The price of Bitcoin has surged past $97,000 this week, reaching its highest point in over two months due to a combination of economic developments and significant inflows into U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
As we enter 2026, cryptocurrency investors seem to be following a well-known strategy by heavily investing in Bitcoin ETFs.
This Tuesday saw the twelve U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin funds collectively experience around $760 million in net inflows—the largest single-day total since October. Leading the charge was Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC), which attracted approximately $351 million, while Bitwise’s BITB and BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) also enjoyed notable increases.
The upward trend continued on Wednesday. According to data from SoSoValue, spot Bitcoin ETFs garnered an additional $843.6 million, marking three consecutive days of positive inflows and bringing the total for that period to about $1.71 billion.
Out of the twelve funds, eight reported net inflows; notably, BlackRock’s IBIT alone accounted for $648 million of this influx—highlighting its appeal among institutional investors.
This renewed interest is reflected in Bitcoin’s price movements. After trading below $92,000 for much of November and December, BTC broke through decisively this week into the range between $94,000 and $97,000 as it heads toward the coveted mark of $100,000.
This rally triggered approximately $700 million worth of short liquidations that heightened volatility further according to data from Bitcoin Magazine.
ETF flows have emerged as a crucial indicator of institutional sentiment since these products were introduced early last year. Although cumulative inflows surpassed more than $56 billion by mid-January 2024 after turning negative late December due to typical end-of-year cautionary measures.
The sharp turnaround observed this week indicates that investors are once again perceiving Bitcoin as both a growth asset and a means for diversification—evident through its rising price levels.
Economic Factors Influencing Bitcoin Prices
Broader macroeconomic conditions have also influenced these trends significantly. A softer-than-anticipated U.S Consumer Price Index (CPI) reading released on January 13 alleviated concerns regarding aggressive monetary tightening policies which boosted “risk-on” market sentiments.
Additively complicating matters are escalating geopolitical tensions alongside political uncertainties within the United States; both factors have led many towards alternative stores like cryptocurrencies including Bitcoins’ value proposition itself!
Nevertheless volatility risks persist with markets keenly observing potential rulings from U.S Supreme Court concerning President Donald Trump’s tariffs—a decision that could introduce new uncertainties into global trade dynamics & financial landscapes alike!
As it stands now at writing time; The current trading value stands at around $97k with roughly $67 billion in daily volume reflecting an increase rate nearing 2%. It sits just shy about one percent below its seven-day peak recorded earlier ($97k705) yet remains two percent above lows noted during same timeframe ($95k318). Currently circulating supply equals nearly twenty-million BTC, translating into an approximate market cap totaling around $1 trillion four hundred fifty-six billion dollars—which too reflects similar uptick rates observed today!
This article titled “Bitcoin Price Climbs Above $97K on $1.7B ETF Inflow Surge,” originally appeared on *Bitcoin Magazine* authored by Micah Zimmerman
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