Bitcoin is holding its ground near $81,000 while Ethereum continues to struggle beneath a significant resistance level. The divergence is playing out as US spot Bitcoin ETFs record net inflows while Ethereum ETFs post sizable outflows — a split in fund flows that offers clues about institutional investment behavior and highlights the technical levels traders are monitoring.

Spot ETFs hold the underlying coins directly, and their net-flow tallies are built from daily creations and redemptions, which is why these prints are often used as a window into how fund-level demand for each asset is shifting.

As of press time, Bitcoin was changing hands at $81,602, while Ethereum stood at $2,412, a decline of 1.20% over the last 24 hours.

Bitcoin ETFs See $15.86 Million in Daily Inflows

According to Lookonchain's October 16 update, US spot Bitcoin ETFs posted net inflows of 194 BTC, valued at roughly $15.86 million. The seven-day net flow, however, remained negative at 1,643 BTC, equal to about $134.56 million.

BlackRock's IBIT brought in 204 BTC, while Grayscale's GBTC logged an outflow of five BTC. A number of other funds reported no net flows for the session.

The positive daily figure points to renewed investment activity even though the negative weekly tally shows that Bitcoin ETFs have faced wider selling pressure of late. In effect, the session marked a pause within a week otherwise defined by net outflows.

Oct 16 Update: #Bitcoin ETFs: 1D NetFlow: +194 $BTC (+$15.86M)🟢 7D NetFlow: -1,643 $BTC (-$134.56M)🔴 #Ethereum ETFs: 1D NetFlow: -24,792 $ETH (-$60.84M)🔴 7D NetFlow: -119,753 $ETH (-$293.85M)🔴 pic.twitter.com/94qMZiwneR

— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) October 16, 2026

Ethereum ETFs Shed $60.84 Million

Ethereum ETFs moved in the opposite direction, posting daily net outflows of 24,792 ETH, worth approximately $60.84 million. Their seven-day net outflows totaled 119,753 ETH, valued at around $293.85 million.

BlackRock's ETHA fund saw outflows of 18,099 ETH, while Grayscale's ETHE recorded withdrawals of 7,697 ETH. Fidelity's FETH was among the funds with positive flows, bringing in 1,004 ETH on a day when redemptions dominated the category.

Taken together, the numbers point to sustained pressure on Ethereum investment products across both daily and weekly periods. Even so, ETF outflows by themselves cannot dictate ETH's future price path, since broader market sentiment and derivatives activity also shape how the asset trades.

Bitcoin vs Ethereum Price: Key Levels to Watch

On Bitcoin's daily chart, BTC is trading at $81,602, just above its 200-day moving average of $81,285 — a long-term trend gauge traders commonly use to frame the broader backdrop. Staying above this level may reinforce the technical picture, while $78,238 is another price point to keep an eye on. The 50-day moving average stands at $72,398, offering a benchmark for possible support should the price fall further.

Ethereum, meanwhile, is trading at $2,412, under its 200-day moving average of $2,553. The $2,478 level marks another zone of resistance, while the 50-day moving average at $2,145 offers a possible support reference. Regaining the $2,478–$2,553 range could strengthen Ethereum's technical outlook; until that happens, ETH remains beneath its longer-term moving average.

What Comes Next for BTC and ETH?

Bitcoin's positive daily ETF inflows stand in contrast to Ethereum's considerable outflows. Still, this gap does not mean BTC is certain to outperform ETH. Traders will monitor whether Bitcoin can hold above the $81,285 moving average and whether Ethereum can reclaim its resistance zone.

ETF flow data is tallied at the end of each trading session, giving market participants a recurring update cycle to track alongside price action. Additional ETF flow updates, trading volume, and derivatives data may help clarify whether the divergence between the two largest cryptocurrencies persists.

This article contains market analysis and price predictions. These are not guarantees. Crypto markets are volatile. Always DYOR. Not financial advice.