Crypto ETF flows turn mixed in 2026 start; XRP ETFs log first outflow day
U.S. spot XRP exchange-traded funds recorded their first day of net outflows on Jan. 7, as approximately $40.8 million exited these products. This marked the end of a multi-week inflow streak that had continued since the ETFs launched in November 2025. Until this point, steady investor interest had supported consistent inflows, reflecting optimism around XRP-linked investment vehicles in the U.S. market.
The shift in flows came amid wider selling pressure across crypto-related exchange-traded funds. Several digital asset products faced redemptions as market sentiment weakened, suggesting investors turned more cautious in the short term. The XRP ETF outflows appear to be part of this broader risk-off move rather than an isolated event, as volatility and profit-taking weighed on the crypto ETF space overall.
XRP ETFs first outflow day: What changed?
Data aggregated by SoSoValue show U.S. spot XRP ETFs posted their first net outflow day since inception, ending a multiday run that had pushed cumulative net inflows above $1 billion by year-end and toward ~$1.2–$1.3 billion in early January. Despite the single-day setback, assets across XRP ETF products remain elevated relative to other smaller crypto ETPs.
XRP’s streak and the Jan. 7 reversal
Prior to Wednesday, XRP ETFs had registered continuous daily inflows since mid-November 2025, culminating in one of the longest positive-flow streaks among U.S. crypto ETFs. The Jan. 7 outflow (~$40.8M) breaks that pattern and may reflect short-term repositioning rather than a structural demand shift, given still-robust cumulative inflows.
Bitcoin and Ether ETF redemptions
The XRP pullback coincided with the largest single-day outflow for U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs since November about $486 million on Jan. 7—following a $243 million outflow on Jan. 6 after strong inflows to start the year. U.S. spot Ether ETFs similarly posted ~$98 million of net outflows on Jan. 7 after several positive sessions. KuCoin+3Farside+3Crypto Briefing+3
Smaller crypto ETF flows were mixed
While BTC and ETH funds saw redemptions midweek, reporting indicates smaller crypto ETF categories (e.g., Solana and Chainlink) had steadier or flat flows earlier in the week though magnitudes remain modest compared with large-cap peers. TradingView
Drivers: From one-way inflows to normalization
Market participants have previously attributed XRP ETF demand to investor familiarity with the asset and its long track record. The first outflow day may indicate normalization as investors rebalance after a strong December and early-January advance.
Price check
Amid the ETF flow shift, XRP traded near ~$2.12 on Thursday, down intraday over the prior 24 hours, mirroring broader risk-off sentiment across crypto. (Prices volatile.)
Monitoring the XRP ETFs first outflow day in context
Keeping Wednesday’s move in perspective requires watching whether outflows persist or revert to inflows as market conditions evolve and liquidity stabilizes around key levels. Flow breadth across issuers and secondary-market spreads will be important corroborating signals.
What the XRP ETFs first outflow day does and doesn’t signal
A single day of redemptions does not, by itself, signal a demand breakdown. Historical BTC/ETH ETF patterns show episodic outflows amid broader uptrends; sustained multi-day redemptions would be a stronger stress signal.
Context & Analysis
The ETF complex opened 2026 with divergent flows: strong early-week inflows followed by midweek redemptions. For XRP, the first outflow day interrupts a momentum narrative but doesn’t negate cumulative demand built since launch. Watching whether redemptions cluster around specific issuers or broaden will clarify if this is routine profit-taking or a trend shift.
Bottom Lines
XRP recorded its first single-day ETF outflow as part of a broader midweek pullback that also affected Bitcoin and Ether funds. The decline highlights a short-term shift in investor sentiment, with crypto-related exchange-traded products facing increased pressure across major digital assets.
If ETF flows stabilize or turn positive again, it would support the idea that demand for diversified crypto ETFs remains strong. However, continued and sustained outflows could point to a more cautious tone among investors, potentially setting a softer start to 2026 for digital-asset exchange-traded products.
FAQs
Q : What caused the XRP ETFs’ first outflow day?
A : Midweek risk-off sentiment and broad redemptions across Bitcoin and Ether ETFs likely triggered profit-taking and portfolio rebalancing.
Q : How large were the XRP ETF outflows?
A : Around $40.8 million exited XRP ETFs on Jan. 7, based on SoSoValue-tracked data.
Q : Did Bitcoin ETFs also face outflows?
A : Yes. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded roughly $486 million in net outflows on Jan. 7, the largest daily redemption since November.
Q : What about Ether ETFs?
A : U.S. spot Ether ETFs saw approximately $98 million in outflows on the same day.
Q : Are XRP ETF cumulative inflows still positive?
A : Yes. Net cumulative inflows remain around $1.2–$1.3 billion as of early January.
Q : Does one outflow day mean the uptrend is over?
A : Not necessarily. A sustained trend would require multiple consecutive outflow days.
Q : Where can I track daily crypto ETF flows?
A: Farside’s dashboards for BTC/ETH and reputable news or analytics platforms for XRP provide timely updates.
Facts
Event
First net outflow day for U.S. spot XRP ETFs since launchDate/Time
2026-01-08T12:00:00+05:00Entities
XRP; U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs; U.S. spot Ether ETFs; SoSoValue; Farside InvestorsFigures
XRP ETF outflow ≈ $40.8M; BTC ETF outflow ≈ $486M; ETH ETF outflow ≈ $98M (USD)Quotes
“Many investors are taking a position in XRP because of the familiarity. It has a long track record.” Sui Chung, CEO, CF Benchmarks (Dec. 2025) MEXCSources
Cointelegraph/TradingView report + URL; Farside BTC dashboard + URL