BlackRock has broken its silence — and the on‑chain numbers show it’s back in accumulation mode. Over the past 72 hours, Lookonchain data indicates BlackRock moved nearly $1 billion of crypto into custody: 9,619 BTC (about $878 million) and 46,851 ETH (roughly $149 million). That concentrated three‑day buying spree marks a clear shift from the choppy outflows seen in late 2025 and supports the idea that 2026 is entering an “ETF 2.0” phase. Why BlackRock can look inactive — then suddenly buy a lot Think of the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) like a global liquidity grocery store. When the store seems quiet, inventory isn’t gone — it’s sitting in the backroom. Authorized Participants (APs) hold surplus ETF shares and often satisfy buy orders on the secondary market without the ETF touching spot BTC. To outside observers this looks like inactivity, but institutional demand is being absorbed quietly. Once that internal buffer runs low — or when rebalancing cycles align — the ETF must buy spot to restock. Those spot purchases show up as the big green bars on-chain: not a sudden change in sentiment so much as the visible fulfillment of weeks of pent-up demand. BlackRock’s Ethereum ETF (ETHA) appears to follow the same dynamics. Short-term tug-of-war: inflows, outflows and a technical pause Despite the recent accumulation, IBIT recorded $130 million in outflows this week, cooling from the inflows seen in the first week of 2026. BlackRock’s ETHA also posted $6.6 million in outflows after a strong start to the year. The market reacted: at the time of writing Bitcoin was trading near $90,245 (down 2.41% over 24 hours) and Ethereum around $3,118 (down 4.99%). These moves often translate to sideways price action rather than crashes. The absence of heavy institutional selling tends to prevent a total collapse and helps keep valuations elevated. For traders, that can feel like the calm before the storm. Why it matters for the next leg up History suggests that once BlackRock finishes a quiet accumulation phase, the resulting supply squeeze can be the catalyst that forces Bitcoin through key resistances — like the current ~$94,500 level. If this cycle repeats, the recent custody inflows could be an early sign of mounting institutional pressure on available supply. Disclaimer: This piece is informational and not investment advice. Cryptocurrency trading is high risk; do your own research before making decisions. © 2026 AMBCrypto Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

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