The US spot Bitcoin ETFs have just closed eight consecutive days of net inflows, totaling more than 2 billion dollars in less than two weeks. A rare streak, which is no coincidence. Are we on the dawn of a new cycle of institutional accumulation?

In brief

Spot Bitcoin ETFs record eight consecutive days of positive flows.

More than 2 billion dollars flowed in over this period.

BlackRock’s IBIT dominates with $167.5 million raised on Thursday.

An impressive streak driven by finance giants

Last Thursday in the United States, spot Bitcoin ETFs collectively gained 223.2 million dollars in net inflows. BlackRock leads the pack, with 167.5 million dollars recorded on its IBIT product alone. Behind it, Ark Invest/21Shares, Morgan Stanley, and Grayscale also showed positive flows for the day.

Your 1st cryptos with CoinbaseThis link uses an affiliate program.

A few slight outflows temper the picture: Fidelity, Bitwise, and VanEck collectively lost about thirty million dollars. But these occasional withdrawals do not change the overall sentiment, which remains clearly bullish.

What stands out is the consistency. Eight days straight, without interruption. This kind of regularity is not explained by speculators seeking a quick hit. These are institutional investors deliberately positioning capital with a medium-term outlook.

Bitcoin viewed as a strategic asset, not speculative

Analysts agree on one point: this rotation of capital reflects a profound shift in perception. After the outflows recorded early in 2026, institutions seem to view the Bitcoin correction as an accumulation window, not a warning signal.

BTC, on its side, confirms its relative strength. Over the last 30 days, it has advanced by about 10%. At the time of writing this article, it was trading around 77,505 dollars, slightly down by 0.40% on the day, in a range between 78,300 and 78,600 dollars.

It is admittedly far from its all-time high of 126,000 dollars reached in October 2025. But its market dominance has just crossed 60% for the first time this year, a strong technical signal often associated with consolidation phases before a rebound.

Also noteworthy: Ethereum ETFs, which themselves had recorded ten consecutive days of inflows, saw net outflows of 76 million dollars during the last session. A contrast that reinforces the idea that Bitcoin remains, for now, the preferred safe haven of major investors.

Ultimately, flows into Bitcoin ETFs send a clear message: institutional capital is methodically returning to an asset now considered strategic. If this momentum continues, the question may no longer be if BTC will regain its highs, but when.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States have seen a persistent influx of investments, driven by unwavering institutional interest. Recent data reveals that total holdings in these ETFs now amount to nearly 1.3 million BTC, worth approximately 103 billion dollars in total market value.

IBIT: The Unyielding Leader

Prominent in the realm of Bitcoin ETFs is the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), a product of BlackRock, a leading asset management firm. Over a mere span of seven trading sessions, IBIT attracted a staggering 1.4 billion dollars in new capital, comprising more than 73% of all investments in spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. At present, IBIT manages holdings of about 809,870 BTC, which constitutes a significant 62% of all U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF assets.

BlackRock, with its immense asset management portfolio, supports IBIT’s role as a foremost option for investors seeking Bitcoin exposure, especially during market fluctuations that demand high liquidity.

What Drives the Inflow Momentum?

Institutional participation extends beyond BlackRock. Morgan Stanley’s Bitcoin Trust fund, introduced in early April, has also been attracting significant interest. This fund has garnered 95 million dollars in inflows without recording any net outflows, marking its resilience since launch.

Over the past seven sessions, U.S.-based spot Bitcoin ETFs collectively amassed 1.9 billion dollars in inflows, a record-breaking figure surpassing the prior high of 1.2 billion dollars recorded in March. This influx has been instrumental in supporting Bitcoin’s price rise, which appreciated 11% in the last month, topping the 79,000 dollar mark briefly.

Has the Market Sentiment Shifted?

Despite Bitcoin’s marginal decrease of 0.40% within the past 24 hours, a reflection of short-term profit-taking, its price hovers near 74,005 dollars. The continuous capital inflows into ETFs highlight a robust market foundation.

Beyond Bitcoin, attention is gradually swinging back to Ethereum products. Spot Ether ETFs registered 633.6 million dollars in inflows over the previous ten sessions, reigniting interest among various investor segments.

● U.S.-listed Bitcoin ETFs secured 1.9 billion dollars in seven trading days.

● BlackRock’s IBIT dominates, holding 809,870 BTC.

