Digital asset funds pulled in $3.5B last week, the year's largest weekly inflow, as Bitcoin recovered above $87K following the Fed's September rate hike.
Crypto Investment News
Digital asset investment products attracted roughly $3.5 billion last week, the largest weekly inflow recorded so far in 2026, according to CoinShares. The surge lifted total assets under management to around $173 billion and pushed year-to-date flows to $8.6 billion.
US spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs led the way with $2.39 billion of inflows over the week, recording gains on all five trading days.
Ether (ETH) ETFs added a further $690 million over the same stretch, also positive every day. Demand cooled by Monday, when daily totals for the two fell to $31 million and $17 million, respectively.
Bitcoin Recovers From September Low
Bitcoin fell to around $75,000 in mid-September before climbing back above $87,000 by Sept. 23. The token has since eased to roughly $84,000.
Hyperliquid (HYPE) tracked a similar pattern, touching a fresh high near $98 on Sept. 23 before pulling back toward $88 as broader market momentum faded.
Much of the swing traces back to Washington. The CLARITY Act, a bill meant to set federal market-structure rules for crypto, failed its Senate cloture test on Sept. 15 by a vote of 49 to 50, leaving the legislation stalled. Two days later, the SEC granted a temporary, conditional exemption permitting limited trading of tokenized US stocks on permissioned on-chain venues.
HYPE rallied on the SEC news even though its synthetic equity perpetual contracts fall outside the exemption. Traders appear to view the relaxation as raising the odds of a future regulated offering for that kind of product.
Strategy Resumes Bitcoin Purchases
Strategy returned to buying Bitcoin after a pause, acquiring 950 BTC and then 1,665 BTC over the past two weeks, lifting its total holdings to 847,666 BTC. The company also repurchased roughly $326 million of its STRC preferred stock during the period.
The most recent Bitcoin purchase, worth $142.7 million, and part of the preferred-share buyback were funded through sales of MSTR common shares. That financing approach reduces the pressure to fund future preferred dividends but dilutes existing common shareholders.
Beyond crypto-specific developments, the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to a range of 3.75% to 4.00% on Sept. 16, its first hike since 2023. Markets now price in roughly a 72% chance of a second increase in October.
The 10-year Treasury yield has climbed from 5.12% on Sept. 23 to near 5.27%, while Brent crude has returned to around $106 a barrel after briefly dipping below $100 the prior week. Bitcoin has held up reasonably well against that backdrop, though higher yields and a stronger dollar leave less room for a fresh leg higher in the near term. Sustained pressure on borrowing costs could eventually bring more aggressive Treasury intervention into focus, though that remains a longer-shot scenario for now.
This week's spot market will be tested by Wednesday's core PCE inflation reading and Friday's non-farm payrolls report, both of which could shift rate expectations. Softer inflation or a further pullback in oil prices would likely help Bitcoin hold the $80,000 level and retest last week's highs.
Regional and Asset Breakdown
By asset, Bitcoin funds took in $2.52 billion for the week, with Ethereum products adding $702 million, Solana (SOL) $193 million and XRP a further $92.3 million. The United States accounted for the overwhelming majority of demand at $3.43 billion, while Germany, Canada, and Switzerland added $73.9 million, $21.8 million, and $20.9 million, respectively.
The scale and spread of last week's inflows suggest institutional tokenomics-driven positioning returned once the Fed decision removed a source of uncertainty, a pattern consistent with investors buying the news after weeks of caution. With flows now firmly positive for the year, the episode underscores how closely near-term crypto demand is tracking the macro governance calendar.
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