Bitcoin price on Apr 16, 2026 at 5pm EDT?

For the period between January 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, US-based spot Bitcoin ETFs accumulated significant net inflows. These ETFs collectively experienced a cumulative net inflow of $228.926 billion. This overall figure includes substantial net inflows of $229.426 billion recorded throughout the entirety of 2025 ^[2].

Early 2026 reversed the trend, but March showed a strong rebound. The trend shifted in the first quarter of 2026, with these ETFs registering $500 million in total net outflows ^[3]. Despite these initial quarterly outflows, March 2026 marked a notable turnaround, achieving $1.3 billion in inflows, which was the first monthly gain of 2026 ^[4].

Market trends diverged between 2025's growth and 2026's volatility. Comparing these flows to the period immediately following their January 2024 approval, the massive inflows throughout 2025, nearing $230 billion, highlight a phase of robust growth and sustained institutional interest post-launch ^[2]. The subsequent net outflows observed in Q1 2026, even with a strong rebound in March, indicate a potentially more volatile or mixed flow environment compared to the consistent bullish trend seen in 2025 ^[4].

Bitcoin miners significantly reduced selling, entering an accumulation phase. From Q4 2025 into Q1 2026, Bitcoin miners predominantly shifted into a net accumulation phase, characterized by a substantial slowdown in miner-led selling after the 2024 halving event. This period indicated a clear movement away from net distribution towards net accumulation ^[1].

On-chain data confirms miners retained or acquired more Bitcoin. Analysis from this timeframe shows that accumulation addresses absorbed 67,000 BTC, coinciding with a reduction in miner-led selling ^[2]. This behavior suggests a positive or less negative 'Miner Net Position Change' when observed over a 90-day moving average, implying that miners were either retaining more of their mined Bitcoin or actively acquiring more, contributing to a net positive sentiment regarding miner holdings on the blockchain ^[1].

Bitcoin options on Deribit consistently show a notable put skew ^[1]. This market phenomenon, particularly evident for long-dated expiries such as December 2025, indicates that the implied volatility of 25-delta out-of-the-money put options is typically higher than that of comparable 25-delta out-of-the-money call options ^[1]. Financial analytics platforms confirm this dynamic across various BTC options expiries, revealing a "Put Skew Term Structure" where puts consistently command a premium, especially for longer maturities ^[1].

This persistent put skew reflects institutional demand for downside protection ^[1]. For long-dated Bitcoin options, including those expiring in December 2025, a higher implied volatility for puts relative to calls suggests institutional investors prioritize paying a premium for downside protection over equivalent upside exposure ^[1]. This sustained demand for hedging against potential significant price drops highlights a cautious market sentiment and the implementation of long-term risk management strategies, rather than an aggressive pursuit of extreme upside gains ^[1].

The previous comprehensive crypto bill did not become law. The 'Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act' (FIT21), designated as H.R.4763 during the 118th United States Congress, passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support ^[1]. However, it did not advance through the Senate and consequently expired without becoming law at the conclusion of the 118th Congress ^[1]. A successor legislative effort, the 'Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025' (H.R.3633), also known as the CLARITY Act, has been introduced for the 119th Congress (2025-2026) as a comprehensive bill intended to establish a market structure and provide regulatory clarity for digital assets ^[2].

H.R.3633's legislative future remains uncertain by 2027. As the 119th Congress is scheduled to begin its session in January 2025, no legislative actions beyond its introduction have yet occurred for H.R.3633 ^[2]. Given that the 119th Congress has not yet convened and its legislative process will span from January 2025 to January 2027, the final legislative status of H.R.3633 or any other comprehensive U.S. crypto market structure bill by the end of its session in January 2027 cannot be definitively predicted or determined at this time ^[2]. For a bill to become law, it must pass both chambers of Congress in identical form and then be signed by the President, all within the lifespan of the 119th Congress ^[2].