● Ethereum products capture fresh investor focus with over 633 million dollars.

Even though the Crypto Fear and Greed Index has risen to 46, indicative of increased optimism, it remains in the zone of “fear,” signaling investor cautiousness in the overarching market climate.

BlackRock has ramped up its Bitcoin accumulation, purchasing more than $900 million worth of the asset in just five days, signaling a sharp resurgence in institutional demand. Data highlighted by Arkham Intelligence shows the asset management giant dominating flows into Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), accounting for over 90% of total inflows during the period.

The buying spree comes at a time when interest in Bitcoin investment products is accelerating across the broader market. BlackRock’s activity not only positions it as the leading force in ETF inflows but also reinforces its standing as the world’s largest Bitcoin fund manager.

ETF dominance signals institutional comeback

BlackRock’s recent purchases suggest a strong return of institutional confidence after a period of cautious positioning triggered by market volatility. Earlier price swings had led some large investors to trim exposure, but the latest wave of accumulation indicates renewed conviction.

By contributing the overwhelming majority of ETF inflows, BlackRock has effectively set the pace for institutional participation in Bitcoin markets. The scale and consistency of its buying highlight a shift from reactive trading to strategic accumulation, often seen during periods of strengthening sentiment.

Shrinking supply raises scarcity concerns

Alongside rising demand, Bitcoin’s available supply on exchanges continues to decline, intensifying discussions around a potential supply squeeze. The report notes that only about 2.6 million Bitcoin remain on exchanges, a figure that has been steadily dropping as institutional players accumulate.

Major holders such as Strategy and Metaplanet have also been increasing their positions, further tightening available supply. Strategy expanded its Bitcoin position, acquiring 34,164 BTC over the past week as part of its ongoing treasury strategy funded through equity issuance, according to a newly filed Form 8-K. This trend has sparked renewed debate among analysts about a looming “supply shock,” where demand outpaces accessible Bitcoin in the market.

Bitcoin also appears to be carving out a new trading range as fresh sources of demand emerge and selling pressure eases. Markus Thielen’s latest analysis highlights improving institutional inflows into spot ETFs, a rising institutional premium, and steady buying linked to MicroStrategy, all pointing to a gradual shift in market dynamics.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino says USDT supply has hit a record $188b, cementing the stablecoin’s dominance as broader stablecoin liquidity sits near all-time highs.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino says USDT supply has reached a record $188 billion.

The new peak comes weeks after stablecoins hit a combined $315 billion market cap.

USDT now dominates the sector as its float marches higher despite recent outflows.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino says the circulating supply of USDT has reached a new all-time high of $188 billion, extending the stablecoin’s lead over rivals as on-chain dollar demand climbs.

In a post on X, Ardoino highlighted the new record as another milestone for what he has called a “digital dollar designed for the masses,” after previously disclosing that more than 550 million people in emerging markets now rely on USDT for payments and savings.

The figure marks fresh growth from early March, when data compiled by crypto.news showed Tether’s market cap around $184 billion, accounting for roughly 58% of a then-record $315 billion stablecoin sector.

Tether’s USDT climbs to $188b all-time high

According to Tether’s own disclosures and third-party trackers, the company held around $187 billion in assets and reported over $10 billion in profit for 2025, giving it one of the largest capital cushions in the crypto industry and allowing ongoing USDT issuance to keep pace with demand.

That expansion has come despite a brief cooling earlier this year, when Bloomberg reported that USDT’s supply posted its steepest monthly drop since the FTX collapse, shrinking by about $1.5 billion in February after a $1.2 billion pullback in January as large holders rotated capital.

Ardoino has argued that those flows reflect tactical positioning rather than a structural shift away from Tether, pointing in interviews to strong demand from users in inflation-hit economies such as Argentina, who turned to stablecoins when pandemic-era restrictions made access to physical dollars harder.

In a February quarterly update, Tether said USDT’s market cap had already hit a then-record $187.3 billion as of late 2025, with total reserves of $192.9 billion and net equity of $6.3 billion, framing the business as both profitable and overcollateralized relative to its liabilities.

Ardoino has also emphasized USDT’s distribution metrics, recently noting on X that the largest single sender accounts for less than 5% of USDT transfers, versus nearly 25% for some competing stablecoins, as evidence that usage is broad-based rather than dominated by a handful of whales.

