BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund has posted its strongest daily inflows in nearly three months, a signal that institutional appetite for regulated Bitcoin investment products is once again gaining pace amid rising geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty.
According to data from Farside Investors, the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) pulled in $287.4 million on Friday, its largest single-day inflow since October 8, 2024. The renewed momentum comes at a time when global markets are reacting to escalating geopolitical tensions following the U.S. arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, an event that triggered volatility across commodities and foreign exchange markets.
Despite the broader market turbulence, Bitcoin extended its winning streak for a fourth consecutive day, reinforcing its position as a preferred hedge during periods of instability.
Geopolitical shock fuels flight to digital assets
Friday’s inflows coincided with sharp moves across traditional financial markets. Oil futures slid to their lowest level in four years as investors assessed the fallout from the controversial U.S. military operation that led to Maduro’s arrest. In contrast, digital assets displayed notable resilience, with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies holding steady and gradually climbing.
Speaking to Decrypt, Shaun Dawson, Head of Research at blockchain-based derivatives platform Deriv, said the incident underscores “a clear uptick in volatility,” adding that the Trump administration’s willingness to bypass geopolitical norms reflects a broader “America First” posture.
Dawson argued that political and strategic ties between the Trump circle and various crypto-aligned investors may have contributed to the market’s reaction. “The administration’s actions are increasingly aligned with policies that support digital assets,” he noted, suggesting that the inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs mirror a reassessment of Bitcoin’s role as a macro hedge.
ETF flows show broad institutional participation
Across the U.S. market, spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $471.3 million in combined inflows on the same day — the highest aggregated daily figure since mid-November. These inflows reversed previous outflows and pushed weekly net flows to approximately $459 million.
Analysts say the beginning of the year has historically triggered portfolio rebalancing among institutional investors, and this year appears no different.
According to Pratik Kala, Head of Research at Apollo Crypto, Bitcoin’s relatively softer performance during the final quarter of 2025 caused its allocation in institutional portfolios to fall below target levels. “As 2026 began, many funds needed to increase their Bitcoin exposure simply to realign their weightings,” he explained.
Kala added that last year’s tax-loss harvesting cycles have now shifted toward long-term positioning, supported by geopolitical developments that highlight Bitcoin’s value as an uncensorable, politically neutral store of value, qualities that become more relevant during periods of global fragmentation.
Momentum spreads beyond BlackRock
The surge in flows wasn’t limited to BlackRock. Other major spot Bitcoin ETFs also recorded meaningful inflows:
- Fidelity’s FBTC: +$88.1 million
- Bitwise’s BITB: +$41.5 million
- Grayscale’s GBTC: +$15.4 million
The coordinated rise suggests not only renewed institutional interest but also broader confidence in Bitcoin’s strategic role within diversified portfolios.
As geopolitical tensions grow and macroeconomic uncertainty deepens, the latest data indicates investors are increasingly turning to regulated Bitcoin products as a defensive — yet opportunistic — allocation.
