The Bitcoin bear market caught some components of the crypto crowd abruptly, as several investors expected prices to get well at completely different phases of the correction. Nevertheless, some sections of the market noticed this corrective section, utilizing on-chain knowledge as the premise of their prognosis.
One such group is the on-chain knowledge analysts who referred to as the emergence of the bear market based mostly on the decline in obvious demand. Utilizing this identical mannequin, a outstanding market researcher has come ahead with a possible catalyst for Bitcoin’s value restoration.
Bitcoin ETFs Kick Off 2026 With $1.8 Billion Outflows
In a latest submit on the social media platform X, pseudonymous analyst Darkfost shared that spot Bitcoin ETFs (exchange-traded funds) might play an enormous position within the crypto market turnaround. In line with market knowledge, demand for crypto by way of exchange-traded funds has been weak up to now in 2026.
This cautious stance from buyers and “contraction in liquidity” has had a major impact in the marketplace, as costs preserve tumbling to new lows each different week. Darkfost highlighted that early 2026 has seemed extra like a interval of danger discount on the spot Bitcoin ETF aspect, which has been largely pushed by substantial capital inflows and robust speculative momentum.
Darkfost wrote within the X submit:
Market individuals look like reassessing their danger publicity in a extra unsure macroeconomic and geopolitical surroundings.
Unsurprisingly, latest on-chain knowledge assist the growing apathy of buyers in direction of the Bitcoin ETF market. In line with knowledge highlighted by Darkfost, the 12 months 2026 is beginning with round $1.8 billion in web outflows, which is in stark distinction to the strongly constructive ranges witnessed in 2024 and in the beginning of 2025.
Supply: @Darkfost_Coc on X
Sustained capital inflows and a major enlargement in market liquidity characterised these intervals. Nevertheless, it’s value mentioning that 2025 ended on a extra unfavorable notice, with ETF inflows declining from $27 billion to round $20 billion by 12 months’s finish.
Therefore, this pattern exhibits that the present weak point in demand appears extra like a gradual decline than a sudden drop. In any case, this demand weak point has left the Bitcoin market unprotected and extra susceptible to promoting stress and short-term volatility.
Darkfost concluded {that a} sustained run of Bitcoin ETF inflows might be a “key catalyst” to restoring a stronger market construction and investor confidence. The indicators, nevertheless, haven’t been encouraging up to now, because the US-based BTC exchange-traded funds bled roughly $360 million in web outflows over the previous week.
Bitcoin Value At A Look
As of this writing, the worth of BTC stands at round $70,600, reflecting an nearly 2% bounce up to now 24 hours.
The value of BTC crosses $70,000 on the day by day timeframe | Supply: BTCUSDT chart on TradingView
Featured picture from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView
Editorial Course of for bitcoinist is centered on delivering completely researched, correct, and unbiased content material. We uphold strict sourcing requirements, and every web page undergoes diligent overview by our group of high know-how specialists and seasoned editors. This course of ensures the integrity, relevance, and worth of our content material for our readers.
