- Bitcoin ETFs absorbed over 25,000 BTC this week as BlackRock and Fidelity led a renewed institutional accumulation wave.
- BlackRock’s 52,800 ETH buy and Semler’s BTC yield strategy highlight rising crypto confidence across major capital allocators.
- Whale wallets now hold over 3.5M BTC, mirroring bullish ETF inflows and signaling long-term conviction in Bitcoin’s upside potential.
Institutional investors are accelerating their crypto exposure through ETFs, with billions pouring into Bitcoin and Ethereum products this week. Analytics highlight record inflows led by BlackRock and Fidelity, further tightening supply across both networks.
ETF Inflows Signal Institutional Hunger for BTC and ETH
According to a post by Lookonchain on May 23, Bitcoin ETFs registered net inflows of 25,697 BTC worth $2.81 billion, while Ethereum ETFs added 51,916 ETH valued at $133.78 million. This wave of demand marks one of the largest weekly spikes in 2025.
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) emerged as the most aggressive buyer, acquiring 7,862 BTC in a day and 19,655 BTC during the week. Fidelity’s FBTC followed, netting 3,316 BTC. Meanwhile, Grayscale’s GBTC saw 833 BTC in outflows, reinforcing a shift in institutional preference.
In the Ethereum ETF sector, iShares’ ETHA expanded its holdings by 33,599 ETH, and Fidelity’s ETHF added 19,481 ETH. Other issuers like Bitwise, Grayscale Mini, and QETH posted steady growth, though Grayscale’s ETHE bled 7,101 ETH, reflecting diverging investor sentiment.
BlackRock’s ETH Buy and Semler’s BTC Yield Strategy
BlackRock made headlines with a 52,800 ETH acquisition valued at $20.7 million. The move underscores a growing dual focus on Ethereum among large allocators, driven by its rising utility in staking and real-world asset tokenization.
Simultaneously, Semler Scientific continued its aggressive BTC strategy. According to a report by Semler Scientific by Eric Semler, the firm purchased 455 BTC for $50 million between May 13 and May 22, citing a 25.8% year-to-date Bitcoin yield. The firm now holds 4,264 BTC, worth over $474 million at current market value.
Funding for these acquisitions comes from an at-the-market equity program with Barclays and Cantor Fitzgerald. The company raised $114.8 million through equity sales since mid-April, using proceeds to increase its crypto treasury.
Whales Reinforce Long-Term Bullish Outlook
Institutional behavior reflects broader whale accumulation trends. Wallets holding large BTC positions now collectively own over 3.5 million coins, up sharply from late 2024. Their holdings climbed alongside BTC’s rally from $70K to above $ 110 K.
This buildup excludes exchange and mining wallets, confirming it stems from true long-term holders. The rising 30-day moving average and whale dominance point to ongoing bullish conviction, amplified by ETF tailwinds and scarcity dynamics.
Meanwhile, ETH/BTC continues to signal asymmetric opportunity. As noted by Honey on X, the pair remains near a two-year low of 0.02142 BTC. Recovery targets at 0.04021 BTC and 0.06597 BTC offer potential upside if ETH regains favor versus BTC in institutional portfolios.
