Bitcoin price on Apr 28, 2026 at 5pm EDT?

U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw significant cumulative inflows by April 2026. Cumulative net inflows into all U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs are estimated to have reached approximately $56.51 billion by April 2026 ^[1]. This figure encompasses all spot Bitcoin ETFs, as distinct cumulative data for only the top 5 by AUM was not separately detailed in the provided information. March 2026 marked a significant milestone, representing the first monthly inflow of the year, with U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs collectively attracting between $1.3 billion ^[4] and $1.32 billion ^[3] during that specific month.

Institutional holders trimmed their U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF holdings in Q4 2025. Institutions, as reported in 13F filings, reduced their overall holdings by 3.5% in Q4 2025 ^[2]. This reduction occurred despite a 23% decline in Bitcoin's price during the same quarter ^[2], indicating a slight decrease in aggregate institutional exposure to these products towards the end of 2025. While the change in institutional holdings volume is available, specific figures detailing the absolute number of unique institutional holders reported in 13F filings for Q4 2025 are not explicitly provided ^[5].

FOMC held federal funds rate steady after March 2026 meeting. On March 18, 2026, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) concluded its meeting by maintaining the target range for the federal funds rate at 4.50%-4.75% ^[1]. This decision was strongly anticipated by the market, as the CME FedWatch Tool had indicated an implied probability exceeding 95% for this rate range ^[2].

Projections anticipate one rate cut in 2026, but not an accommodative pivot. Concurrently released FOMC projections revealed an anticipated median federal funds rate of 4.25% by the end of 2026, suggesting the expectation of one rate cut during that year ^[1]. This projected rate, however, does not signify a shift to a neutral or accommodative monetary policy stance, as it remains above the 4.0% threshold typically associated with such a change ^[1].

The Bitcoin derivatives market exhibits strong bullish sentiment for long-dated contracts. Total Bitcoin options open interest on Deribit has reached a record $42.5 billion, signaling significant market activity ^[1]. This robust engagement is largely driven by traders targeting strike prices of $80,000 and above, as evidenced by a notable surge in open interest for "Bitcoin $80,000 bets" and "100k Call Surge" ^[4]. This concentration indicates a prevailing market expectation for substantial price appreciation by the long-dated expiry dates, specifically December 2025 and June 2026.

Long-dated contracts reveal a strong bullish skew, balanced by hedging activity. The put/call ratio for January 30, 2026, contracts stands at 0.48, reflecting a greater demand for call options over put options ^[2]. However, despite this dominant bullish outlook, there is also substantial open interest, totaling $191 million, in deep out-of-the-money Bitcoin put options for 2026 ^[3]. This suggests that while most participants anticipate higher price targets, some are positioning to potentially capitalize on volatility or hedge against unforeseen tail risks.

Bitcoin whales showed significant net accumulation leading into Q1 2026. Addresses holding over 1,000 BTC demonstrated a strong net accumulation trend, reaching their highest levels since 2024 ^[1]. A notable accumulation event involved whales reportedly pulling 270,000 BTC off exchanges, an action characterized as the largest of its kind since 2013 ^[2].

This aggressive buying continued at a record pace in Q1 2026. In February 2026 alone, these large Bitcoin holders accumulated an additional $3.65 billion worth of BTC ^[3]. This significant accumulation occurred even as other market segments, such as Bitcoin ETFs, experienced outflows ^[3]. The overall accumulation pace by whales was characterized as reaching record levels ^[4], indicating a dominant trend of strategic buying. While some analyses mentioned instances of whale capitulation ^[5], the specific on-chain data leading into and during Q1 2026 predominantly highlights substantial net accumulation by these major Bitcoin holders ^[1].

Congress made significant strides toward crypto market structure legislation. Initial efforts included the U.S. House passing the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT21) in 2024, which aimed to establish a clear regulatory framework for digital assets and clarify jurisdiction between the SEC and CFTC ^[1]. Building on this foundation, the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025 (H.R.3633) was introduced in the 119th Congress (2025-2026), further developing the market structure and seeking to provide a clearer operational framework for exchanges and asset issuers ^[2].

Landmark legislation on crypto market structure passed by mid-2025. A July 17, 2025 NPR report explicitly confirmed this development, stating that "Congress passes 1st major crypto legislation in the U.S." ^[3]. This indicates that a significant piece of legislation addressing crypto market structure was enacted well within the specified timeframe. Furthermore, legal advisories and updates from December 2025 discussing "New Changes And Challenges In U.S. Regulation Of Digital Assets" imply that legislative actions defining the regulatory landscape for digital assets had indeed occurred by year-end 2025 ^[4]. These collective developments confirm the passage of comprehensive crypto market structure legislation, clarifying regulatory authority and providing operational frameworks, by the U.S. Congress by year-end 2025.