The US spot cryptocurrency ETF market showed a clear divergence on Thursday, December 18, 2025, as Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) products attracted strong institutional inflows while Ethereum (CRYPTO:ETH) funds extended a deepening run of losses.
Market data indicated investors increasingly view Bitcoin and Ethereum as separate risk assets rather than a single correlated trade.
Bitcoin’s underlying price fell roughly 4.4% on the day, sliding towards the $84,000 level amid broader market weakness.
Despite the decline, regulated Bitcoin ETFs absorbed significant capital, acting as a stabilising force as retail sentiment softened.
The US spot Bitcoin ETF market rebounded after suffering more than $635 million in net outflows over the previous 48 hours.
Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund recorded $391 million in net inflows, marking the strongest single-day performance among issuers.
The inflows lifted Fidelity’s total Bitcoin ETF assets towards $12.4 billion, reinforcing its appeal to large institutional allocators.
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust added a further $111 million, contributing to a combined $457 million recovery for the sector.
The renewed demand pushed weekly net flows back into positive territory despite persistent year-end volatility.
Analysts said the accumulation suggests institutions are positioning early around perceived support levels ahead of potential rate cuts in early 2026.
In contrast, spot Ethereum ETFs endured their most challenging period since launch, extending a five-day streak of net outflows.
Total withdrawals from Ethereum funds reached $533.1 million for the period, sharply reducing assets under management.
The sector’s AUM has fallen to approximately $17.34 billion, reflecting growing institutional caution towards Ether.
Market participants cited concerns around network value capture and capital rotation into faster-growing ecosystems such as Solana (CRYPTO:SOL).
Corporate treasury firms continued selective accumulation of Ether, but ETF flows remained decisively skewed to the sell side.
Ether struggled to hold above the $2,800 level as sustained outflows weighed on sentiment.
XRP (CRYPTO:XRP)-linked spot ETFs emerged as a notable outlier, recording 32 consecutive trading sessions of net inflows.
XRP funds attracted $18.99 million on Wednesday alone, lifting cumulative inflows to more than $1.14 billion since mid-November.
The sustained demand points to distinct institutional interest in XRP, driven by payment utility narratives and recent regulatory clarity under the GENIUS Act.
At the time of reporting, Bitcoin price was $87,893.88.