Leading the outflow charge was BlackRock’s IBIT led the outflows this week, with around $240 million withdrawn, followed by Fidelity’s FBTC, which recorded approximately $163.2 million in net outflows.
This week’s outflows showed a major improvement compared with the previous week, when Bitcoin ETFs recorded $818.8 million in total outflows between October 5 and 9, marking a decline of about 50%
These withdrawals show that institutional demand remains weak, even though selling has eased from the previous week.
U.S and Iran Tensions Add to Market Pressure
Rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran have added to fears of a wider conflict. The U.S. reportedly asked Iran for permission to strike the Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site without retaliation, but Iran rejected the request.
BREAKING: The US asked Iran for permission to strike Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site without retaliation, and Iran rejected the request, per IRIB state media correspondent Morteza Ghoroghi.
He said “Trump’s statements today point to war within the next 24 hours,” and that…
— The Hormuz Letter (@HormuzLetter) October 17, 2026
An Iranian official warned that “Trump’s statements today point to war within the next 24 hours,” adding that Iran’s military forces were “in a state of complete readiness.”
Meanwhile, tensions around shipping routes have kept Brent crude oil near $106 a barrel, while U.S. 10-year Treasury yields have climbed to 5.25%
Bitcoin Struggles to Recover Above $84K
Despite the slower pace of ETF withdrawals, Bitcoin’s price continues to drop. Since last week, BTC price fell from around $87,000 last week to $80,395 before recovering to $84,352 this week.
However, the recovery failed to hold, and Bitcoin later dropped below $81,000, touching nearly $80,250.
Bitcoin’s next move will depend on whether ETF outflows continue to ease and whether economic and geopolitical tensions calm down.
For now, Bitcoin needs to reclaim the $84,000 level to stabilize and prevent further declines.
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