Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs pulled in a combined $2.6 billion through Aug. 21, their strongest weekly haul of 2026, as Bitcoin briefly neared $80,000 and Ethereum topped $2,500. The rally coincided with falling Treasury yields, fresh White House comments on crypto, and new SEC and CFTC regulatory moves.
US spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs pulled in a combined $2.6 billion in the five trading sessions through Aug. 21, their strongest weekly inflow of 2026. Bitcoin funds drew $1.918 billion, according to SoSoValue data. Ethereum funds attracted $697.2 million over the same period.
Bitcoin funds recorded inflows every day of the week, pushing cumulative net subscriptions since their January 2024 debut to $53.7 billion. The weekly total was also their largest since the market selloff in October 2025. Ethereum funds, meanwhile, had their best showing since the week ended Oct. 3, when they attracted nearly $1.3 billion.
The renewed demand coincided with one of crypto's strongest rallies in years. Bitcoin climbed from roughly $62,300 to briefly trade near $80,000 Friday, while Ethereum surged to a seven-month high above $2,500. Prices have since retraced, with Bitcoin near $76,550 and Ethereum around $2,400, according to CryptoSlate data.
Treasury buybacks and Washington moves lift sentiment
The rally drew on a rare convergence of macro and policy catalysts. The US Treasury said Aug. 19 it would double the maximum size of its liquidity-support buybacks for 10- to 20-year and 20- to 30-year securities to at least $4 billion per operation, and long-term yields fell afterward, easing financial conditions.
Momentum built further after President Donald Trump met crypto executives at the White House and said the US was considering accumulating large amounts of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, though the comments did not create new authority for open-market purchases. The SEC also proposed Regulation Crypto Assets on Aug. 18, its first tailored framework for crypto fundraising. The CFTC convened the first meeting of its Innovation Advisory Committee two days later, with executives from Coinbase, Uniswap Labs and BitGo in attendance.
Fresh capital, not just short covering
Bitcoin reclaimed its 200-day moving average during the advance, while billions of dollars in leveraged short positions were liquidated. Ecoinometrics said ETF demand had been gradually recovering through August but stayed modest until the week's final sessions, when buying accelerated alongside the technical breakout.
The research platform's ETF-flow model now places Bitcoin in a supported range of $67,000 to $78,000, with fair value near $72,000. The next test is whether subscriptions stay positive after Bitcoin's roughly 25% weekly advance and once forced liquidations of bearish positions subside.
Source: CryptoSlate
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