With the USDT supply now at $188 billion, Tether’s token remains the third-largest crypto asset overall by market cap behind Bitcoin and Ethereum, according to crypto.news market data.

For more context on the stablecoin landscape, crypto.news recently reported on the stablecoin market’s $226.8 billion all-time high in early 2025 and the subsequent climb to a $315 billion peak, both milestones that were driven primarily by USDT’s aggressive supply growth.

Michael Saylor warned: “Think even Bigger.” He kept his word. Strategy has just made its third largest bitcoin purchase in its history, propelling its holdings well beyond the symbolic threshold of 800,000 BTC. A machine to accumulate that obviously knows no brakes.

In brief

Strategy acquired 34,164 BTC for 2.54 billion dollars between April 13 and 19, 2026.

This is the third largest bitcoin purchase ever made by the company.

The firm now holds 815,061 BTC, bought for a total of 61.56 billion dollars.

Michael Saylor accelerates again with a major Bitcoin acquisition

Strategy officially announced the operation this Monday via a 8-K form filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Specifically, between April 13 and 19, 2026, the company acquired 34,164 bitcoins at an average price of 74,395 dollars each, for a total amount of 2.54 billion dollars.

Secure your cryptos with TrezorThis link uses an affiliate program.

An impressive number. This purchase ranks as Strategy’s third largest historic acquisition, behind the 55,500 BTC and 51,780 BTC bought in November 2024. One week earlier, the firm had already committed a billion dollars for an additional 13,927 BTC.

In total, Strategy now holds 815,061 BTC, acquired for 61.56 billion dollars, at an average price of 75,527 dollars per bitcoin. The symbolic milestone of 800,000 BTC is surpassed, and the next purchase already seems to be in the starting blocks.

The signal was readable as early as Sunday. Michael Saylor had published his now famous “Orange Dots” chart on X, accompanied by three words: “Think even Bigger.” Since 2020, this chart invariably precedes a purchase announcement within 48 hours. The markets did not get it wrong.

STRC, the financial engine behind the accumulation machine

The financing method for this acquisition deserves attention. Of the 2.54 billion committed, 2.18 billion, or 85.7%, come from the preferred stock STRC, Strategy’s variable dividend share. The remaining 366 million were raised through sales of Class A common shares (MSTR).

STRC also broke several records during the period. On April 13, Strategy recorded a historic day with about 7,741 BTC bought in a single session, thanks to the sale of 11.9 million shares through its ATM program.

The next day, it already surpassed this record with an additional 9,364 BTC. Over these two days alone, the cumulative volume reached 17,204 BTC, a 518% increase compared to the average of the previous four weeks.

This mechanism is at the heart of the Saylor machine: raising capital through innovative financial instruments, then deploying it massively into Bitcoin, without diluting historical shareholders, without touching common shares.

Strategy also announced Friday its intention to submit to a shareholder vote, at the annual meeting on June 8, a switch to STRC dividends paid twice a month.

Phong Le, CEO of the company, plainly embraces the ambition: “We would be the only preferred company in the world to pay semi-monthly dividends.” A world first that would also strengthen the share’s attractiveness to institutional investors.

In short, 815,061 BTC in portfolio, 61.56 billion dollars invested, a seasoned financing model, and still available liquidity: Strategy is not slowing down. Michael Saylor’s firm continues to redefine what it means to hold bitcoin at an institutional scale. The next orange chart will, unsurprisingly, point even higher.

Strategy is planning to switch to semi-monthly payouts for its Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock (STRC). In its Friday announcement, the company stated that the change would reduce the dead time between dividends, allowing investors to compound their gains more quickly, stabilize stock prices, and attract more investors.

On X, founder Michael Saylor reaffirmed, “These proposed changes are intended to stabilize price, dampen cyclicality, drive liquidity, and grow demand.” He added that the change would not alter STRC’s dividend responsibilities or its current annual payout rate of 11.5%.

Momentum behind the preferred stock has accelerated sharply. STRC recorded roughly $1.1 billion in daily trading volume on April 13, a new high that highlights deepening liquidity and institutional participation. The surge represents a significant jump from its historical averages and signals that the instrument is becoming a central vehicle for capital flows into Strategy’s broader Bitcoin-focused financial model.

Market participants say the updated payout cadence could improve liquidity and trading engagement around STRC, particularly as institutional interest in crypto-linked yield products continues to grow.

