Bitcoin Clears $81,000 as Real Buyers Replace the Short Squeeze

By Isaac • September 4, 2026 11:13 am •

Bitcoin’s latest move above $81,000 looks healthier than the first leg of the rebound. The early push leaned heavily on short sellers being forced out.

Now fresh spot demand is joining the move.

CryptoSlate reports that U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted $730.9 million on Thursday, their strongest daily intake since January. BlackRock’s IBIT accounted for roughly $454 million, while Fidelity, Grayscale and other products also brought in capital.

The report traces how the rebound evolved from forced buying into broader participation. Thursday’s ETF haul followed roughly $3.5 billion of August inflows, while daily exchange spot volume accelerated sharply from early-month lows and large-holder transfers increased around the same time.

Spot trading has strengthened at the same