BlackRock sold $22.3M in Bitcoin and $44.41M in Ethereum as ETHA saw outflows while IBIT posted strong inflows.
BlackRock completed notable cryptocurrency transactions this week as market conditions remained uncertain. The firm sold $22.3 million worth of Bitcoin and $44.4 million worth of Ethereum.
These sales occurred during a period of ETF outflows, price pressure, and heightened derivatives activity. The moves drew attention because BlackRock remains a leading institutional holder of digital assets.
Ethereum ETF Outflows and Trading Activity
On January 22, BlackRock’s spot Ethereum ETF, trading under the ticker ETHA, recorded a net outflow of 15,112 ETH.
According to Trader T, the outflow equaled about $44.41 million based on prices at the time. It ranked among the larger single-day withdrawals from the fund this year.
1/22 BlackRock ETH ETF $ETHA
Net flow: -15,112 ETH ($-44.41 million)
Volume traded: $0.7 billion https://t.co/hPIB6vRO8b pic.twitter.com/3w1xUgyiG3
— Trader T (@thepfund) January 23, 2026
Despite the outflow, ETHA reported trading volume of about $0.7 billion on the same day.
The volume showed continued buying and selling interest among investors. Activity remained steady even as net assets declined.
Market participants often see large ETF flows during periods of price uncertainty.
Funds can experience redemptions and strong trading volume at the same time. This pattern was visible across several crypto linked investment products during the week.
Bitcoin ETF Flows and Portfolio Adjustments
According to a post on X from AshCrypto, BlackRock also sold Bitcoin worth about $22.3 million during the same week. The transaction took place as Bitcoin ETF flows showed mixed activity across issuers.
Some funds recorded outflows, while others continued to attract new capital.
BREAKING: 🇺🇸 BlackRock has sold $22.3 million worth of Bitcoin and $44.4 million worth of Ethereum. pic.twitter.com/pCVrZ9rFTi
— Ash Crypto (@AshCrypto) January 23, 2026
Recent weeks have shown mixed ETF behavior across the crypto market. Both Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs have recorded periods of outflows.
These movements have aligned with broader market declines and shifting investor positioning.
Portfolio adjustments are common for large asset managers during volatile periods. Firms may rebalance holdings to manage exposure and liquidity.
These actions can occur even when long-term allocations remain unchanged.
Related Reading: Is BlackRock Exiting Bitcoin? Massive BTC Moves Spark Crypto Market Panic
Market Conditions and Broader Context
The timing of the sales matched a wider market downturn across digital assets. Crypto prices weakened as several large options contracts reached expiration.
Such events often bring increased short-term volatility.
Options expirations can lead to rapid price movements as positions are closed or rolled.
Combined with lower risk appetite, this environment has driven cautious behavior among investors. ETF flows have reflected this trend.
BlackRock has continued to describe crypto and tokenization as core investment themes for 2026.
The firm remains a major holder of Bitcoin and Ethereum through its funds. The recent sales occurred within a broader strategy that includes active risk management and portfolio oversight.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
MicroStrategy Stock Rallies as Bitcoin Breaks $78K, Unrealized Gains Return to $1.37B
MicroStrategy's stock surged 13.83% as Bitcoin reclaimed $78,000, returning the company to an unrealized profit of $1.37 billion. The rise follows easing tensions in the Middle East and a broader rally in risk assets, despite criticism of its preferred stock.
GateNews1h ago
Morgan Stanley Purchases 177.76 BTC Worth $13.75 Million
Gate News message, Morgan Stanley bought 177.76 BTC worth $13.75M three hours ago. The firm now holds 1,347.54 BTC worth $103.94M in total.
GateNews4h ago
BTC fell below 77000 USDT
Gate News bot message, Gate quotes show that BTC fell below 77000 USDT, trading at 76961.6 USDT.
CryptoRadar5h ago
NYSE Welcomes Morgan Stanley’s MSBT Launch as First Spot Bitcoin ETF Issued by a Major US Bank
Bank-backed bitcoin ETFs are accelerating institutional adoption and strengthening market credibility. The NYSE marked a new milestone as Morgan Stanley Investment Management rang the closing bell and celebrated the launch of MSBT, which the NYSE described as the first spot bitcoin ETF by a major
Coinpedia8h ago
BTC falls 0.49% in 15 minutes: fragile long leverage and active sell-off pressure resonate to weigh on the short term
From 18:00 to 18:15 (UTC) on 2026-04-17, the BTC price fluctuated and trended downward within the 77097.4 to 77573.2 USDT range. Over these 15 minutes, the return rate recorded -0.49%, and the amplitude reached 0.61%. During this period, market trading was active; short-term volatility was amplified, and trading attention increased significantly. The main driver behind this abnormal move is that the overall leverage structure is bearish and long positions are fragile. At present, the BTC perpetual contract funding rate has remained negative for 11 consecutive days, indicating that the bears have the upper hand in the market. In addition, futures open interest (OI) is about 628.3 billion USDT, which is at a historical high. During the anomaly window, trading volume increased noticeably. On-chain data shows large amounts of BTC flowing from long-term holder addresses to exchanges, suggesting that active sell orders may have triggered longs to passively reduce positions, amplifying downward price pressure. Moreover, institutional positioning enthusiasm in the mainstream contract market has cooled off; liquidity boundaries have tightened, causing large-trade activity to have an amplified effect on market volatility. In the options market, implied volatility rose to 39.81%, increasing demand for downside protection and reflecting a defensive posture among market participants. Macro-environment volatility and some capital flowing into safe-haven assets, together with the recent regulatory uncertainty-related historical events, reinforced the move, pushing overall market risk appetite lower. Current BTC leverage risks still remain. If, in the future, there are concentrated sell-offs, volatility may be further amplified. It is recommended to continue monitoring sustained high OI levels, the persistence of negative funding rates, and on-chain transfers of large amounts of funds, and to stay alert for whale behavior and any disruptions to market sentiment caused by macro-policy developments. For subsequent price action, please watch key support levels, institutional and whale on-chain moves, and relevant global market news, and guard against short-term risks.
GateNews10h ago
