The US crypto market has started October with a clear split between Bitcoin and Ether. Data reported on October 5, 2026, shows that US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, had a third straight week of net inflows. At the same time, Ether ETFs moved in the opposite direction and saw a large amount of money leave the funds.
Bitcoin ETFs drew $241.1 million in net inflows last week, based on data from SoSoValue. This result gives Bitcoin funds a third straight week of positive flows. The figure is far smaller than the $2.4 billion that came into the funds in the week before, but the continued positive flow still stands out.
The latest data also shows that total net inflows into US spot Bitcoin ETFs have reached $57.8 billion since launch. For 2026 so far, Bitcoin ETFs have recorded about $1.2 billion in net inflows. These figures show that demand for Bitcoin through regulated investment products remains strong, even as the size of weekly flows can change sharply from one period to another.
A Third Straight Week Matters
A single week of ETF inflows does not always tell investors much about the wider market. Large funds can see short-term changes due to portfolio moves, risk changes or market conditions. A three-week streak, however, gives a clearer picture of continued demand.
The latest $241.1 million figure comes after two very different weeks. Bitcoin ETFs added about $2.4 billion in one earlier week and $6.2 million in the other. This means the latest result is much smaller than the $2.4 billion figure, but it still keeps the streak alive.
That difference is important. It would be wrong to say that demand has grown at the same pace throughout the three-week period. The data shows the opposite. The size of the inflow has fallen sharply. Yet, investors still put more money into Bitcoin ETFs than they took out during the latest week.
For the Bitcoin market, that gives a positive signal. It shows that the recent rise in Bitcoin has not stopped investors from using ETFs as a way to gain exposure to the asset.
Bitcoin Price Stays Near $86,200
Bitcoin was trading at about $86,200 at the time of the October 5 report, according to CoinGecko. The asset was up about 3.7% over the past seven days. This price move came at a time when Bitcoin ETFs also had a positive weekly flow.
The combination is worth attention because ETF flows can give some insight into investor demand. When money enters spot Bitcoin ETFs, the funds need to deal with that demand through their underlying Bitcoin holdings. This makes ETF activity an important part of the broader crypto market picture.
Still, ETF inflows do not guarantee a rise in Bitcoin’s price. Prices can also react to interest rates, global markets, investor risk appetite, derivatives activity and other factors. The current data simply shows that the ETF side of the Bitcoin market remains positive.
Bitcoin also faced a key price level near $87,000 on October 5. A report from Barron’s said Bitcoin had recovered to about $86,190, but it had not yet moved above the $87,000 level. The report noted that lower expectations for another Federal Reserve rate hike could support risk assets, although high inflation and Treasury yields could limit further gains.
Ether ETFs Move in the Opposite Direction
The picture looks very different for Ether. US spot Ether ETFs recorded $138 million in net outflows last week, according to SoSoValue data. This means more money left Ether funds than entered them during the period.
The shift is notable because Ether ETFs had a strong result just one week earlier. They attracted $690 million before the latest $138 million outflow. The move from a $690 million inflow to a $138 million outflow shows how quickly fund demand can change in the crypto market.
Even with the latest outflow, Ether ETFs remain positive for the year. Their year-to-date net inflows stand at about $1.5 billion. So the latest withdrawal does not erase the broader demand that Ether funds have received during 2026.
Ether itself was trading at about $2,727 at the time of the report. It was up about 3% over the past seven days. This creates an interesting contrast. The price of Ether rose over the week, yet investors still took $138 million out of its ETFs.
Why the Ether Outflow Is Important
The latest Ether ETF data shows that price performance and fund flows do not always move in the same direction. A cryptocurrency can rise in price even when ETF investors reduce their positions.
There can be several reasons for such a move. Investors may take profits after a price rise. Some may move money between different crypto assets. Others may change their portfolio because of wider market conditions. ETF flow data alone cannot tell us the exact reason for each investor’s decision.
This is why the $138 million figure should not be treated as proof that investors have lost faith in Ether. The larger year-to-date number gives a wider view. Ether ETFs still have about $1.5 billion in net inflows for the year, which means the asset has attracted substantial capital through these products despite the latest weekly loss.
Bitcoin and Ether Show a Clear Divide
The latest figures create a simple but important picture. Bitcoin and Ether are both major crypto assets, but ETF investors are not treating them in the same way at this moment.
Bitcoin funds have now posted three straight weeks of net inflows. Ether funds, after a strong $690 million inflow in the previous week, have now recorded a $138 million outflow. This does not mean Bitcoin will always outperform Ether, but it does show stronger recent demand for Bitcoin-based investment products.
