Crypto ETF assets under management rose by $12 billion since Iran-related tensions began, even as US spot Bitcoin ETFs posted fresh daily outflows on March 18, 2026. The shift showed longer-term crypto fund demand stayed firm, but short-term sentiment weakened as Bitcoin fell below $71,000 and the Federal Reserve kept rates unchanged.
US spot Bitcoin ETFs reversed a 7-day inflow streak on March 18, 2026. Total outflows reached $163.5 million and ended a seven-day inflow streak. The reversal followed a Bitcoin decline below $71,000 after a move above $75,000 earlier in the week.
Fidelity’s FBTC posted the largest daily outflow. FBTC lost about $104 million. BlackRock’s IBIT followed with roughly $34 million in outflows. Fresh withdrawals pushed daily Bitcoin ETF flows back into negative territory.
Bitcoin’s price decline added pressure across the broader market. A sharp drop after the weekly high revived fear-driven trading behavior. Market sentiment weakened as traders responded to falling prices and macro uncertainty.
Moreover, Bitcoin products drove most of the recent gains. Most recent data also showed digital asset investment products attracted $1.06 billion in weekly inflows. A third straight week of positive flows lifted total inflows to $2.8 billion over three weeks.
According to Sosovalue data, Bitcoin funds' weekly inflows reached $793 million in the last week. Bitcoin products accounted for about 75% of total crypto fund inflows. Over three weeks, Bitcoin-linked products added $2.2 billion.
Ethereum products also posted solid weekly demand. Ethereum funds attracted $315 million over the same three-week period. Year-to-date Ethereum flows remained close to flat. Uneven investor demand continued across major crypto assets.
Ethereum ETFs also recorded daily losses on March 18. Ether funds posted about $56 million in outflows. Fidelity’s FETH led the decline with about $37 million in redemptions. Grayscale’s ETHE followed with about $9 million in outflows.
Other crypto-linked products showed limited movement. Solana-related funds posted only minor losses. XRP-related ETFs recorded no fresh inflows on the day. Broader ETF activity reflected weak confidence across altcoin funds.
Investor sentiment worsened as crypto prices moved lower. The Crypto Fear and Greed Index returned to Extreme Fear on March 19, 2026. A defensive trading mood remained in place despite strong weekly inflows. Sharp daily reversals in fund flows matched that cautious backdrop.
The Federal Reserve kept rates at 3.5% to 3.75% on March 18, 2026. Officials said inflation remained above target. Policymakers also pointed to rising uncertainty tied to the Middle East conflict. The policy decision added pressure to risk assets, including crypto.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell said inflation stayed somewhat elevated. Powell also flagged uncertainty linked to events in the Middle East. Rising oil prices and inflation concerns reduced hopes for quick rate cuts. Moreover, a tougher macro backdrop weighed on both crypto prices and ETF flows.