Although gold has outshined Bitcoin in price performance this year, institutional investors are heavily leaning toward Bitcoin. BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) has already drawn nearly $7 billion in inflows in 2025, surpassing the SPDR Gold Trust (GLD), the world’s largest gold ETF.
This trend signals that while gold maintains its strong performance, institutional players are increasingly optimistic about Bitcoin’s long-term potential.
Gold vs. Bitcoin: How 2025 Is Shaping Up
Gold has been on a hot streak in 2025, posting impressive gains month after month:
- January: +6.59%
- February: +2.02%
- March: +8.72%
- April: +5.22%
- April 8–21: +14.83% alone
- May (so far): +4%
- Total YTD: +30.33%
Bitcoin, meanwhile, has had a rockier ride but has still surprised some observers:
- January: +9.54%
- February: -17.5%
- March: -2.19%
- April: +14.2%
- May (so far): +3.04%
- Total YTD: +3.84%
While gold’s price gains clearly outpace Bitcoin’s this year, the story shifts when looking at ETF flows.
Bitcoin ETFs on the Rise
Despite Bitcoin’s volatility, BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust has attracted $6.96 billion in new capital in 2025—edging out the $6.5 billion inflow into the SPDR Gold Trust. This highlights a growing appetite for Bitcoin ETFs as a vehicle for long-term growth, even as gold holds onto its reputation as a safe-haven asset.
ETF analyst Eric Balchunas sees this momentum as the beginning of a larger trend. He predicts that within 3 to 5 years, Bitcoin ETFs could manage triple the assets of gold ETFs, thanks to institutional demand and rising market confidence.
In short, even though gold currently leads in performance, Bitcoin is quickly gaining ground in terms of institutional credibility. The surging inflows into Bitcoin ETFs signal that Bitcoin is evolving beyond its early reputation as a speculative play—it’s fast becoming a mainstream investment option for institutions seeking long-term upside.
