Institutions Dump $3.7 Billion in Bitcoin, $60,000 Level at Risk

▲ Bitcoin (BTC)

Institutional investors who had been leading the virtual asset market have unleashed a record-breaking wave of selling exceeding $3.7 billion over the past month, driving a sharp decline in the price of Bitcoin (BTC).

According to crypto media outlet U.Today on Feb. 18 (local time), citing the latest weekly report from asset manager CoinShares, a total of $173 million flowed out of Bitcoin and digital asset investment products over the past week. This brings total outflows over the past month to an astonishing $3.74 billion. The large-scale capital exodus was concentrated during Bitcoin’s سقوط from around $95,400 to approximately $62,800, intensifying downward pressure on the market.

Bitcoin alone recorded net outflows of $133 million last week, while Ethereum (ETH) also saw $85.1 million withdrawn, highlighting a clear aversion to major blue-chip assets. Total trading volume for digital asset investment products, including exchange-traded funds (ETFs), was halved from $63 billion the previous week to $27 billion. This suggests that institutional investors have shifted toward more conservative asset management strategies amid market volatility.

Despite the simultaneous decline of major assets, some altcoins showed contrasting trends as they attracted institutional interest. XRP drew in $33.4 million over the week, while Solana (SOL) and Chainlink (LINK) recorded net inflows of $31 million and $1.1 million, respectively. In particular, XRP is emerging as a portfolio diversification target for institutions amid expectations of resolving legal risks and news of technical upgrades.

By region, the United States saw the most severe outflows. The U.S. market recorded total net outflows of $403 million, while inflows of $115 million in Germany, $46.3 million in Canada, and $36.8 million in Switzerland partially offset overall losses across parts of Europe and North America. These regional differences suggest that strong regulatory pressure and macroeconomic uncertainty in the U.S. are weighing more heavily on American investor sentiment.

Some market observers are also detecting positive signals that the recent downturn may be nearing a bottom. CoinShares noted that short-Bitcoin products, which bet on a Bitcoin decline, have recorded two consecutive weeks of outflows totaling $15.4 million. This indicates weakening speculative pressure on further downside and, based on past cases, is often interpreted as a typical sign that a technical rebound may be approaching.

Amid the record-breaking wave of institutional selling, the digital asset market has entered a critical price discovery phase. Global financial markets are closely watching whether the astronomical $3.74 billion in outflows will serve as a cleansing mechanism to remove market froth or mark the beginning of a prolonged downturn. Investors should closely monitor changes in institutional capital flows and whether Bitcoin can hold key support levels while establishing prudent response strategies.

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