U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs absorbed $629.8 million in net inflows on Friday, May 1, with BlackRock’s IBIT and Fidelity’s FBTC accounting for roughly 79% of the total, according to data from Farside Investors. The buying pushed bitcoin past $80,000 in early Asia trading on Monday, May 4, the highest print since January 31. The two-day total across April 30 and May 1 reached $1.21 billion, the strongest back-to-back stretch since November 2025.
A spot bitcoin ETF is a U.S.-listed exchange-traded fund that holds actual bitcoin in custody and tracks its price, allowing investors to gain exposure through a brokerage account rather than a crypto exchange or self-custody wallet.
- Spot bitcoin ETFs pulled in $629.8 million on May 1, with BlackRock’s IBIT leading at $284.4 million, Fidelity’s FBTC at $213.4 million, and ARK Invest’s ARKB at $88.5 million.
- April closed with $2.44 billion in net inflows, the strongest monthly figure of 2026 and nearly double March’s $1.32 billion.
- Bitcoin reclaimed $80,000 on Monday after touching $80,393 in Asia trading, its highest level since January 31.
- Roughly $108 million in leveraged short positions were liquidated in a single hour as BTC held above $80,000, per Coinglass data.
Published: May 4, 2026, 16:00 UTC
What happened on May 1
The eleven U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs collectively bought 7,840 BTC on May 1, valued at about $629.8 million at the prevailing price. The Block reported BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) as the day’s largest buyer, with $284.4 million in net inflows. Fidelity’s FBTC followed at $213.4 million, and ARK 21Shares’ ARKB came in third with $88.5 million.
BlackRock and Fidelity together represented 79% of Friday’s flows, continuing a concentration trend that has held since the 2024 ETF launch. Grayscale’s GBTC, which has bled assets since converting from a trust, recorded a small outflow that was washed out by demand elsewhere.
The inflows followed $578.2 million on April 30, bringing the two-day total to $1.21 billion. April finished at $2.44 billion in cumulative net inflows, breaking a four-month streak of net outflows that ran from December 2025 through March.
Why it matters for the market
The May 1 print reset the institutional accumulation narrative that defined bitcoin’s rally through 2024. ETF inflows had stalled through Q1 as macro headwinds, including the Strait of Hormuz tensions and persistent inflation prints, kept allocators on the sidelines.
Friday’s total cleared the bar that traders had set as a confirmation signal. With $629.8 million flowing in on a single session, the asset managers behind IBIT and FBTC must purchase the underlying bitcoin within a defined settlement window, putting steady upward pressure on spot markets.
The price reaction was immediate. Bitcoin moved from $77,200 at Friday’s open to $80,393 in early Asia hours on Monday, a 4.1% gain. Coinglass tracked $108 million in short liquidations in the hour BTC broke $80,000, with most of the closeouts on Binance and Bybit perpetuals.
The macro backdrop shifted
Two catalysts converged with the ETF flows. President Donald Trump confirmed Friday that the United States had received Iran’s 14-point peace proposal through Pakistani mediators and would begin escorting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude fell to $107 per barrel from a four-year high, and U.S. crude futures dropped nearly 5%.
The de-escalation removed the oil-linked inflation premium that had weighed on risk assets through Q1. Bitcoin and equities rallied in tandem, with the S&P 500 closing 1.3% higher on Friday and Asia tech stocks gapping up Monday.
Separately, BlackRock disclosed last week that IBIT had crossed $80 billion in assets under management, retaining its lead over the eleven-fund cohort. Fidelity’s FBTC trails at roughly $32 billion. The pair have absorbed about 67% of all U.S. spot bitcoin ETF assets since the January 2024 launch.
What traders are watching next
The next data points are May 7 initial jobless claims and the May 13 CPI release, both of which will shape the Federal Reserve’s posture at its June meeting. Sustained sub-$80 billion inflows through the week would extend the bid; a single-day outflow of $200 million or more would test whether the rally is institutional or speculative.
Polymarket odds put the probability of bitcoin closing above $90,000 in May at 23%, up from 17% before Friday’s flows. The technical chart shows BTC trapped between a $75,000 floor and an $81,000-$82,000 ceiling, with $92,000-$98,000 opening on a clean break above the band.
Standard Chartered and Bernstein both maintain $150,000 year-end 2026 targets, while Bitwise published a higher case at $200,000 contingent on continued ETF flows.
Frequently asked questions
How much did U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs buy on May 1?
Spot bitcoin ETFs absorbed $629.8 million in net inflows on May 1, 2026, according to Farside Investors. BlackRock’s IBIT led with $284.4 million, Fidelity’s FBTC added $213.4 million, and ARK Invest’s ARKB contributed $88.5 million. The figure was the largest single-day inflow since January 31, 2026.
Why did bitcoin reclaim $80,000 on May 4?
Bitcoin reclaimed $80,000 in early Asia trading on Monday, May 4, driven by two days of strong ETF inflows totaling $1.21 billion and easing geopolitical tension after President Trump confirmed U.S. escorts through the Strait of Hormuz. The move triggered $108 million in short liquidations within one hour.
Which bitcoin ETF has the most assets?
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) holds approximately $80 billion in assets under management, the largest among U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs. Fidelity’s FBTC follows with roughly $32 billion. The two funds together have absorbed about 67% of all spot bitcoin ETF assets since the products launched in January 2024.
