The week began with a strong vote of confidence in Bitcoin from institutional investors, as exchange-traded funds (ETFs) linked to the world’s most popular cryptocurrency recorded their biggest single-day inflow in nearly three months. On Monday, Bitcoin ETFs drew in an impressive $381 million in net capital—an influx that marks a potential turning point in the crypto investment landscape after weeks of hesitation.

This sharp increase in ETF inflows is being viewed as a major signal of renewed institutional interest in Bitcoin. With market activity slowly picking up pace, many analysts are now interpreting the surge as a bullish indicator that could point to further upward momentum for the digital asset.

The ETF leading the charge was ARKB, the Bitcoin fund jointly managed by Ark Invest and 21Shares. The fund attracted $116.13 million in a single day, pushing its total net inflows to approximately $2.6 billion. This impressive performance comes as Ark Invest continues to maintain its position as one of the most active proponents of crypto ETFs. Following closely behind was Fidelity’s FBTC, which added $87.61 million in new capital, bringing its cumulative net inflows to $11.37 billion.

These two ETFs accounted for more than half of the total inflows recorded on Monday, underscoring the level of trust investors are placing in established financial institutions managing crypto-related products. The trend also suggests that Bitcoin’s place in traditional investment portfolios is becoming more secure as the regulatory environment for crypto gradually matures.

In parallel with the inflow of capital into ETFs, Bitcoin itself showed a modest but steady price gain of about 1% in the last 24 hours. While the gain may seem small, it coincided with a significant uptick in futures open interest—a key metric that shows how many futures contracts are currently active. According to data from Coinglass, open interest in Bitcoin futures has climbed to $58.46 billion, reflecting a 5% rise in just one day.

Rising open interest alongside price increases is generally interpreted as a bullish signal. It suggests that traders are entering the market with new long positions, betting that Bitcoin’s price will continue to climb. Adding to this positive sentiment is the current funding rate for Bitcoin, which sits at 0.0068%. This rate is positive, meaning traders holding long positions are paying those holding short positions—another indicator that more people are betting on a price rise than a drop.

The sentiment extends beyond futures trading. The options market also reflects growing optimism, as demonstrated by a lower put-to-call ratio. According to Deribit, the ratio currently stands at 0.71, indicating a higher volume of call options relative to puts. In simple terms, more traders are buying options that will profit if Bitcoin’s price goes up, suggesting confidence in further gains.

Altogether, the inflow data, open interest surge, and positive funding rates build a cohesive picture of a market slowly leaning into bullish territory after a quieter start to the year. This momentum is being fueled not only by speculative interest but by a sense of confidence from institutional players who now appear more willing to re-enter the space.

For many observers, this week’s strong ETF performance may be more than a one-time event. It could represent the early signs of a broader trend, where Bitcoin regains favor among institutions looking to diversify portfolios amid global financial uncertainty.

If this level of activity continues, it could also influence broader market dynamics, pushing Bitcoin into a new phase of adoption and legitimization within traditional finance. For now, all eyes remain on how Bitcoin ETFs perform in the days ahead—and whether this marks the start of a sustained institutional comeback.