American spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) have demonstrated the strongest capital inflows in the last ten months. During the trading week from August 17 to 21, investors poured $2.6 billion into these instruments, marking the best performance since October 2025. These are not just numbers — this is a clear signal of the return of institutional risk appetite.
Bitcoin ETFs bore the brunt of the influx, accumulating $1.92 billion. Notably, Ethereum funds also showed solid momentum: they attracted $697.18 million, fully offsetting the outflow of $391.96 million recorded the previous week. Such synchronization indicates that investors are diversifying their crypto positions rather than simply chasing "fast" BTC.
Growth drivers and record volumes
Bitcoin funds recorded inflows for five consecutive trading days. The peak came on August 20, when $606 million flowed into ETFs in a single day — the highest since May. Trading activity also surged: weekly turnover reached $22.15 billion, nearly three times higher than the previous week's figures. Against this backdrop, the cumulative net inflow into Bitcoin funds recovered to $53.71 billion, although back in October 2025 this figure had reached an all-time high of $62.77 billion.
For Ethereum ETFs, August 20 was the best day since October, with inflows of $220.77 million. Nevertheless, total assets under management remain 53% below the record levels of August 2025, indicating significant potential for further recovery.
Altcoins are not lagging behind
Interest in digital assets is not limited to the "old guard." XRP funds became leaders among altcoin products, attracting $39.78 million and setting a new record for weekly trading volume at $271.74 million. Solana (SOL) products secured second place with $28.34 million, posting positive momentum for the eighth consecutive week. Chainlink (LINK) ETFs delivered their second-best result since their launch in December 2025, receiving $13.35 million. Even funds for Hyperliquid (HYPE) and Dogecoin (DOGE) recorded inflows of $3.89 million and $654 thousand, respectively.
It is important to emphasize: the growth in asset value outpaced the volume of new inflows by nine times. Over the week, the total market capitalization of Bitcoin and Ethereum funds rose by approximately $23 billion, while investors injected only $2.6 billion. Excluding inflows, the value of Bitcoin funds increased by 22.9%, and Ethereum funds by 29.2%. The main contribution came from the revaluation of the coins themselves: Bitcoin traded around $76,230, while Ethereum was at $2,406.
My analysis: The current momentum is not just a bounce but the formation of a sustained upward trend. A threefold increase in trading volumes and consecutive inflows into altcoin ETFs indicate that institutional money is returning to the ecosystem not selectively but systematically. However, given that asset growth is primarily driven by price revaluation rather than new capital, the market remains sensitive to volatility. The key level for confirming the bullish scenario will be Bitcoin holding above $75,000.