Spot Bitcoin ETFs Could Restore ‘Strong’ Market Structure, Analysis Explains
Bitcoin’s bear market caught some sections of the crypto crowd by surprise, as several investors expected prices to recover through various stages of correction. However, other segments of the market saw this phase of correction, using on-chain data as a basis for their predictions.
One such group is on-chain data analysts who have called the emergence of a bear market based on the apparent decline in demand. Using this same model, a prominent market researcher has come up with a potential catalyst for Bitcoin’s price recovery.
Bitcoin ETFs Launch 2026 With $1.8 Billion in Outflows
In a recent post on social media X, anonymous commentator Darkfost shared Bitcoin ETFs (exchange-traded funds) may play a major role in changing the crypto market. According to market data, demand for crypto in exchange-traded funds has been weak so far in 2026.
This state of caution from investors and “dwindling income” has had a major impact on the market, as prices continue to fall sharply every week. Darkfost stressed that early 2026 looked like a period of de-risking on the part of the Bitcoin ETF, which was largely driven by capital inflows and strong speculative momentum.
Darkfost wrote in the X post:
Market participants appear to be reassessing their risk exposure in an uncertain macroeconomic and geopolitical environment.
Unsurprisingly, the latest on-chain data supports the growing apathy of investors towards the Bitcoin ETF market. According to the data highlighted by Darkfost, the year 2026 starts with about 1.8 billion dollars in total output, which is very different from the positive levels witnessed in 2024 and early 2025.
Source: @Darkfost_Coc on X
Sustained capital inflows and massive expansion of capital markets have characterized these times. However, it is worth mentioning that 2025 ended on a very negative note, with ETF revenues falling from $27 billion to around $20 billion by the end of the year.
Therefore, this trend shows that the current weakness in demand looks like a gradual decline rather than a sudden decline. In any case, this weakness in demand has left the Bitcoin market vulnerable and vulnerable to selling pressure and short-term volatility.
Darkfost concluded that continued Bitcoin ETF inflows could be a “catalyst” to restore strong market structure and investor confidence. The signs, however, have been unencouraging so far, as US-based BTC exchanges have bled nearly $360 million in net outflows over the past week.
Bitcoin Price At A Glance
As of this writing, the price of BTC stands at around $70,600, representing a jump of almost 2% in the last 24 hours.
The price of BTC crosses $70,000 on the daily timeframe | Source: BTCUSDT chart on TradingView
Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView
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