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Have we found the driving force behind the big surge?—Institutional funds accelerating back, creating this mini bull cycle

What exactly happened in early May? Why did Bitcoin suddenly start climbing, and why has the market been so strong—refusing to pull back? Data shows that institutional funds are accelerating their return to crypto assets, and that the allocation pattern is taking shape as “Bitcoin as the main, Ethereum as the secondary.” This round of big gains may well be a bull market engineered by institutions.

According to data from May 5:

Bitcoin spot ETF single-day net inflows reached $532 million, including $335 million contributed by BlackRock’s IBIT, and $184 million in inflows for Fidelity’s FBTC.

Ethereum ETF net inflows on the same day totaled $97.58 million, with BlackRock’s ETHA accounting for $69.48 million, and Fidelity’s FETH accounting for $24.23 million.

In addition, by sorting through top institutional digital currency ETF products, it can be seen that since April, institutional fund inflows have been clearly increasing:

Bitcoin ETFs: the absolute main force in institutional allocation

‌1. BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT)‌

This is unquestionably the “money magnet” in this wave of institutional accumulation. On May 1, its single-day net inflow reached $284 million, and on May 5 it surged further to $335 million, leading the entire market for multiple consecutive days. During the nine-day rally from April 14 to April 24, IBIT was also the core channel for fund inflows. In its disclosure, BlackRock’s 2026 chairman said its digital asset–related AUM has approached $150 billion; as a flagship product, IBIT is the core vehicle through which traditional asset managers systematically roll out crypto assets.

‌2. Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC)‌

Right after BlackRock, FBTC recorded inflows of $213 million on May 1 and another $184 million on May 5. Fidelity has been involved in crypto for a long time and has well-developed infrastructure, allowing FBTC to continuously receive incremental funding—reflecting the long-term recognition by long-established asset managers of Bitcoin’s positioning as “digital gold.”

‌3. Ark 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB)‌

On May 1, it saw net inflows of $88.5 million, performing especially well among smaller and mid-sized Bitcoin ETFs. Cathie Wood’s team has consistently viewed Bitcoin as the “benchmark currency of the digital asset era.” The continued capital attraction of ARKB suggests that some institutional investors agree with this long-term narrative.

‌4. Morgan Stanley Bitcoin ETF (MSBT)‌

On April 24, it recorded net inflows of approximately $11.13 million in a single day, with historical cumulative net inflows of approximately $153 million. As a product launched by one of Wall Street’s top investment banks, the growth in MSBT holdings signals that traditional wealth management channels are increasingly including Bitcoin in clients’ asset allocation portfolios.

Ethereum ETFs: incremental funds begin to follow

‌5. BlackRock iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA)‌

On May 5, it recorded net inflows of $69.48 million, making it the brightest performer among Ethereum ETFs. In the week prior, ETHA also logged a weekly inflow of $133 million, far surpassing comparable products. BlackRock’s build-out in Ethereum ETFs complements its Bitcoin products, reflecting that some institutions are beginning to view ETH as a “second pillar” in crypto asset allocation.

‌6. Fidelity Ethereum Fund (FETH)‌

On May 5, it recorded net inflows of $24.23 million. However, it’s worth noting that in the previous week, FETH saw a large outflow of $218 million, meaning liquidity has been quite volatile. This reflects that institutions still have differing views on Ethereum—before the upgrades are implemented and the regulatory framework becomes clear, some funds tend to lock in profits on a temporary, phased basis.

This capital flow indicates:

‌1. Institutions are still focusing on Bitcoin as the core allocation: the single-day inflow scale of Bitcoin ETFs is about 5.5 times that of Ethereum, reflecting that mainstream funds in this rally are more inclined to build their crypto exposure through BTC.

‌2. Top asset management firms are leading the direction of fund flows: products from traditional financial giants such as BlackRock, BlackRock, and Fidelity have become the main sources of capital, showing that the traditional financial system’s acceptance of crypto assets continues to rise.

‌3. The market is entering a “structural buying” phase: in the weeks prior, ETF fund flows fluctuated significantly, but the concentrated inflows at the beginning of May broke the outflow trend—showing that after the price broke through $80,000, institutional investors have re-established a bullish stance.

Friends, what do you think about institutional fund inflows fueling this bull market? How long can this “institutional bull” last? Has the market reversed? Leave a comment in the comment section and let’s chat!