Bitcoin ETFs logged their biggest inflow day in two months on January 2, drawing $471 million as institutions continued steady accumulation into the new year. The figure marks the highest single-day total since November 11, a sign that demand for spot BTC products remains durable even after the rally that pushed bitcoin to $93,000.
The broader crypto market ticked higher on the day: ethereum at $3,175 (+1%), solana at $135 (+1%), and BNB at $906 (+2.5%). Market cap stood at $3.16 trillion overall. Smaller-cap assets with speculative appeal outpaced majors, with Virtuals surging 24% and Render climbing 17%.
The ETF inflow surge coincides with a formal shift in regulatory power. SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw officially left the agency on January 2, leaving behind a five-seat commission now controlled entirely by Republicans. Crenshaw had been the lone dissenter on crypto-friendly moves and a vocal skeptic of spot bitcoin and ethereum approvals. Her departure removes the most consistent institutional brake on SEC accommodation of digital-asset markets.
Whether that translates to faster approvals or lighter enforcement remains to be seen. The Republican majority does not guarantee action, and the SEC's existing approval processes are already operational. Still, the directional shift removes a formal obstacle to any pro-crypto regulatory initiative the chair or other commissioners might pursue.
Meanwhile, PwC signaled deeper engagement with crypto. The Big 4 accounting firm announced plans to expand its services around stablecoins and payments infrastructure, a move that reflects growing institutional appetite to build plumbing rather than speculate on price. PwC's focus on stablecoins and settlement rails sits outside the volatility chasing that dominates retail crypto discourse and suggests where serious money sees durable infrastructure value.