28 million inflow, while Bitwise’s Bitcoin fund lost $12.31 million on the same day, according to data provider SoSoValue.

This wave of withdrawals has been widely attributed to growing anxiety among U.S. investors, who are now steering clear of volatile assets like cryptocurrencies in response to escalating geopolitical and economic risks. With the trade dispute between the U.S. and China intensifying, digital assets and their associated products are taking a hit.

Ethereum-focused ETFs haven’t been spared either. Spot Ether funds experienced a fourth consecutive day of outflows on Friday, with investors pulling nearly $30 million in a single session—adding to the broader risk-off sentiment in crypto markets.

The broader uncertainty also hit Bitcoin directly. The leading cryptocurrency briefly slipped to around $74,000 earlier in the week before rebounding. A temporary pause on tariffs—excluding those aimed at China—helped BTC regain momentum, pushing it back above $85,000. This recovery was supported by additional policy updates, including a tariff exemption on smartphones, chips, and electronics.

Despite the rebound in price, ETF flows suggest that institutional sentiment remains shaky as macroeconomic pressures and policy decisions continue to steer crypto investment trends.

Alexander Stefanov