BlackRock’s IBIT ETF Attracts $358 Million as Bitcoin Nears $73,000
BlackRock’s IBIT ETF recorded $358 million in net inflows Wednesday, fueling Bitcoin’s rally toward $73,000 after Middle East ceasefire hopes eased oil prices and repriced Fed policy expectations. Concurrently, over $427 million of bearish positions were liquidated, while whale wallets added BTC, signaling potential for further upside momentum.
1. IBIT ETF Inflow Surge
BlackRock’s IBIT ETF drew $358 million in net new assets on Wednesday, marking a sharp rebound after two days of outflows. Morgan Stanley’s new Bitcoin Trust added $34 million in day-one inflows, highlighting renewed institutional confidence in digital assets.
2. Price Rally Drivers
Bitcoin approached $73,000 after hopes for a Middle East ceasefire deflated crude oil prices, lowering inflation expectations. The repriced outlook boosted probabilities of Federal Reserve rate cuts, underpinning a broad risk-on shift into high-beta assets.
3. Derivatives Short Squeeze
A surge above $71,000 triggered forced liquidations exceeding $427 million in bearish futures positions, while roughly $6 billion of leveraged shorts remains clustered between $73,500 and $75,000. Traders are bracing for a potential liquidation cascade that could accelerate the advance if support holds.
4. Whale Accumulation Trends
On-chain data shows wallets holding more than 10,000 BTC saw net inflows for only the second week of 2026, signaling large-scale accumulation. Combined with the 2024 halving’s 3.125 BTC block reward, this trend suggests a looming supply squeeze that could redefine Bitcoin’s valuation baseline.