Bitcoin ETFs See Significant Outflows of $400M amid Market Highs

As a seasoned researcher with years of experience navigating the volatile world of cryptocurrency markets, I find this latest development intriguing. Institutions pulling out substantial amounts from Bitcoin ETFs while the broader market continues to rally is an unusual sight. It’s like watching a swarm of bees leave their hive during a nectar flow – counterintuitive, yet fascinating.


On November 14th, Bitcoin spot ETFs underwent a substantial drop, as institutional investors pulled out approximately $400 million, even though the price of Bitcoin reached an all-time high of almost $94,000 on Thursday.

The overall cryptocurrency sector has been moving upward, mirroring Bitcoin’s recent surge. Despite this bullish trend, institutional investors have exhibited a degree of wariness, withdrawing significant funds from Bitcoin ETFs. Bitcoin’s current price stands at $88,120, with a 24-hour volatility of 2.7%. The total market capitalization is approximately $1.74 trillion, and the 24-hour trading volume amounts to $85.38 billion.

Institutional Pullback despite Market Optimism

According to SoSoValue, a prominent crypto ETF monitor, it was revealed that Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) experienced an outflow of approximately $69.59 million on Thursday. This significant withdrawal brought the fund’s total net inflow down to around $20.25 billion.

On the 14th of November, I observed that Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) traded a total of 5.19 million shares, which translated to an impressive $367.35 million in value on that day. At present, the trust’s net assets amount to a substantial $19.13 billion.

The dropoff that started occurring began on November 14th. This followed several days of positive investments which commenced post Donald Trump’s election win on November 6th. On November 13th, Grayscale’s mini Bitcoin ETF saw a significant $61.3 million in net investments, placing it as the third most successful fund for that day, according to Coinspeaker’s reports.

Significant amounts of money were pulled out from other notable Bitcoin ETFs as well. Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund experienced withdrawals totaling $176 million, while the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF had $161.72 million withdrawn. Similarly, Bitwise Bitcoin ETF reported outflows amounting to $113.94 million.

On November 14th, neither the WisdomTree Bitcoin Trust (BTCW) nor the Invesco Galaxy Bitcoin ETF (BTCO) showed any new transactions or movements, thus keeping their stance as neutral observers without reported activities.

BlackRock and VanEck Defy the Trend

As a researcher examining the recent trends in investment flows, I’ve noticed an interesting anomaly. While most investment vehicles have experienced outflows, surprisingly, BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and VanEck’s Bitcoin ETF (HODL) have bucked this trend, reporting inflows of $126.53 million and $2.50 million respectively. This suggests a growing interest in these Bitcoin-related investment products amidst the broader market downturn.

Despite the general pessimism in the market, these investment funds have successfully continued their upward trend. Particularly on November 11th, BlackRock’s IBIT played a substantial role in the industry’s $509 million increase, adding approximately $2.50 million to its daily inflows.

Over the last six weeks, BlackRock’s IBIT fund has been among the top performers in the industry. With minor exceptions on October 10 and November 5, it has consistently contributed millions to the ETF market each day, with a $10.8 million withdrawal on October 10 and a $44.2 million outflow on November 5 being the only instances.

As a cryptocurrency investor, I’ve noticed that BlackRock’s impressive performance in this volatile market is a clear sign of diverging investor sentiments. Even amidst uncertain signals from the broader market, it seems that strategic funds are still capturing significant institutional attention when it comes to Bitcoin ETFs. This suggests a level of confidence and strategic planning that outweighs general caution in other similar investment vehicles.

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2024-11-15 11:57