{"id":72699,"date":"2026-05-18T16:25:05","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T16:25:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crowdfundjunction.com\/blog\/blackrock-and-ark-drive-1b-bitcoin-etf-selloff-as-xrp-demand-accelerates\/"},"modified":"2026-05-18T16:25:05","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T16:25:05","slug":"blackrock-and-ark-drive-1b-bitcoin-etf-selloff-as-xrp-demand-accelerates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crowdfundjunction.com\/blog\/blackrock-and-ark-drive-1b-bitcoin-etf-selloff-as-xrp-demand-accelerates\/","title":{"rendered":"Blackrock and Ark Drive $1B Bitcoin ETF Selloff as XRP Demand Accelerates"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>(Originally posted on : Bitcoin News )<\/b><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"@container mb-[25px] rounded-sm overflow-clip py-0.5 pr-0.5 pl-2.5 bg-success-100\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-m overflow-clip rounded-[6px] !bg-success-10 p-3 @[420px]:p-m\">\n<h2 class=\"m-0 flex items-center gap-s text-[19px] !text-[#1c1c1c] md:text-[20px]\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"10\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 10\" fill=\"none\" class=\"shrink-0 text-success-100\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M1 1.5h14\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\/><path d=\"M1 8.5h10\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2.5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\/><\/svg><span>Key Takeaways<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul class=\"m-0 flex list-none flex-col gap-m pl-0\">\n<li class=\"m-0 flex items-start gap-s !text-[#434248]\"><span class=\"mt-2 size-2 shrink-0 rounded-full bg-success-100\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><span class=\"text-body\">Bitcoin ETFs lost $1B, ending a 6-week inflow streak led by ARKB and IBIT exits.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 flex items-start gap-s !text-[#434248]\"><span class=\"mt-2 size-2 shrink-0 rounded-full bg-success-100\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><span class=\"text-body\">Ether ETFs shed $255M, while XRP and solana gained $60.5M and $58.12M, respectively.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 flex items-start gap-s !text-[#434248]\"><span class=\"mt-2 size-2 shrink-0 rounded-full bg-success-100\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><span class=\"text-body\">XRP and solana demand rose as investors favored crypto assets tied to regulation and utility.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Franklin and Bitwise Drive <span>XRP<\/span> ETF Gains as <span>Bitcoin<\/span> Sentiment Weakens<\/h2>\n<p>The mood in digital asset markets shifted decisively between May 11 and May 15. What began as a cautious pullback quickly evolved into one of the weakest weeks for <span>bitcoin<\/span> exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in recent months, driven by heavy institutional selling across several of the market\u2019s largest funds.<\/p>\n<p>Spot <span>bitcoin ETFs<\/span> recorded a net outflow of $1 billion for the week, ending six consecutive weeks of positive flows. The pressure was widespread, but a handful of products accounted for the bulk of the decline.<\/p>\n<p>Ark &amp; 21Shares\u2019 ARKB led all outflows with $324.2 million leaving the fund. Blackrock\u2019s IBIT followed closely, with $317.1 million in net outflows, a notable shift for a product that has often served as the market\u2019s strongest inflow engine. Fidelity\u2019s FBTC lost another $259 million, while Grayscale\u2019s GBTC posted $92.8 million in outflows.<\/p>\n<p>Additional weakness came from Bitwise\u2019s BITB and Franklin\u2019s EZBC, which shed $46.8 million and $21 million, respectively.<\/p>\n<p>There were only a few pockets of resilience. Morgan Stanley\u2019s MSBT stood out with $39.1 million in inflows, while Vaneck\u2019s HODL and Grayscale\u2019s <span>BTC<\/span> product added $12.1 million and $12.6 million. Invesco\u2019s BTCO managed a marginal positive flow of $1.6 million.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_815028\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-815028\" style=\"width:848px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/static.news.bitcoin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/blackrock-and-ark-drive-1b-bitcoin-etf-selloff-as-xrp-demand-accelerates_nwmk.png?X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&amp;X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&amp;X-Amz-Credential=AKIARQKIT2TMGZBKV2L6%2F20260518%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&amp;X-Amz-Date=20260518T101700Z&amp;X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&amp;X-Amz-Expires=600&amp;X-Amz-Signature=fc641a87c86c83e73b31618aa24cae60c6a7d2cdc5a4ac248a3098e958e51c4a\"><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-815028\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">$1 billion outflow hits <span>bitcoin ETFs<\/span> after six weeks of inflows.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Despite the heavy withdrawals, trading activity remained elevated throughout the week, signaling that institutional participation has not faded even as sentiment turns more defensive.<\/p>\n<p>Ether ETFs faced a similarly difficult environment. Spot ether funds recorded a weekly net outflow of $255.11 million, extending a broader period of caution around the asset class.<\/p>\n<p>Blackrock\u2019s ETHA and Fidelity\u2019s FETH consistently led the declines during the week, with several sessions marked by sizable institutional exits. Blackrock\u2019s ETHB occasionally attracted inflows and acted as a partial stabilizer, but the support was not enough to reverse the broader negative trend.<\/p>\n<p>The divergence became more apparent outside the two largest <span>crypto<\/span> assets.