Spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted $1.02 billion in net inflows between June 16 and June 20, according to the latest market data.

While still substantial, this marks a 29% decrease from the $1.39 billion recorded the previous week, suggesting a slowdown in institutional appetite for direct Bitcoin exposure.

The decline comes as Bitcoin struggles to hold the $103,000 mark, with the asset slipping almost 1% to $101,726 at the time of writing.

Although the decrease in inflows signals waning short-term enthusiasm, funds such as BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) remain dominant players in the market.

IBIT saw $1.23 billion in net inflows last week, pushing its cumulative total to $51 billion. The fund accounted for the largest single contribution to Bitcoin ETF inflows during the period.

Bitcoin’s fall below the $103,000 psychological threshold has been accompanied by a noticeable surge in daily trading activity.

According to CoinMarketCap, BTC’s 24-hour trading volume jumped 37%, indicating intensified sell-side pressure.

In typical market dynamics, a price drop alongside increasing volume reflects strong bearish sentiment, as more investors offload holdings.

Despite the price correction, derivatives market behaviour points to a more nuanced picture. BTC’s perpetual futures contracts continue to trade with a positive funding rate, currently at 0.002%.

This metric reflects a tendency among traders to hold long positions, showing that some participants remain cautiously optimistic about potential near-term recovery.

Data from the options market reveals increased demand for call contracts, signalling expectations for a future rise in BTC’s price.

Traders appear to be positioning for upside moves despite the prevailing market weakness.

The increased call volume adds weight to the broader risk-on narrative seen in crypto derivatives over the past few months.

This sentiment coincides with ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have cast a shadow over broader risk assets.

Even with the current price drawdown, Bitcoin continues to function as a speculative asset sensitive to both macroeconomic signals and investor mood swings.

As institutional capital becomes more selective, short-term inflows are likely to remain volatile.

Among the key players in the Bitcoin ETF segment, BlackRock’s IBIT continues to lead in both inflows and overall market share.

Last week’s $1.23 billion haul represented the highest inflow figure across all BTC-backed ETFs.

Since its inception, the fund has now attracted a total of $51 billion in net investments, underscoring its appeal among institutional investors seeking regulated exposure to Bitcoin.

This strong performance by IBIT contrasts with the overall slowdown in total inflows, suggesting that while general enthusiasm may be cooling, investor preference for low-fee, high-liquidity vehicles remains steady.

With spot BTC ETFs continuing to gain traction in regulatory environments such as the US, their performance may serve as a bellwether for institutional sentiment in the coming quarters.

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