Emily Walker
Last year, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) made a groundbreaking decision by approving Bitcoin Spot ETFs, marking a significant turning point for institutional interests in cryptocurrencies.
These exchange-traded funds have not only met but exceeded market expectations, gaining considerable influence over Bitcoin’s price movements.
The Influence and Achievements of Bitcoin Spot ETFs
In a post on X, Fox reporter Eleanor Terrett detailed various milestones reached by Bitcoin Spot ETFs in their inaugural trading year. After extensive negotiations in late 2023, the SEC authorized 11 Bitcoin Spot ETFs on January 10, 2024, allowing them to trade on multiple US exchanges.
This decision enjoyed widespread enthusiasm within the digital asset community, as these ETFs offered institutional investment opportunities and clearer regulations, representing a significant step toward the acceptance of cryptocurrency within finance. Among the approved ETFs, four—BlackRock’s IBIT, Fidelity’s FBTC, ArkInvest’s ARKB, and Bitwise’s BITB—have been recognized as some of the top 20 US ETF launches ever.
The overall performance of Bitcoin Spot ETFs was remarkable, with total assets under management (AUM) reaching $129.25 billion by December, surpassing the Gold ETF AUM of $128.88 billion. Notably, Gold ETFs have been on the market for two decades.
Additionally, Bitcoin Spot ETFs have amassed over 1 million BTC, which exceeds the holdings of Bitcoin’s original creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.
Terrett highlights how the rise of these ETFs has enhanced the acceptance of Bitcoin, noting that BlackRock has become one of the largest Bitcoin holders—a notable change from just eight years ago when the company’s CEO, Larry Fink, referred to Bitcoin as “an index of money laundering.”
Positive Momentum for Bitcoin Spot ETFs in 2025
By the end of the second trading week of 2025, data from SoSoValue indicated that Bitcoin Spot ETFs continued to show robust performance, recording total net inflows of $307.20 million.
BlackRock’s IBIT led the way with significant gains, amassing $479.58 million in inflows, bringing its cumulative net flows to $37.67 billion. The collective influence of Bitcoin Spot ETFs has now reached 5.74% of Bitcoin’s market capitalization.
At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $94,510, reflecting a slight increase of 0.50% over the last week, while its trading volume has decreased by 69.49%, currently at $18.69 billion.
Image sourced from Fortune, chart created using Tradingview