Bitcoin inflows slow sharply in 2026 as investors chase AI, Bernstein says

MarketsShareShare this articleCopy linkX iconX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmailBitcoin inflows slow sharply in 2026 as investors chase AI, Bernstein saysBernstein said bitcoin's increasingly diversified ownership base supports its long-term store-of-value thesis.By Will Canny, AI Boost|Edited by Stephen Alpher Jun 9, 2026, 1:02 p.m. 2 min readMake preferred on What to know: Bernstein noted that bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) flows have weakened in 2026 as retail investors flock to AI-related assets.ETF outflows totaled $2.6 billion this year, which the broker views as relatively modest given AI's dominance in markets. A broader investor base spanning ETFs, corporates, wealth platforms and institutions has created a healthier market structure, the report said.Bitcoin's BTC$62,305.00 recent weakness is being driven by softer capital flows rather than concerns over quantum computing or other risks, according to Wall Street broker Bernstein.Growing concerns that future quantum computers could eventually break the cryptography underpinning Bitcoin have become a recurring topic in crypto markets, especially after recent research from Google suggested the computational resources needed to crack key blockchain security systems may be far lower than previously thought.Bitcoin treasury companies and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have attracted about $12 billion of inflows this year, down sharply from $60 billion in 2025, the broker said. ETFs have seen roughly $2.6 billion of net outflows from a $75 billion asset base, with most new demand coming from corporate buyers led by Strategy (MSTR).Bernstein analysts attributed the slowdown largely to retail investors chasing AI-related opportunities, noting that the strongest-performing areas of crypto this year have been tied to tokenized equities and commodities."Bitcoin still may offer some diversification from the unusual singular AI driven momentum markets we have experienced this year," analysts led by Gautam Chhugani wrot…

Bitcoin inflows slow sharply in 2026 as investors chase AI, Bernstein says

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