Major crypto ETFs (Bitcoin and Ethereum) posted $672 million in combined outflows on Thursday, October 30. BlackRock’s IBIT ETF lost $291 million, and ETHA shed $118 million.
Meanwhile, a $500 million telecom-financing fraud tied to BlackRock’s private-credit arm has rocked institutional markets, raising new concerns about risk management and due diligence. Or, as we like to call it, “Monday morning quarterbacking for the galaxy.”
Institutional ETF Redemptions Show Risk Aversion
Institutional clients of major asset managers pulled $490 million from Bitcoin ETFs on October 30, according to data from Farside Investors. This is either a mass panic or a very expensive game of hot potato with $100 billion in crypto as the potato.
BlackRock’s IBIT led the exodus with $290.9 million in redemptions. Fidelity, Bitwise, ARK, Invesco, VanEck, and Grayscale also recorded heavy outflows. Ethereum ETFs saw $184 million in losses, with BlackRock’s ETHA responsible for $118 million. Someone clearly needs to invent a time machine to tell these folks about the concept of “not investing in things you don’t understand.”
The magnitude of these withdrawals signals a broader retreat from risk as macroeconomic uncertainty grows. Analysts see the outflows as profit-taking and portfolio trimming rather than panic selling. Or, as it is in the real world: “We’re all out of money, and we’re not sure why.”
Institutions are still trimming risk, $BTC and $ETH spot ETFs saw heavy outflows, led by BlackRock’s $IBIT (-$291M) and $ETHA (-$118M), totaling $488M and $184M.
But $SOL ETFs quietly pulled in $37M. Looks like some capital’s rotating toward higher-beta plays again.
– Kyledoops (@kyledoops) October 31, 2025
Notably, this coincides with a closer scrutiny of BlackRock following revelations of large-scale fraud in its private credit division. The timing has increased anxiety among investors. Or, as it is in the real world: “Oh no, the universe just threw us a curveball called ‘bad business decisions.’”
BlackRock Fraud Scandal Reveals Private Credit Risks
BlackRock’s difficulties go beyond ETF outflows. Bloomberg reports that its private-credit arm, HPS Investment Partners, lost over $500 million in a telecom-financing scheme involving fake accounts receivable. This is either a masterclass in incompetence or a very elaborate prank on the global economy.
Court filings in the New York Supreme Court allege that borrowers Broadband Telecom and Bridgevoice used forged contracts and invoices from companies like T-Mobile and Telstra as collateral for sizable loans. The court documents also outline years of systematic forgery and misrepresentation. One wonders if they at least tried to make the fakes look halfway decent.
The fraud was uncovered in August 2025, resulting in bankruptcies and lawsuits. BNP Paribas, BlackRock’s partner in making these loans, is also named in the litigation. Now that’s what we call a real-life “two wrongs don’t make a right” situation.
The scandal emerged just 90 days after BlackRock acquired HPS for $12 billion. The purchase, finalized on July 1, 2025, aimed to expand BlackRock’s reach in private credit. Instead, the discovery has raised questions about the company’s due diligence and risk oversight during the process. Or, as it is in the real world: “We didn’t check the box labeled ‘Don’t buy this.’”
BlackRock’s private-credit arm was defrauded of over $500 million by an Indian named Bankim Brahmbhatt.
Brahmbhatt ran a telecom-financing firm named Carriox Capital and fabricated customer contracts and invoices from major telecom companies such as T-Mobile, Telstra, and…
– AF Post (@AFpost) October 30, 2025
Notwithstanding, BlackRock remains the clear leader in the ETF space despite this turbulence. According to US Crypto News analysis, IBIT attracted $28.1 billion in net inflows since the start of 2025, outpacing all competitors combined. This is either a triumph of hubris or the universe’s way of saying, “Here’s a new joke for the ages.”
Removing IBIT, the sector would have seen net outflows of $1.2 billion this year. Such concentration raises concerns about systemic risks if BlackRock were forced to cut exposure or faced major redemptions, potentially draining liquidity across the crypto ETFs market. Or, as it is in the real world: “We’ve built a house of cards, and the wind is picking up.”
Short Liquidations and Market Volatility on the Horizon
As institutional money exits Bitcoin ETFs, leveraged traders now face more risk. Whale Insider noted on X that more than $3 billion in Bitcoin short positions could be liquidated if the price reaches $112,600. This is either a warning shot from the cosmos or the universe’s way of saying, “Here’s a new way to lose money.”
JUST IN: Over $3,000,000,000 worth of $BTC short positions to be liquidated when price hits $112,600.
– Whale Insider (@WhaleInsider) October 31, 2025
With Bitcoin trading near $109,287 as of this writing, it is just 2.48% away from this threshold. Therefore, even a modest rally might trigger a short squeeze and rapid market turnaround. This is either a recipe for chaos or the universe’s way of saying, “Let’s make this worse.”
This potential for sharp price moves complicates the bearish outlook suggested by ETF outflows. Liquidation data from Coinglass shows many short positions gathered just above current levels. Any upward move could spark a cascade of covering. The interplay between institutional redemptions and leveraged bets creates a precarious scenario where sentiment may flip quickly. Or, as it is in the real world: “The universe is throwing dice, and we’re all just watching the results roll in.”
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2025-10-31 12:48