Key Points

• The Bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds captured $181 million in net inflows on July 14.

• Long-term holders understand that their patience and discipline are being tested right now.

• Global capital has been chasing the AI trend, making Bitcoin an afterthought for risk-seeking investors.

• 10 stocks we like better than Bitcoin ›

On the afternoon of July 15, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) traded above $65,000. While it didn't remain above that level for long, it may signal the beginning of a long-awaited recovery for the coin, which hadn't been at $65,000 in about four weeks.

Bitcoin is still 48% below its peak, and there is no shortage of commentary from so-called experts trying to figure out what variables are driving the price, ranging from favorable regulatory and industry developments to a relief bounce following a streak of bad news. Investors should simply ignore the near-term noise.

Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »

Here's the one factor that might matter most to Bitcoin holders right now.

Focus on the exchange-traded funds

It's been 30 months since the spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) were approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission. This kicked off what was the most successful ETF launch in Wall Street history, and legitimized the asset.

Investors still closely follow ETF flows. On July 14, these products saw $181 million in net inflows. This was welcome news. The move might have been spurred by slowing inflation, which could support lower interest rates sooner rather than later.

ETF inflows matter because they signal how much fresh demand there is from various sources of capital seeking Bitcoin exposure. These investment vehicles give investors a convenient way to access digital asset price action in a regulatory-friendly manner.

Wait another month, and the ETF capital flows could tell a different story due to ongoing volatility. A notable data point to keep tabs on is the asset base of the iShares Bitcoin Trust, currently at $47 billion. This is down from a peak of around $100 billion. The decline is representative of the current bear market Bitcoin is in.

Capital is chasing another market trend

Investors can be confident that Bitcoin ETFs will see tremendous inflows coinciding with the next bull market. It's just impossible to know when this could happen, although history says it's only a matter of time. Patient investors who remain focused on the long term have always reaped the rewards from the cryptocurrency's ascent.

Bitcoin's path to its next all-time high won't be easy. Global capital is chasing the hot trend, which is the artificial intelligence (AI) trade. The five major hyperscalers (Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Oracle) and the top chip sellers (Nvidia, Broadcom, Micron Technology, and Advanced Micro Devices) have a combined market capitalization of $20 trillion.

Bitcoin might be an afterthought for most investors these days.

Should you buy stock in Bitcoin right now?

Before you buy stock in Bitcoin, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Bitcoin wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $400,964!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,272,955!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 930% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 210% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.

*Stock Advisor returns as of July 17, 2026.

Neil Patel has positions in iShares Bitcoin Trust. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Amazon, Bitcoin, Broadcom, Meta Platforms, Micron Technology, Microsoft, Nvidia, Oracle, and iShares Bitcoin Trust. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.