Ether ETFs see $788M in outflows: what’s going on?

• The funds shed a total of $787.6 million between Tuesday and Friday.
• Over the same period, Bitcoin ETFs saw $250.3 million in net inflows.
• The weekly reversal comes after a strong August for Ether ETFs, which attracted $3.87 billion in inflows.

US-based spot Ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs) saw four straight days of net outflows during the shortened trading week following Labor Day, reversing some of the momentum that had built up in August.

The funds shed a total of $787.6 million between Tuesday and Friday, with the sharpest move on Friday when $446.8 million exited the products, according to data from Farside.

Over the same period, Bitcoin ETFs saw $250.3 million in net inflows.

The weekly reversal comes after a strong August for Ether ETFs, which attracted $3.87 billion in inflows.

Bitcoin ETFs, in contrast, recorded $751 million in outflows during the month.

Long-term optimism

Despite the recent weakness, several market participants remain bullish on Ether’s outlook.

On Wednesday, BitMine chairman Tom Lee reiterated his forecast that ETH could eventually reach $60,000.

Speaking on the Medici Presents: Level Up podcast, he said Wall Street’s growing interest in the token could become a “1971 moment” for the asset, a reference to the US ending the gold standard and ushering in a new financial era.

BitMine is the largest Ether treasury company, holding about $8.04 billion worth of ETH, according to data from StrategicETHReserve.

Collectively, Ether treasury companies now control 2.97% of the token’s circulating supply, valued at $15.49 billion at the time of publication.

Whale accumulation

Supporting that outlook, blockchain analytics firm Santiment noted that large Ether holders have steadily increased their positions.

Wallets holding between 1,000 and 100,000 ETH — worth between $4.31 million and $430.63 million — have grown their balances by 14% since April, when ETH touched yearly lows.

“In exactly 5 months, they have added 14.0% more coins,” Santiment said in a post on X.

The firm suggested that the accumulation trend could provide underlying support for the asset even as ETF flows fluctuate.

Market context

Ether traded at $4,313 on Saturday, while Bitcoin stood at $110,238.

The diverging ETF flows highlight shifting sentiment between the two largest cryptocurrencies as traders weigh the impact of macroeconomic conditions, regulatory clarity, and institutional adoption.

While short-term flows have turned negative, Ether’s strong August performance and continued interest from institutional players suggest that investors remain divided on whether the latest moves mark a pause or the start of a broader rotation back into Bitcoin.