Bitcoin ETFs Rebound with $477 Million Inflows as Gold Stumbles

Key Takeaways:

• Bitcoin ETFs regained momentum after four days of outflows totaling over $1 billion.
• Ether ETFs also showed signs of recovery, ending a three-day losing streak with $141.6 million in inflows.
• The former Binance CEO noted that while gold will not fall to zero, Bitcoin remains the stronger asset.

U.S. Bitcoin ETFs rebounded sharply on October 21, recording $477.2 million in net inflows led by BlackRock’s IBIT fund. This resurgence coincided with a major drop in gold prices, fueling speculation about Bitcoin's growing appeal as a modern safe-haven asset.          

Positive Momentum Ends Four-Day Streak of Outflows

According to Farside Investors’ data, BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) led the surge with $210.9 million in inflows, the largest among all funds for the day. 

ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) followed with $162.9 million, while Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) added $34.1 million. 

Nine of the twelve active Bitcoin ETFs ended the day with positive inflows, while Hashdex, WisdomTree, and Grayscale stayed flat.          

Related: U.S. Bitcoin ETFs Record $326 Million Outflow Amid Trade War Fears

The recovery was extended to Ether-based products. Spot Ethereum ETFs recorded $141.6 million in inflows that same day, ending a three-day outflow period totaling $434.8 million in redemptions.

Fidelity’s FETH led the group with $59 million in new investments, followed by funds from BlackRock, Grayscale, and VanEck, which also posted positive results.

Trading activity remains high. Bitcoin ETFs saw $7.41 billion in total trade volume on October 21. 

This continues a trend of heightened activity in October, with volumes ranging between $5 billion and $9.78 billion this month, a major increase from September's range of $2 billion to $4 billion.

Gold’s Drop Spurs Demand for Bitcoin and Ether       

The shift in capital back into crypto ETFs occurred alongside a sharp 6.3% dip in gold prices, the metal's steepest decline since 2013. The price decline erased about $1.7 trillion from gold's market capitalization, drawing attention from investors.

JUST IN: $1.75 trillion wiped out from Gold's market cap today. pic.twitter.com/T5BDadG0IK

— Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) October 21, 2025

Gold has long been considered a reliable store of value, but Bitcoin’s appeal as a digital, limited-supply asset continues to grow. 

The debate over which asset offers better protection remains alive. Some analysts even expect an outcome of gold to hit zero value, though others disagree. 

Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao said the metal will not go to zero but believes Bitcoin will always outperform in the long run.

Observers like Joe Carlasare and WatcherGuru have noted the ongoing shift in sentiment as investors continue to favour digital assets. 

Bitcoin ETFs, now seen by many as a modern haven, are shaping how investors define security in an uncertain global market.