<\/p>\n<p>Spot <span>XRP<\/span> ETFs recorded a net inflow of $60.50 million for the week, making them one of the strongest-performing categories in the broader <span>crypto<\/span> ETF market. Investor appetite remained steady across products from Franklin, Bitwise, Canary, and Grayscale, reflecting growing interest in XRP-related infrastructure and regulatory narratives.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_815030\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-815030\" style=\"width:846px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/static.news.bitcoin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/blackrock-and-ark-drive-1b-bitcoin-etf-selloff-as-xrp-demand-accelerates1_nwmk.png?X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&amp;X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&amp;X-Amz-Credential=AKIARQKIT2TMGZBKV2L6%2F20260518%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&amp;X-Amz-Date=20260518T101909Z&amp;X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&amp;X-Amz-Expires=600&amp;X-Amz-Signature=5231cc056de0743fc82e55d81483982612a15fff428efd1c571ec81fb0de7fd2\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-815030\" src=\"https:\/\/static.news.bitcoin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/blackrock-and-ark-drive-1b-bitcoin-etf-selloff-as-xrp-demand-accelerates1_nwmk.png\" alt=\"Blackrock and Ark Drive $1B Bitcoin ETF Selloff as XRP Demand Accelerates\" width=\"846\" height=\"488\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.news.bitcoin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/blackrock-and-ark-drive-1b-bitcoin-etf-selloff-as-xrp-demand-accelerates1_nwmk-300x173.png 300w, https:\/\/static.news.bitcoin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/blackrock-and-ark-drive-1b-bitcoin-etf-selloff-as-xrp-demand-accelerates1_nwmk-768x443.png 768w, https:\/\/static.news.bitcoin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/blackrock-and-ark-drive-1b-bitcoin-etf-selloff-as-xrp-demand-accelerates1_nwmk.png 846w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 846px) 100vw, 846px\"\/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-815030\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"> <span>XRP<\/span> ETFs have seen steady inflows week after week.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Momentum around the proposed <a href=\"https:\/\/news.bitcoin.com\/xrp-hits-session-highs-as-clarity-act-advances-to-full-senate\/\">CLARITY Act<\/a> also appeared to support sentiment. Market participants increasingly view <span>XRP<\/span> as a potential beneficiary of clearer digital asset regulation and institutional settlement adoption.<\/p>\n<p> <span>Solana<\/span> ETFs also attracted consistent demand, posting net inflows of $58.12 million over the week. Bitwise\u2019s BSOL and Fidelity\u2019s FSOL led most of the gains, with investors continuing to position around <a href=\"https:\/\/markets.bitcoin.com\/crypto\/solana?utm_source=bitcoin_news\" class=\"lar_link lar_link_outgoing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Solana<\/a>\u2019s growing ecosystem and institutional relevance.<\/p>\n<p>The week ultimately highlighted a changing dynamic within <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bitcoin.com\/get-started\/a-quick-introduction-to-crypto\/\" class=\"lar_link lar_link_outgoing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">crypto<\/a> ETF markets. Capital is no longer flowing uniformly into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.binance.com\/en\/price\/bitcoin\" class=\"lar_link lar_link_outgoing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">bitcoin<\/a> and ether. Instead, investors are becoming more selective, rotating toward assets tied to emerging utility, scalability, and regulatory clarity.<\/p>\n<p>For now, the broad institutional appetite for <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bitcoin.com\/get-started\/a-quick-introduction-to-crypto\/\" class=\"lar_link lar_link_outgoing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">crypto<\/a> remains intact.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/news.bitcoin.com\/blackrock-and-ark-drive-1b-bitcoin-etf-selloff-as-xrp-demand-accelerates\/\">Source link <\/a><br \/>\n<br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(Originally posted on : Bitcoin News ) Key Takeaways Bitcoin ETFs lost $1B, ending a 6-week inflow streak led by ARKB and IBIT exits. Ether ETFs shed $255M, while XRP and solana gained $60.5M and $58.12M, respectively. XRP and solana demand rose as investors favored crypto assets tied to regulation and utility. Franklin and Bitwise [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3947362377,"featured_media":72700,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/crowdfundjunction.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72699"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/crowdfundjunction.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/crowdfundjunction.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crowdfundjunction.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3947362377"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crowdfundjunction.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72699"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/crowdfundjunction.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72699\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crowdfundjunction.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/72700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/crowdfundjunction.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72699"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crowdfundjunction.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72699"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crowdfundjunction.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72699"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}