Bitcoin ETFs Bleed $635M as BTC Slips to $81,400 Amid Tech Selloff
Author: Crypffalo Research · 14:56 23/10/2026
U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs saw about $635.5 million in net outflows on Oct 22, erasing most of three days of inflows as tech stocks sold off and BTC slipped to around $81,400.
U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs saw roughly $635.5 million in net outflows on Oct 22, according to data from Farside Investors and SoSoValue. The move sharply reversed three straight sessions of inflows that had totaled about $1.07 billion.
The redemptions coincided with a heavy selloff in U.S. tech stocks on worries over AI spending. Bitcoin slipped to around $81,400 on Friday morning Asian time (GMT+7), after touching an intraday low near $80,990.
Key takeaways
- Outflows: about $635.5 million on Oct 22, with 5 of 12 funds posting net redemptions.
- Leading outflows: BlackRock's IBIT shed $254.1 million and Fidelity's FBTC lost $217.5 million.
- Prices: BTC near $81,400 and ETH around $2,390–$2,400, both down roughly 3.5% over 24 hours as of Thursday evening ET.
- Liquidations: about $406 million to $441 million wiped out over 24 hours per CoinGlass, mostly longs.
- Main driver: the Nasdaq fell 2.6% on AI spending fears, while U.S.-Iran tensions and high oil prices added pressure.
ETF flows flip after a single session
Bitcoin ETFs had been on a solid run just before the outflow. Farside data shows the recent daily net flows:
- Oct 19: +$526.7 million
- Oct 20: +$23.2 million
- Oct 21: +$524.8 million
- Oct 22: −$635.6 million
That means nearly all of the prior three days' inflows were erased in one session. Cumulative net inflows since launch still stand at around $57.3 billion to $57.4 billion.
Beyond IBIT and FBTC, the Ark/21Shares ARKB fund saw $109.4 million leave. Grayscale's GBTC lost $29.5 million, while Bitwise's BITB shed $27.4 million.
The only fund with inflows was MSBT, at about $2.3 million. The remaining products reported no change.
On the ether side, U.S. spot ETH ETFs also bled about $110.6 million, per Farside. BlackRock's ETHA accounted for roughly $75.5 million of that.
Tech selloff drags on risk appetite
According to The Block, citing CNBC, the Nasdaq Composite dropped 2.6% on Thursday and the S&P 500 fell 1.21%. AI-linked names took the brunt: Meta slid nearly 7%, Nvidia lost 4.4% and AMD dropped around 8%.
The selling spread into Asia on Friday morning, with the Kospi down 2.3% and the Nikkei 225 off 1.6%. Analysts also pointed to ongoing U.S.-Iran disputes and Brent crude holding above $100 a barrel as reasons for caution.
In derivatives, CoinGlass recorded about $440.9 million in liquidations over the 24 hours to Thursday evening ET. Longs made up roughly $397 million, showing bullish traders took most of the pain.
What it means for crypto markets
ETF flows are a closely watched gauge of institutional demand. A large outflow right after a string of inflows suggests demand is not yet strong enough to push price through the $84,000–$85,000 zone tested on Oct 21.
- Bull case: tech stocks rebound and ETF flows turn positive again, helping BTC hold $80,000 and retest $83,000–$85,000.
- Risk case: outflows persist alongside further Nasdaq weakness, pushing BTC below $80,000 and triggering more long liquidations.
One day of data is not enough to call a trend. ETF flows have flipped direction several times within just a few sessions this October.
What to watch next
- Bitcoin and ether ETF flows for Oct 23, published Saturday morning Asian time.
- The S&P Global flash U.S. manufacturing PMI, due Oct 23.
- The Federal Reserve's late-October FOMC meeting.
- Tech stocks, oil prices and U.S.-Iran tensions.
- Check the economic calendar and real-time liquidations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did bitcoin ETFs lose on Oct 22?
About $635.5 million in net outflows, per SoSoValue and Farside. IBIT and FBTC accounted for more than $470 million of the total.
Why did ETF flows reverse?
Reports mainly point to a tech-stock selloff driven by AI spending concerns. U.S.-Iran tensions and elevated oil prices also weighed on risk appetite.
Which bitcoin price levels are traders watching?
Many analysts are watching the $80,000 area as near-term support. On the upside, the $83,000–$85,000 zone is where price was recently rejected.
*This content is for information only and is not financial advice.*
Tags: Bitcoin, ETF, Fund Flows, BlackRock
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