- Bitcoin ETFs have observed five straight weeks of inflows.
- Bitcoin price broke the $80,000 mark today, May 4, 2026.
- Ethereum faced outflows from ETFs, while XRP and Solana ETFs saw little activity.
Bitcoin remains steady but other cryptocurrencies seem to be fading into the background. Recent data via SoSoValue shows that there has been consistent institutional buying by exchange-traded funds (ETFs) of Bitcoin, and this has pushed the price of the token above the $80,000 mark. This push comes at a time when the broader cryptocurrency market is on the rise; However, altcoins like XRP and SOL are lagging behind.
Bitcoin ETFs are seeing massive inflows
Spot Bitcoin ETFs are on a hot streak. According to the data it represents SoSoValueFor five consecutive weeks, Bitcoin ETFs have recorded net inflows, with $153.87 million flowing in last week alone. This continued buying in the $75K-$80K price range seems less like a quick grab, and more like the big players building long-term positions.
On May 1, 2026, the total net flow reached $629.73 million across all twelve ETFs. No one has seen outflows, pure green across the board. BlackRock’s IBIT led the pack with daily inflows of $284.39 million. Its total historical flows now stand at $326.84 million.
Fidelity’s FBTC wasn’t far behind, adding $213.36 million, bringing its total lifespan to $11.08 billion. As of now, everyone’s total net asset value Bitcoin Spot ETFs reach $103.78 billion, representing 6.66% of Bitcoin’s total market capitalization.
Short squeeze fuels Bitcoin breakout
The rally above $80,000 was not only organic, but resulted in over $185 million worth of Bitcoin being liquidated within 24 hours. Short sellers, traders betting that prices would fall, were forced to buy back, fueling the rally. Technically, Bitcoin broke its recent high near $79,488. Trading volume jumped by 87%, confirming the strength of the breakthrough.
The rally has gained speed due to this pressure on derivatives, supported by high spot market volume. It’s a sign of conviction, not just hype. Daily ETF inflow data will be key to watch, if inflows continue, this could sustain the bullish momentum.
At the time of publication, the price was Bitcoin0.00% The token is at $79,695.90 with a slight increase of 2.0% in the last 24 hours according to Queen Gekko.
Ethereum is facing outflows and falling behind
While Bitcoin shines, Ethereum tells a different story. After three weeks of inflows, last week saw $82.47 million exit ETFs, according to a report. SoSoValue. ETH is holding above the $2,300 mark so far, with a recent gain of $101.18 million (May 1, 2026) noted in spot trading. But its underperformance against Bitcoin is turning into a clear pattern, and not a one-off.
The largest outflows came from BlackRock’s ETHA, which recorded an exit of $71.5 million, making it the main driver of the downward pressure. Fidelity’s FETH was followed by an outflow of $50.2 million, adding to the downside momentum. Grayscale’s ETHE also saw a smaller outflow of $9.1 million, while Bitwise’s ETHW recorded a slight decline of $2.3 million.
In terms of inflows, BlackRock’s ETHB stood out with a solid $45.5 million, and 21Shares’ TETH contributed a modest inflow of $1.4 million. Overall, although distributions were less very positive, outflows dominated the week, largely driven by ETHA and FETH.
The total net assets of Ethereum ETFs are $13.60 billion, representing 4.93% of the total market capitalization of Ethereum.
Ethereum’s recent rise is in line with Bitcoin’s 2.27% rise and a 2.58% jump in the cryptocurrency’s total market capitalization. The 30-day correlation with the S&P 500 Index (SPY) is at 0.93559, meaning ETH is riding the waves of the broader stock market, not… Ethereum Specific news.
ETH spot trading volume rose 109.94% to $15.24 billion, showing real buying interest. The Altcoin Season Index rose 12.5% to 45, indicating some funds shifting to major coins such as ETH. However, short-term profit taking dominates the ETF picture. This rally appears to be macroeconomic driven, and linked to risky assets, rather than Ethereum’s unique catalysts.
At the time of publication, the price was Ethereum1.01% The token is at $2,368.77 with a 2.9% rise in the last 24 hours according to Queen Gekko.
Altcoins like XRP and Solana are going quiet
XRP and Solana barely register on the radar. Last week, XRP ETFs saw net outflows of just $35.21K, which is essentially nothing, according to SoSoValue. The largest outflow came from the Bitwise XRP ETF, which lost $3.7 million although it still maintained strong cumulative inflows of $422 million. On the other hand, the Canary XRPC ETF recorded the largest inflows at $2.2 million, with total inflows reaching $424 million.
Overall, the XRP ETF has $1.06 billion in assets, with a market share of 1.24%. XRPTotal value. Despite slight weekly fluctuations, cumulative flows remain strong at $1.29 billion.
Moreover, at the time of writing the article, the price of XRP1.86% The token is at $1.41 with a 1.6% rise in the last 24 hours according to Queen Gekko.
Solana tells a quieter story, as seven out of eight ETFs had zero inflows, with only GSOL showing movements. As of now, SOL ETFs have $849 million in total assets, with a market cap ratio of 1.77% on $849 million. SolanaTotal value, depending on SoSoValue. Despite the lack of inflow, cumulative net flows across SOL ETFs reached $1.018 billion.
At the time of publication, the price was Sol0.97% The symbol stops at $ 84.95 with an increase of 1.3% in the last 24 hours according to Queen Gekko.
This lack of action contrasts sharply with the Bitcoin craze. No flows mean no institutional fuel. It is as if the big money is parked in BTC, ignoring the rest.
What does this mean for the cryptocurrency market
Institutions are buying Bitcoin at $78,000 with ETH diluting and skipping altcoins entirely. Five weeks of BTC ETF inflows, yesterday’s $629.73 million surge, and clean breakout above $80,000 paint a bullish picture for cryptocurrencies. The dominance of BlackRock and Fidelity, at $284.39 million and $213.36 million per day, shows where the smart money is flowing.
For ETH, outflows of $82.47 million last week and reliance on macro trends indicate caution. Near-zero XRP and SOL activity indicates consolidation or worse, altcoin momentum has evaporated.
The broader result is that Bitcoin is increasingly acting as a market anchor, while altcoins struggle to gain similar momentum. Unless ETF flows are diversified beyond Bitcoin, the current cycle may remain largely Bitcoin-centric, with institutional funds prioritizing perceived stability over the upside of speculation in alternative digital assets.
Read also: Bitcoin Declines After 8 of 9 FOMC Meetings: Can the ETF Ask That to Change?