STRC’s total value climbed to $6.4 billion

Shareholders are set to vote on the STRC stock dividend update by June 8. So far, the STRC stock has become a massive hit, with total value ballooning to $6.4 billion. Volatility is now 2.1% over the last two months, significantly below the 13% recorded in the first eight months after launch. Saylor and his team say semi-monthly payments could bring it down even more.

More recently, Saylor also acknowledged that STRC has become a central source of funding for the company’s purchase strategy. Earlier in the week, the company bought 13,927 BTC for around $1 billion, pushing total holdings to 780,897 BTC, all backed by the sale of over 10 million STRC shares.

Aside from STRC, Strategy has also introduced other preferred stocks—STRF (Strife), STRE (Stream), STRK (Strike), and STRD (Stride)—to finance its Bitcoin purchase strategy, and unlike STRC, they feature fixed payout rates.

Strategy shares surged on Friday after Middle East geopolitical tensions eased

On Friday, Strategy shares surged as peace prospects in the Middle East sent Bitcoin higher. Iran’s foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, had assured the world that cargo ships could pass through the Strait of Hormuz without incident during the 10-day truce, which led to a rise in asset prices.

MSTR shares advanced 11.8% as Bitcoin gained 3% to $77,400, marking its highest level since mid-January. The uptick offered some relief to Strategy, which had been under strain as unrealized losses climbed into the billions amid Bitcoin’s fall to $65,600.

Following the gains, Saylor also posted on X an apparent AI-generated image of him shirtless on a luxury yacht, wearing orange shorts, with the words “Bitcoin and chill.”

However, IG Group Market Analyst Alex Rudolph noted that, even with the ceasefire news, a quick rally won’t solve underlying problems such as weak crypto demand and traders’ nervous mood. For the past six months, Strategy’s stock has been on a downward slide, losing 42% of its value from a $279 peak.

Last year, traders were worried that if the company’s stock kept crashing, they’d have to dump their Bitcoin, which would tank the whole market. Moreover, Strategy’s use of STRC had heightened concerns for some, given that billions in dividends have created lasting cost burdens for the firm.

Bitwise Senior Investment Strategist Juan Leon even commented, “Because they have such a large stockpile, they are starting to become a gorilla that can move the market. It adds more psychological pressure to the downside than to the upside, because the worry for investors becomes ever greater when they’re underwater.”

The bear market that has been ongoing since October has driven both retail and institutional investors out of the market.

However, the recent surge in Bitcoin (BTC) and altcoins has injected renewed momentum into the market, and according to Japanese giant Nomura, 80% of institutions appear willing to invest in cryptocurrencies.

According to a recent report by the Japanese financial group Nomura, 80% of institutional investors are willing to allocate 2-5% of their assets to cryptocurrencies.

According to the report, investors do not view the current market as an entry point, but rather as a preparatory phase before entry.

According to DL News, the “2026 Digital Asset Institutional Investor Survey” report indicates that institutions are more interested in yield-generating strategies such as staking, lending, and stablecoin usage, rather than simple price appreciation.

As investment priorities, more than two-thirds of participants are interested in generating returns through decentralized finance (DeFi) mechanisms such as staking, 65% are exploring lending and tokenized assets, and 63% are interested in derivatives and stablecoins.

Furthermore, 63% of participants believe stablecoins have practical use cases such as cash management, cross-border payments, and investment in tokenized assets, and they consider stablecoins issued by large financial institutions to be the most reliable.

According to Nomura’s survey results, regulatory clarity, increased awareness, and improved risk management frameworks are seen as key to further boosting institutional investment in cryptocurrencies.

US-based Allbirds, once famed for its athletic footwear, has announced a dramatic shift in its business model. The company will exit the shoe business entirely, changing both its name and core operations. Moving forward, Allbirds will rebrand as NewBird AI and focus exclusively on developing artificial intelligence infrastructure.

From sneakers to artificial intelligence

The company revealed that it has reached an agreement with American Exchange Group to transfer its footwear brand. With this strategic move, Allbirds is divesting its shoe operation and redirecting its resources into building IT infrastructure tailored to the AI sector.

As part of funding this transformation, Allbirds has secured a $50 million convertible loan. According to the official statement, this fresh capital will be used to purchase the necessary processing hardware and to establish advanced computing infrastructure to power its new AI services.

