Bitcoin reclaims $80K after three months on strong ETF inflows; gains 12% in April

Bitcoin (BTC), the most valuable cryptocurrency, reclaimed the crucial level of $80,000 mark for the first time in three months, driven by exchange traded fund (ETF) inflows and sustained buying momentum. The world’s largest cryptocurrency has risen nearly 12% in April amid renewed investor confidence amid improving liquidity conditions and institutional participation.

On Monday, Bitcoin briefly touched an intraday high of $80,526 before easing to trade around $79,727 level. The market capitalisation climbed by 1.7% to $1.59 trillion, driven by strong volume worth $34.3 billion in the past 24 hours.  

Overall, crypto market saw positive sentiment, with total market capitalisation rising about 2% to $2.65 trillion, according to CoinMarketCap. Ethereum advanced around 3% in the past 24 hours, while Bitcoin was up nearly 2%. Among altcoins, XRP, BNB, Solana, Tron, Dogecoin, Hyperliquid, and Cardano gained up to 4%, indicating broad-based participation.

ETF inflows drive rally

The steady rally in crypto market has been supported by consistent inflows into spot ETFs and leveraged long positions, signalling strong market conviction despite a challenging global macro backdrop.

Institutional flows remained a key catalyst behind Bitcoin’s rally. According to Odaily citing SoSoValue data, Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded net inflows of $154 million during the week of April 27 to May 1.

Among the top contributors, BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) led with $136 million in weekly inflows, taking its cumulative inflows to $65.5 billion. This was followed by Ark & 21Shares’ ARKB ETF, which attracted nearly $50 million during the week, the data showed.

As of now, total net assets in Bitcoin spot ETFs stand at $103.78 billion, with cumulative historical inflows reaching $58.72 billion, highlighting the growing institutional footprint in the crypto ecosystem.

What fuelled rally in crypto market?

Nischal Shetty, founder of WazirX, said that Bitcoin is holding firm around the $80,000 level despite macro uncertainties, supported by fresh ETF inflows such as those into Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund. He added that regulatory clarity in the U.S., including the passage of the Clarity Act, is encouraging institutional participation and supporting capital inflows.

“The Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund, recorded fresh inflows of $26.6 million early this month. The U.S. Senate’s passage of the Clarity Act on May 2, has encouraged greater institutional participation by streamlining thereby supporting incoming capital,” he said.

According to Avinash Shekhar, co-founder & CEO, Pi42, the announcement of “Project Freedom” around the Strait of Hormuz has added a fresh macro trigger to crypto markets. This divergence highlights a shift in market structure where Bitcoin is acting as a stability anchor, while liquidity is rotating into higher beta plays.

“The recent price action also reinforces how closely crypto is now tied to global developments, with geopolitical signals driving short term sentiment, quick reversals, and bursts of volatility across the board,” he added.

Akshat Siddhant, Lead quant analyst, Mudrex, highlighted that Bitcoin’s April gain of nearly 12% marks its strongest monthly performance in the past year, with ETF-driven demand continuing to support prices. He added that a decisive move above $82,500 could confirm a broader trend reversal toward $85,000, while downside risks remain if support at $76,500 is breached.

“However, if support at $76,500 fails to hold, the market risk shifts toward a deeper retracement into the $72,000 to $73,000 liquidity pocket. The primary macro trigger for the coming sessions remains the Federal Reserve leadership transition, which continues to reprice risk asset expectations,” he added.