BlackRock Clients Sell $145M in Bitcoin Amid Market Weakness

BlackRock linked wallets recorded another round of major Bitcoin outflows on Tuesday. Adding fresh pressure to an already shaky market. On-chain data shows that clients of the world’s largest asset manager moved $145.24 million worth of BTC to Coinbase Prime. It’s likely signaling sales during a period of falling prices and fading institutional appetite. The moves come as Bitcoin trades below $90,000, erasing its 2025 gains. This deepens the market’s concern about rapidly shifting sentiment among large investors.

Multiple Outflows Hit Blockchain at Once

Arkham data shows a series of identical transactions over an 18-hour window. Each transferring 300 BTC, about $28.7 million, from BlackRock’s IBIT ETF addresses into Coinbase Prime. One additional transfer of 79.53 BTC brought the total moved to roughly 1,879 BTC, valued at $145.24 million. While ETF linked Bitcoin movements do not guarantee immediate selling. 

Coinbase Prime deposits usually indicate preparations for liquidation or custodial rebalancing. In the current environment, traders are leaning toward the more cautious interpretation. The activity mirrors similar patterns seen over the last two weeks. Where ETF custodial wallets repeatedly moved large BTC batches during periods of price weakness.

Not the First Wave of Selling This Month

This latest batch is only part of a much larger trend. Multiple market trackers have reported significant Bitcoin sales by BlackRock ETF holders throughout November:

• Early November: Reports noted $149 million across three days.
• November 7: BlackRock clients offloaded $127 million in Bitcoin.
• November 15:  a massive $473.7 million in BTC sold, IBIT’s largest single-day outflow ever.
• November 17: It reported 2,610 BTC sold for $257 million.

Even in late October, IBIT wallets moved 3,496 BTC to Coinbase Prime. While that transfer may have been operational rather than market-driven. It still contributed to rising anxiety about institutional repositioning. Together, these flows paint a clear picture. Big money is reducing exposure during a period of broader market uncertainty.

Market Sentiment Turns Cautious

Bitcoin dropped below $90,000 on Tuesday, its lowest level since early 2025. Reuters reported that macroeconomic concerns and weakening institutional confidence are contributing to the slide. Bloomberg analysts added that Bitcoin is now down more than 25% from its October highs. This signals the sharpest correction of the year. The combination of falling prices, ETF outflows, and risk-off trading behavior is pushing investors into a defensive stance. For some, BlackRock’s sell-side pressure serves as confirmation that the market’s tone has shifted decisively.

What Comes Next?

Despite the heavy selling, analysts say sentiment can flip quickly. Especially if macro conditions stabilize or ETF inflows return. But for now, traders are watching institutional flows like hawks. When the world’s largest asset manager starts unloading Bitcoin. The rest of the market usually takes the hint. As one analyst put it on X, “Retail reacts. Institutions reposition. The chart listens to both.”