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<a href="https://xpertsstudio.com/bitcoin-tracks-20-weekly-gain-on-positive-news/” title=”Bitcoin: Tracks 20% Weekly Gain on Positive News”>Bitcoin’s(CRYPTO:BTC) latest rally is gaining a new
Bitcoin climbed more than 23% over the past week to around $77,500 on Friday, while U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted roughly $1.6 billion in net inflows from Monday through Thursday, their strongest weekly showing of 2026, according to data from The Block citedby The Wall Street Journal. Thursday alone accounted for about $606 million.
The surge is important because it could signal a shift in the drivers of Bitcoin’s rebound.
From Short Squeeze To ETF Demand
The initial rally was heavily fueled by forced buying. More than $4.3 billion in crypto short positions were liquidated as Bitcoin broke higher, creating a powerful feedback loop of short covering and rising prices.
But ETF flows offer a potentially more durable catalyst.
Standard Charteredanalyst Geoff Kendrick said Bitcoin’s recovery has been supported by both short liquidations and recovering spot ETF inflows He now believes his previous $100,000 year-end forecast may be too low, with Bitcoin potentially retesting its $126,000 all-time high before year-end
Kendrick has not formally replaced the $100,000 target with $126,000. Instead, he views the record as a level Bitcoin could revisit if the recovery gathers further momentum.
Why ETF Investors Matter
The renewed demand is particularly significant because spot Bitcoin ETFs provide institutions and traditional investors with a regulated, exchange-traded route to Bitcoin exposure.
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (NASDAQ:IBIT) has been a major beneficiary of the recent resurgence. On Tuesday, IBIT accounted for roughly 76% of the day’s $189.3 million in U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF inflows, according to data cited by Cointribune.
That concentration makes IBIT an important ETF to watch if the latest inflow trend continues.
The $126K Test
Bitcoin’s move above the $76,000 level marks a significant technical recovery after months of being trapped between roughly $60,000 and $65,000.
The next challenge is whether ETF demand can replace short covering as the primary
If flows remain strong, the argument for a sustained institutional-led rally strengthens. Standard Chartered sees potential acceleration after Oct 6, the date Bitcoin reached its previous record last year, per Cointelegraph.
At roughly $77,500, Bitcoin would still need to gain about 63% to reach $126,000.
That makes the ETF flows the key number to watch: the short squeeze can push Bitcoin higher quickly, but sustained ETF demand may determine whether the rally has enough fuel to reach a new record.
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and
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