Bitcoin (BTC) Price: Reaches Two-Month High as Institutional Demand Returns

TLDR

• Bitcoin climbed back above $97,000 this week, supported by nearly $1.5 billion in net inflows into US spot Bitcoin ETFs since the start of the year
• US spot Bitcoin ETFs saw $843.6 million in net inflows on Wednesday alone, bringing the weekly total to $1.07 billion
• On January 15 (ET), Ethereum spot ETFs recorded $164 million in net inflows, marking 4 consecutive days of positive flows
• The US Senate Banking Committee postponed discussion of a proposed crypto regulatory bill after Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong voiced opposition
• Bitcoin is trading around $95,579, hovering near its strongest level in two months but still below the $100,000 mark

Bitcoin’s price climbed back above $97,000 this week as institutional money returned to the market through exchange-traded funds. The move higher comes after months of sideways trading that left many investors waiting for direction.

US spot Bitcoin ETFs have attracted nearly $1.5 billion in net inflows since the start of the year. Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas said the pattern suggests buyers may have exhausted sellers after Bitcoin broke out of consolidation around $88,000.

Wednesday saw particularly strong demand with $843.6 million flowing into Bitcoin ETFs in a single day. The weekly total reached $1.07 billion. These numbers reflect renewed interest from larger institutional investors who had stepped back at the end of 2024.

Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded a total net inflow of $100 million on January 15, marking 4 consecutive days of net inflows. Ethereum spot ETFs also saw strong demand with $164 million in net inflows on the same day, their fourth straight day of positive flows.

The price recovery follows a mixed 2024 where Bitcoin reached new all-time highs but failed to sustain momentum. The broader crypto market did not follow Bitcoin’s gains, leaving many altcoin investors disappointed.

Market maker Wintermute said continued accumulation by ETFs and digital asset treasury companies would be key to supporting prices heading into 2026. They noted that retail investors focused on AI, robotics and space stocks in 2024 rather than crypto.

Regulatory Framework Delayed

The US Senate Banking Committee postponed discussion of a proposed crypto regulatory bill on Wednesday. The delay came hours after Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong publicly opposed the measure.

Senator Tim Scott announced the postponement in a social media post. The bill had been scheduled for discussion on Thursday.

Armstrong criticized several parts of the bill including a proposed ban on tokenized equities and prohibitions on decentralized finance. He also took issue with lesser oversight by the CFTC and amendments that would impact stablecoin rewards.

Coinbase was a major donor during the 2024 election cycle to pro-crypto groups. The company operates the largest crypto exchange in the United States and carries weight in policy discussions.

The crypto industry has pushed for clear regulations on whether tokens should be classified as securities or commodities. Armstrong said Coinbase would rather have no bill than a bad one.

Current Price Action

Bitcoin traded at $95,579 on Thursday morning, down 0.9% but near its strongest level in two months. The price remains below the $100,000 level that many investors are watching.

Bitcoin has been trading at a discount on Coinbase compared to global averages since mid-December. This trend indicates that retail demand in US markets remains weak even as institutional money flows into ETFs.

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