Convertible loan dwarfs prior market value

The scale of the financing is remarkable compared to the company’s previous business. The $50 million convertible loan is more than double Allbirds’ pre-announcement market capitalization of $22 million. Market data showed a staggering 300% surge in Allbirds’ stock value following the announcement.

A global shortage of AI hardware and rising demand for computing power have not only enticed tech giants, but are now drawing smaller players like Allbirds into the field as well. According to CryptoAppsy, Allbirds’ market valuation soared to $88 million after news of the transformation broke.

Recent months have seen a trend of companies, particularly those involved in bitcoin mining, pivoting toward artificial intelligence and high-performance computing spaces. Allbirds is now joining the ranks of smaller firms from diverse industries looking to seize similar opportunities in the AI market.

Risks and rewards of convertible financing

A convertible loan allows investors to initially lend capital to the company and later convert that debt into equity, typically at a discounted share price. While this approach provides vital funding, it can significantly dilute the holdings of current shareholders, making it a metric closely watched by market participants.

Convertible financing enables investors to first extend capital as debt and later convert it into shares, often at below-market prices, which can cause major dilution for existing stakeholders.

Experts believe Allbirds’ move could lead to substantial changes in its financial structure. However, the rapidly expanding AI sector is likely to attract growing interest from investors, potentially offsetting shareholder concerns about dilution.

Going forward, the market will closely watch whether NewBird AI can effectively secure processing units and build a formidable infrastructure, a critical step for a brand that is still relatively small in the burgeoning AI landscape.

Tether has introduced tether.wallet, a self-custodial digital wallet designed to give direct access to its financial ecosystem, marking a major expansion of its user-facing infrastructure. The launch connects end users to Tether’s global settlement and liquidity network, which already spans more than 160 countries and is used across payments and digital asset markets.

Tether has introduced tether.wallet, a self-custodial digital wallet designed to give direct access to its financial ecosystem, marking a major expansion of its user-facing infrastructure. The launch connects end users to Tether’s global settlement and liquidity network, which already spans more than 160 countries and is used across payments and digital asset markets.

Until now, Tether’s strength has come mainly from liquidity. USDT is widely listed, heavily traded, and used across exchanges and settlement systems. But that strength has mostly stayed at the infrastructure level, while users still rely on exchanges, fintech apps, and third-party wallets to access it.

With tether.wallet, Tether is starting to bring the full chain into one place. Issuance, distribution, custody, and spending are now being pulled into a single product it controls. That changes where Tether sits in the crypto stack.

The bigger shift is competition. Tether is no longer only competing with other stablecoins. It is now competing with wallets, neobanks, and crypto apps that currently sit between USDT and everyday users. It is moving closer to the point where users actually hold and spend digital dollars.

If adoption grows, USDT may stop being just an asset people trade and instead become a default way people save and spend inside its own ecosystem. That would reduce reliance on external platforms and give Tether more control over user activity, data, and transaction flow.

It also changes how power is distributed in stablecoins. Tether would not only provide the dollar liquidity layer but also the interface where that liquidity is used. That is a shift from being the back end of crypto markets to becoming the front end of digital dollar usage.

Meanwhile, Tether stepped into a new era of financial scrutiny as it appointed KPMG to conduct its first-ever full financial statement audit. The move signals a major shift for the $184 billion stablecoin giant, which has long relied on periodic attestations rather than comprehensive audits.

The company said the rollout aligns with its long-standing focus on financial inclusion, particularly in emerging economies where access to traditional banking services remains limited. As of March 2026, Tether reports more than 570 million users interacting with its ecosystem globally, with adoption continuing to grow across both emerging and developed markets.

Multi-asset wallet targets simplicity and global payments

The new wallet supports USD₮, USA₮, XAU₮ (tokenized gold), and Bitcoin, with compatibility across networks including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Polygon, Plasma, and the Bitcoin Lightning Network. It also introduces simplified sending through human-readable identifiers such as name@tether.me, removing reliance on complex wallet addresses.

Tether said transactions are designed to be gasless from the user perspective, with fees paid in the transferred asset itself. The wallet is fully self-custodial, meaning private keys and recovery phrases remain under user control, with all transactions signed locally before broadcast.

The application is built on Tether’s open-source Wallet Development Kit (WDK), which enables developers, devices, and AI agents to integrate and build self-custodial wallet systems. The company said this positions the infrastructure for a future where digital assets are used not only by individuals but also by autonomous systems.