Bitcoin ETF Inflows Reverse as Fed’s Hawkish Outlook Triggers Market Caution

Spot bitcoin BTC$117,181.08 ETFs saw their first daily outflows in over a week on Wednesday, shedding a net $51.28 million, as investors reacted to the Federal Reserve’s unexpectedly cautious outlook on future policy.

The outflow broke a seven-day streak that had brought in nearly $3 billion. Assets under management remain above $150 billion, according to SoSoValue data, but the tone in markets shifted after Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized economic uncertainty and signaled fewer cuts ahead than traders had hoped.

As expected, the Fed lowered its benchmark rate by 25 basis points, bringing it to a range of 4.00% to 4.25%, in its first cut of the year. But the real surprise came from the central bank's updated projections, which indicated just two more cuts in 2025 and fewer in 2026 than markets had priced in.

In a cautious press conference, Powell warned of “elevated” inflation and rising “downside risks” to employment, striking a tone that left traders wary. Markets interpreted the move as a hawkish cut, triggering a mild pullback in risk assets.

Ethereum ETFs also saw redemptions, with net outflows for a second straight day. Withdrawals amounted to $1.89 million following the exit of $61.7 million the day before.

Cryptocurrency prices edged higher. Bitcoin rose around 0.3% in the last 24 hours while ether moved up 1.7%. The broader CoinDesk 20 (CD20) index rose 2%.