The difference also comes at a time when Bitcoin remains near $86,200 and Ether remains near $2,727. Both assets have gained over the past seven days, yet the money flow into their ETFs has moved in different directions.
For investors, this split may be one of the more important crypto market signals to watch as October develops. If Bitcoin ETFs continue to receive money while Ether ETFs continue to lose money, the gap could become more meaningful. If Ether flows turn positive again, the latest outflow could instead prove to be a short-term move.
Zcash Funds See Their First Weekly Outflow
The difference among crypto ETFs goes beyond Bitcoin and Ether. Zcash funds also had a notable week. They recorded their first weekly outflow on record, with about $94 million leaving the funds.
That result stands out because the Zcash products had not recorded a weekly net outflow before this period. The $94 million withdrawal therefore marks a change in their flow history.
The move also shows that demand is not equally strong across the crypto ETF market. While Bitcoin funds continue to post positive flows, some smaller crypto products are facing much more pressure.
Zcash has also seen strong price activity this year, which can lead to changes in investor behavior. A large withdrawal does not by itself explain whether investors expect a fall in the asset or simply chose to take profits after a strong move.
Solana and XRP Keep Their Positive Streaks
Solana and XRP offer a different picture. Their ETFs continued to attract fresh money during the latest week.
Solana ETFs recorded $2.4 million in inflows, while XRP ETFs recorded $4.7 million in inflows. The amounts are small compared with Bitcoin’s $241.1 million, but both assets continued their respective inflow streaks.
These figures matter because they show that investors are not focused only on Bitcoin. There is still demand for selected altcoin products, even as the size of that demand remains much lower than the money that flows into Bitcoin ETFs.
The Solana and XRP numbers also show how different parts of the crypto market can behave at the same time. Bitcoin can receive hundreds of millions of dollars, Ether can lose more than a hundred million dollars, and smaller assets can still record positive flows.
Investor Mood Remains in Greed Territory
The broader mood in the crypto market also stayed positive, although it became slightly less strong. Alternative.me’s Crypto Fear & Greed Index stood at 70, which remains in the “Greed” zone. The previous reading was 74.
The drop from 74 to 70 shows a small cooling in market mood. Still, a score of 70 means the market remains firmly on the optimistic side of the scale.
This matters because investor mood can influence how people react to price changes. When sentiment is strong, traders may be more willing to accept risk. When sentiment falls, even a small price decline can cause a larger reaction.
For now, the index does not show broad fear. Instead, it points to continued confidence, with some caution.
What the Latest ETF Data Really Shows
The most important message from the October 5 data is not that all crypto funds are rising or that all crypto investors are bullish. The picture is more mixed.
Bitcoin has the clearest positive signal. Its ETFs have recorded a third straight week of inflows, with $241.1 million added last week. Total net inflows since launch have reached $57.8 billion, while 2026 net inflows stand at about $1.2 billion.
Ether tells a different story. Its ETFs lost $138 million last week after a $690 million inflow the week before. Yet the year-to-date number remains positive at about $1.5 billion.
The altcoin market is also split. Zcash funds lost about $94 million, while Solana and XRP ETFs gained $2.4 million and $4.7 million, respectively.
October Could Give a Clearer Signal
The first few weeks of October could help show whether the latest figures are part of a wider trend or simply a short-term change in fund demand.
For Bitcoin, the key question is whether the three-week inflow streak can continue. The size of the latest inflow was much lower than the $2.4 billion figure from the previous period, so investors will likely watch whether fresh money returns at a stronger pace.
For Ether, the focus will be on whether the $138 million outflow continues or reverses. A return to positive flows would suggest that the latest withdrawal was temporary. Another week of heavy outflows could create a different picture.
Bitcoin’s price will also remain important. At about $86,200, the asset was close to the $87,000 level that has acted as a key test. A move above that level, supported by healthy ETF demand, could improve market confidence. A failure to break higher could lead traders to pay more attention to risk and leverage.
For now, the October 5 data presents a market with strong interest in Bitcoin, weaker short-term demand for Ether funds, and selective interest in other crypto assets. The overall mood remains in “Greed” territory, but the lower reading shows that investors are a little less confident than before.
The key takeaway is simple: Bitcoin ETF demand remains positive for a third straight week, while Ether has faced a sharp reversal in fund flows. The next few weeks should show whether this gap becomes a lasting trend or only a short part of the wider crypto market cycle.
Also Read – What Investors Learn from Price Averages and Trend
