Bitcoin ETFs Attract $186M; Morgan Stanley’s MSBT Tops $100M

Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded $186 million in net inflows this week, with Morgan Stanley's MSBT raising more than $100 million in its first six trading days.

MSBT captured the bulk of the fresh money; other bitcoin ETFs together accounted for about $86 million. The totals reflect net new assets, calculated as purchases of ETF shares minus redemptions over the same period.

Investors bought shares through brokerage accounts during regular market hours on regulated exchanges. The funds provide price exposure to bitcoin while trading like stocks and without requiring direct custody of the cryptocurrency.

Morgan Stanley launched MSBT earlier this month and saw rapid initial asset growth in its first six sessions. Competing asset managers recorded the remaining inflows across their bitcoin ETF offerings.

Fund managers and market analysts monitor daily and weekly flows to track demand and liquidity for crypto products listed on exchanges. The $186 million total and MSBT's early receipts are included in those data points.

Exchange-traded funds let investors buy and sell shares that represent exposure to underlying assets. Bitcoin ETFs are used by investors who want regulated access to bitcoin price movements without holding the cryptocurrency directly.