US spot Ether exchange-traded funds posted approximately $320 million in net outflows during the week ended October 16, 2026, outpacing the roughly $228 million withdrawn from spot Bitcoin ETFs over the same stretch. The weekly split underscored the relative pressure on Ether-linked funds, the newer of the two US spot crypto ETF categories.

Ether redemptions continue

Daily flow data, compiled from issuers' creations and redemptions, showed Ether funds shedding approximately $129.5 million on October 14 and a further $69.7 million on October 16.

BlackRock's iShares Ethereum Trust, which trades under the ticker ETHA, accounted for the bulk of the redemptions. In recent weeks, the fund has often represented 80% or more of total Ether ETF outflows, a pattern that has repeated as withdrawals persisted.

The redemption streak for Ether products dates back to late September. By early October, it had stretched to nine consecutive days of net outflows. October-to-date losses for Ether funds have been reported to approach or exceed $900 million.

Bitcoin outflows decelerate

Bitcoin funds showed signs of stabilization. Withdrawals from spot Bitcoin ETFs slowed by 66% compared with the prior week, according to The Defiant, an indication that the products had also lost assets the week before, though at a heavier pace. Bitcoin funds even recorded a small inflow on one day during the period.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs launched in January 2024, roughly six months before their Ether counterparts, and have historically drawn the larger share of cumulative inflows across the two categories.

That marks a stark reversal from September, when crypto ETFs attracted strong inflows, with Bitcoin products in particular pulling in fresh capitaln

Cumulative position remains solid

Despite the recent pressure, spot Ether ETFs remain well in positive territory since their US launch in July 2024. The funds have collected cumulative net inflows of more than $12.9 billion, and total assets under management across the category have been reported in a range between $14.5 billion and $15.3 billion. Measured against that cumulative total, even October's reported losses approaching $900 million have so far trimmed only a fraction of the net new capital the products have attracted.

Two forces appear to be weighing on sentiment: Ether has recently underperformed Bitcoin, and rising Treasury yields have added macro pressure on risk assets. Higher yields raise the return available on risk-free government debt, increasing the opportunity cost of holding more volatile assets.

A selective pullback, not a broad exit

The divergence in weekly flows suggests investors are not exiting crypto ETFs wholesale. Instead, some appear to be trimming exposure to the more volatile of the two assets first.

Because BlackRock's ETHA so often accounts for the bulk of Ether ETF redemptions, a shift in its daily flows would likely be the first visible sign that the withdrawal trend is turning. Whether Bitcoin's slowdown holds in upcoming weekly flow reports will offer a parallel read on whether the gap between the two categories widens or narrows.

Even after a rough few weeks, the category's reported asset base of $14.5 billion to $15.3 billion remains substantial.

Source: CryptoBriefing