- Bitcoin ETFs saw $326M in outflows, led by $252M from BlackRock’s IBIT.
- BTC price dropped after trade tensions and S&P 500 losses.
- Bitcoin’s price remains tied to global liquidity, not just equity markets.
U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recorded $326 million in total outflows on April 8, marking the fourth straight day of withdrawals. The data, reported by Farside Investors, revealed that BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) experienced the largest daily redemption, with investors pulling over $252 million. This was IBIT’s highest single-day outflow since late February and signaled a shift in risk sentiment among traditional market participants.
Bitcoin Shows Relative Resilience Despite Broader Market Sell-Off
The ETF redemptions followed increased global investor caution triggered by escalating U.S. trade tensions. On April 2, U.S. President Donald Trump announced reciprocal import tariffs, which resulted in a massive $5 trillion decline in the S&P 500 over two trading sessions. The crypto market’s delayed reaction to this downturn suggests that Bitcoin’s connection with traditional equities may be undergoing a shift, though not entirely detached.
Bitcoin initially remained above the $82,000 level in the wake of the tariff announcement, even as the Nasdaq declined by 11 percent. On Sunday, April 6 Bitcoin experienced a rapid decline to below $75,000. The 24/7 liquidity of Bitcoin enables it to serve as an effective asset for rapid de-risking which attracts investors on weekends when mainstream markets are inactive.
The Chief Commercial Officer at crypto exchange OKX Lennix Lai stated Bitcoin suffered a 26 percent decline since 2025 started yet it showed new market trends when compared to other risky assets. According to Lai, this contrast highlights a potential divergence from conventional market patterns.
Though equities experienced deeper short-term losses, Bitcoin displayed temporary resilience, only succumbing later as global risk sentiment worsened.
Market Liquidity Remains the Core Driver for Bitcoin’s Price Trajectory
Despite observations of decreasing correlation with stock markets, Bitcoin remains deeply influenced by global liquidity conditions. According to Arthur Hayes, BitMEX co-founder Bitcoin trading patterns emerge from market forecasts about future fiat currency supplies. Recent movements in the asset reflect investor views on central bank policies together with the state of market liquidity.
Bitcoin’s market value remains influenced heavily by macroeconomic events even as the decoupling story becomes more accepted among industry experts. The trajectory of digital assets remains influenced by capital movements and central bank policies despite their decreasing correlation with equities, as explained by Lai.
Market participants now view Bitcoin as an essential reserve asset to include in their strategic holdings. Institutional investors increasingly recognize Bitcoin’s worth as a means to diversify portfolios during economic challenges. Bitcoin remains vulnerable to general economic instability and liquidity shortages despite the changing views towards it as a strategic reserve asset.
