Crypto Funds Bleed $1.07B As Iran Tensions End Six-Week Inflow Run

Markets 2026-05-18 20:54

Crypto Funds Bleed .07B As Iran Tensions End Six-Week Inflow Run

Digital asset investment products shed $1.07 billion last week, ending a six-week run of inflows and marking 2026's third-largest weekly exit, according to CoinShares.

CoinShares Report Details

The outflows snapped a positive streak that had stretched since early in the quarter, with only two weeks in late January posting bigger withdrawals this year.

James Butterfill, head of research at CoinShares, attributed the reversal to renewed geopolitical risk-off sentiment tied to Iran-related developments.

Total assets under management slipped to $157 billion from $159 billion a week earlier.

The United States accounted for the entire drawdown, posting $1.14 billion in outflows. European appetite stayed firm, with Switzerland adding $22.8 million, Germany $22 million and the Netherlands $7.5 million. Canada drew $12.6 million.

Also Read: XRP ETFs Hit Record $1.39B But Token Loses 4th Spot To BNB

Altcoin Inflows Defy Butterfill Outflow Wave

Bitcoin (BTC) absorbed $982 million of the damage, lifting its year-to-date outflows to $3.9 billion, while Ethereum (ETH) lost $249 million in its worst week since Jan. 30.

Blockchain equity ETFs also caught the selling, with $133 million in combined outflows.

Altcoins told a different story. XRP (XRP) pulled in $67.6 million and Solana (SOL) drew $55.1 million, both accelerating from prior weeks. Smaller inflows reached Ton, Sui, Ondo, Chainlink and Doge.

Butterfill said news flow around the CLARITY Act softened the broader tone, noting that 11 assets still posted meaningful inflows above $1 million and Thursday turned positive at $174 million. The weekly report has tracked institutional crypto flows since 2017, with prior 2026 outflow spikes clustered around macro stress points in January.

Read Next: Hyperliquid Rejects Wall Street's Manipulation Claims As HYPE Drops 14%

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This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.

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