Key Takeaways
- ETF outflows signal short-term caution.
- Institutional demand remains resilient.
- Rising yields threaten Bitcoin’s price.
Bitcoin’s price faced renewed pressure on Thursday as investors pulled significant funds from U.S. spot exchange-traded funds, underscoring growing caution in crypto markets amid rising bond yields and geopolitical uncertainty.
Investors Pull $171 Million
U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded their largest single-day net outflows in three weeks.
Investors withdrew $171.2 million across seven funds, according to data from SoSoValue.
The move marked the sharpest daily outflow since March 6 and was led by BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), which saw $41.9 million exit the fund.
Products from Fidelity, Bitwise and Ark Invest each posted outflows exceeding $30 million.
Market participants attributed the withdrawals to a mix of short-term positioning and broader uncertainty.
Institutional Backing Remains Intact
Despite the recent outflows, institutional appetite for Bitcoin has not materially deteriorated.
Analysts poined to continued inflows during earlier periods of price weakness as evidence of longer-term positioning.
Research from Wall Street firm Bernstein, as reported by Bloomberg, suggests Bitcoin may have already established a floor.
It could soon climb as high as $150,000 by the end of 2026, driven largely by a structural shift toward institutional ownership.
According to the report, Bitcoin’s market is evolving from one dominated by retail speculation to one increasingly supported by exchange-traded funds, corporate treasuries and structured financing.
Recent price action appears to support that view.
While Bitcoin has fallen sharply from prior highs, the decline has not triggered the kind of forced liquidations that characterized earlier downturns, indicating a more stable investor base.
Bernstein highlighted continued demand from ETFs and growing participation from traditional financial institutions offering crypto-related services as key drivers of resilience.
Rising Treasury Yields Pose Headwinds To Bitcoin Price
A more immediate concern for Bitcoin markets is the sharp rise in U.S. Treasury yields, which has intensified pressure on risk assets.
The U.S. 10-year yield has climbed roughly 45 basis points since late February, approaching 4.40%.
Investors are closely watching the 4.50%–4.60% range — a level that previously triggered policy responses from the White House.
Higher yields increase the appeal of government bonds relative to non-yielding assets such as Bitcoin.
Analysts warn that if yields continue rising toward 5%, it could significantly dampen investor appetite for speculative assets and trigger broader portfolio rebalancing away from digital assets.
“Until the Strait of Hormuz reopens and oil stabilizes, yields and inflation pressure have room to climb further,” CCN analyst Victor Olanrewaju said in a recent report.
Bitcoin Price Risks Further Downside
At the time of reporting, Bitcoin’s price was trading at $66,673, below its 20-day exponential moving average of $70,058 and under resistance at $71,907, according to Olanrewaju.
The analyst warned that continued selling pressure — including from miners — could push the crypto toward support at $65,071.
On the upside, a recovery above the 20-day EMA could shift momentum, allowing bitcoin to challenge resistance at $71,907 and potentially climb toward $75,304.
Kurt Robson is a London-based reporter at CCN, specialising in the fast-moving worlds of crypto and emerging technology. He began his career covering local news in Cornwall after graduating from Falmouth University with First Class Honours in Journalism. There, he cut his teeth on everything from council meetings to missing swans.
He quickly rose through the ranks to become a frontline journalist at several of the UK’s leading national newspapers. Over the years, he has interviewed musicians and celebrities, reported from courtrooms and crime scenes, and secured multiple front-page exclusives.
Following the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kurt shifted his focus to technology journalism—just ahead of the AI boom. With a natural curiosity and a trained eye for emerging trends, he has found a new rhythm in reporting on innovation.
At CCN, Kurt's work focuses on the cutting edge of crypto, blockchain, AI, and the evolving digital world. Drawing on his background in people-first reporting and his deep interest in disruptive tech, Kurt delivers stories that are insightful, entertaining, and human-centric.
