The US ETF market achieved a historic “triple crown” in 2025, setting records in inflows ($1.4 trillion), new launches (1,100+), and trading volume ($57.9 trillion). This is the first time all three metrics hit records simultaneously since 2021.

Three consecutive years of double-digit S&P 500 gains powered the rally. But Wall Street is starting to ask: what comes next?

The Ghost of 2022

That precedent carries a warning. The year following the 2021 triple crown saw the S&P 500 plunge 19% amid the Federal Reserve’s aggressive rate hikes. The tech-driven rally that fueled ETF inflows reversed sharply, with both inflows and launches slowing in 2022.

The parallels are hard to ignore. In 2021, exuberance around tech stocks drove record demand. In 2025, AI spending has dominated while skepticism is mounting. Since October, the S&P 500 has traded sideways as Wall Street questions the returns on Big Tech’s AI capex.

Eric Balchunas, senior ETF analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, warned: “Because of how perfect this year seemed to be for ETFs, you kind of want to brace for it.” He suggested a “reality check” could come in 2026 through market volatility or leveraged ETF blowups—risks already demonstrated by GraniteShares’ 3x Short AMD ETP, which lost 88.9% in a single day and was liquidated in October.

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The Crypto ETF Rotation

Within the broader ETF boom, a striking divergence is playing out in cryptocurrency funds.

BlackRock’s IBIT attracted $25.4 billion despite a -9.6% return—the only negative performer among the top 10 flow leaders. Balchunas called it “Boomers putting on a HODL clinic.” But the tide turned after Bitcoin’s 30% drop from its October high. IBIT recorded five consecutive weeks of outflows totaling $2.7 billion. Ethereum ETFs followed with seven straight days of outflows in December, totaling $685 million.

The opposite emerged in newly launched altcoin ETFs. US spot XRP ETFs, debuting November 13, recorded 28 consecutive trading days of net inflows—unmatched by any crypto ETF at launch. Cumulative inflows reached $1.14 billion with zero outflow days. Still, the daily pace—mostly $10-50 million—pales compared to Bitcoin ETFs, which regularly drew $500 million or more in their early days.

Solana ETFs attracted $750 million despite SOL’s 53% price decline—though unlike XRP, they experienced several outflow days in late November and early December.

	BTC	ETH	XRP	SOL
YTD Inflows	$25.4B	$10.3B	$1.14B	$750M
Dec 1-24	-$629M	-$512M	+$470M	+$132M
Notable	5-week outflows	7-day outflows	28-day inflow streak	Inflows despite -53%

December crystallized this rotation. Through December 24, Bitcoin ETFs shed $629 million, while Ethereum lost $512 million; XRP added $470 million, and Solana gained $132 million.

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Structural Shift or Temporary Adjustment?

Those arguing for structural change point to regulatory clarity—XRP’s SEC lawsuit concluded in August with a $125 million settlement, classifying it as a non-security. Utility narratives are also gaining traction: XRP’s cross-border payments and Solana’s DeFi ecosystem offer applications beyond “digital gold.”

Skeptics caution that XRP and SOL’s consistent inflows may reflect a “honeymoon effect” typical of new ETF launches. Despite record ETF inflows, XRP remains 50% below its July peak, and SOL has dropped 53% since October—a disconnect some attribute to year-end profit-taking and to whales distributing holdings offsetting institutional demand.

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2026 Outlook

With dozens of crypto ETF applications still awaiting SEC review, more altcoin products are expected in 2026.

The ETF market’s “perfect year” will be remembered alongside correction warnings. But the rotation within crypto ETFs suggests institutional investors are becoming selective—moving beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum toward assets with regulatory clarity and real-world utility. Whether this trend continues will be a key indicator for the broader market’s direction.

The post US ETF Market Hits Triple Crown While BTC Bleeds and XRP Soars appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Chainlink (LINK) has been in a steady downtrend for the past month, sliding to $11.5 as market volatility continues to weigh on major altcoins. Despite this weakness, sentiment around Chainlink is shifting quickly. 

With XRP and Dogecoin spot ETFs debuting this week, LINK is increasingly viewed as the leading candidate for the next major altcoin ETF — a catalyst that could reshape its price trajectory.

Can Grayscale File For Chainlink ETF?

Grayscale recently published an in-depth research report that reads like a strong endorsement of Chainlink’s long-term value. The firm emphasizes that LINK functions as critical infrastructure, enabling secure communication between on-chain smart contracts and off-chain real-world data.

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The report notes that LINK is the largest non-Layer-1 token by market cap, offering broad exposure across the crypto economy. It highlights Chainlink’s expanding institutional partnerships, its growing role in real-world asset tokenization, and accelerating demand for its services.

Grayscale’s extensive analysis suggests deep institutional conviction — a strong sign that the firm may be positioning LINK for its next ETF product.

Analyst Hints That LINK ETF Is Coming Soon

Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas has also fueled speculation. In two separate posts, Balchunas stated that a Chainlink ETF — likely Grayscale’s GLINK — is already in development. He first suggested it could launch as early as next week.

“Grayscale Dogecoin ETF $GDOG approved for listing on NYSE, scheduled to begin trading Monday. Their XRP spot is also launching on Monday. $GLNK coming soon as well, week after I think,” stated Balchunas.

Following the successful rollout of the XRP and Dogecoin ETFs, he reiterated on Monday that GLINK could debut by December 2, aligning with the rapid pace of altcoin ETF approvals.

The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) has added even more weight to the narrative. Its website lists the Bitwise Chainlink ETF Beneficial Interest, suggesting another LINK ETF is already positioned for approval.

Bitwise has a strong track record in this space, having launched the first Solana ETF and the second XRP ETF. With LINK already listed and Bitwise aggressively expanding its ETF lineup, the probability of a near-term launch increases significantly.

LINK Price Awaits a Bounce Back

LINK is trading at $12.81, pressing against the $12.94 resistance level while still trapped under a month-long downtrend. The technical structure suggests hesitation, but ETF-driven demand could shift momentum quickly.

If a spot LINK ETF is approved, fresh capital could break the downtrend and push LINK above $13.77 and $14.66. A rally of this magnitude would help erase its 31% decline since early November.

If approvals are delayed, LINK may lose support and fall back to $11.64 or lower. This would result in the bullish thesis being completely invalidated and extending LINK’s downtrend.

The post ETF Boom Continues: This Altcoin Could Be Next After XRP & DOGE appeared first on BeInCrypto.