Bitcoin Stalls Near $81,500 as Spot ETF Outflows Hit $635 Million

Bitcoin struggled to regain momentum on Friday, trading around $81,500 after a volatile week pushed prices lower. The cryptocurrency remained beneath the average acquisition cost of U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), while heavy fund withdrawals and rising oil prices added pressure to market sentiment.

South Korea’s Kospi showed little movement overnight, suggesting some stabilization in technology shares. Nasdaq 100 futures were also steady, although energy markets continued to signal concerns about inflation.

Bitcoin ETF Investors Pull $635 Million

U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $635 million in net outflows on Thursday, their largest daily withdrawal since June 25, according to Farside Investors.

Bitcoin was trading just above $81,000, below the ETFs’ average cost basis of $82,313. The gap highlights the pressure facing investors who purchased exposure through these funds at higher prices.

Historical data also points to caution following substantial withdrawals. Across 22 previous occasions when daily ETF outflows exceeded $300 million, Bitcoin was significantly lower on average after seven, 30 and 90 days.

However, the historical sample remains limited because spot Bitcoin ETFs have existed for fewer than three years. The figures may also reflect the prolonged downturn that began in October 2025, making it difficult to determine whether large outflows consistently signal further losses.

Cryptocurrency Prices Show Mixed Performance

Bitcoin briefly approached $81,000 late Thursday before settling into a narrow range. It traded near $81,500 early Friday, with its latest movements confined to less than $1,000 following several days of swings approaching $3,000.

BTC slipped 0.4% over the previous 24 hours and remained below $82,500, a support level that gave way during Thursday’s sell-off.

Among major altcoins, BNB rose approximately 2% to $745, while Dogecoin gained around 1%. Monero fell 7% to about $607, and Zcash declined nearly 4% to roughly $1,200.

HYPE, XRP, Ethereum and Solana posted smaller losses of around 1% or less. Ether hovered just below $2,400, based on CoinDesk data.

Rising Crude Prices Complicate Market Outlook

U.S. equity futures were relatively stable following Thursday’s sharp technology-sector decline. Nasdaq 100 futures were flat after the index recorded its biggest one-day drop since June, while a semiconductor exchange-traded fund edged higher before the opening bell.

Meta shares moved lower, whereas SpaceX gained following reports that the company was exploring plans to operate as a wireless carrier.

In commodities, Brent crude rose to its highest level since early May, raising fresh concerns about inflation just days before the Federal Reserve’s Oct. 27–28 policy meeting.

Treasury markets also surrendered part of Thursday’s rally. The flight to safety had driven the 10-year Treasury yield lower by its largest amount in more than a year, but yields subsequently recovered some ground. Gold and the U.S. dollar were little changed.

Bitcoin’s near-term direction may depend on whether ETF outflows ease, prices can reclaim the $82,500 level and broader markets remain resilient amid renewed inflation concerns.