Is The Bitcoin Price Manipulated? Experts Explain ‘Small’ Impact Of ETF Inflows

As an analyst with extensive experience in the cryptocurrency market, I find the recent price dynamics of Bitcoin in response to historic ETF inflows intriguing. The muted price movement despite substantial capital injections has left many puzzled, and I believe there might be a carry trade strategy at play.


Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) in the United States have experienced unprecedented growth over the past 17 business days, with a consistent inflow of investments. On an exceptional Tuesday, these ETFs attracted approximately $886.6 million, placing it as the second largest one-day investment since their inception.

Yesterday saw another substantial day of investments totaling $488.1 million. Notable contributors included Fidelity with $220.6 million, Blackrock with $155.1 million, and Ark with $71.4 million. Despite these large infusions of capital, Bitcoin’s price has shown a relatively muted reaction, climbing from $68,000 to $71,000 since the beginning of the week.

As a crypto investor, I’ve noticed the intriguing price stability despite significant Bitcoin ETF inflows. Normally, these inflows would lead to a more pronounced increase in Bitcoin prices. However, the current market conditions hint at the presence of opposing elements that are keeping prices in check.

Why Is The Bitcoin Price Not Going Higher?

The cryptocurrency trading analytics platform, The Kingfisher, explained on X that the price movements of Bitcoin (BTC) could be influenced by a carry trade strategy. Based on their analysis, they stated, “If you’ve noticed that the BTC ETF inflows haven’t significantly impacted the Bitcoin price as expected, it might be because carry trades have been actively employed. This involves shorting Bitcoin futures while simultaneously buying the spot or ETF.”

In simpler terms, a carry trade with Bitcoin means selling Bitcoin futures contracts at the same time you buy the actual Bitcoin or Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This method aims to protect against bitcoin price fluctuations and capitalize on any differences in pricing between futures markets and spot markets.

JJ the Janitor (@JLabsJanitor) provided more insights into the strategy’s workings. He made connections between the observed patterns on the PANDA Terminal graphs and stated, “Large traders fill their BTC demands by selling futures contracts to push prices towards bids. Once their trades are completed and they’re ready to let the market run, they close their short positions, resulting in an inverse relationship between True Open Interest (OI).”

As a researcher studying financial markets, I’ve come across some intriguing remarks that suggest strategic market maneuvers. While these tactics are technically legal, they raise ethical concerns as they blur the lines between intelligent investment strategies and potential manipulations. In response to this debate, I’ve seen a thought-provoking tweet asking, “Is market manipulation just a savvy investment strategy with a questionable label?” This statement challenges the established narrative by probing the ethical implications of such financial maneuvers.

The crypto community delved deeper into examining the discussion, with X user Sahra offering constructive criticism on the apply methodology of the carry trade. She pointed out that in theory, the carry trade should cause funding rates to decrease due to long spot pressure on the perpetual contracts. Consequently, the perpetual rates ought to drop as they fall behind the spot prices (assuming all other factors remain constant). However, she found the current rates insufficient to support a carry trade based on her assessment.

The intricacies of carry trades are highlighted in this remark, as the anticipated results, such as subdued funding rates, appear to diverge from market realities. It’s plausible that unseen factors are shaping the market dynamics.

The Kingfisher addressed Sahra’s doubts, admitting the unusual observation: “You’re correct in pointing out the continued positive trend in funding. However, it seems that while a carry trade may be present, it isn’t driving the market on its own. Other factors such as optimistic investor attitudes and strong buying forces could be counteracting the anticipated decrease in funding rates due to the carry trade.”

At press time, BTC traded at $70,803.

Is The Bitcoin Price Manipulated? Experts Explain ‘Small’ Impact Of ETF Inflows

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2024-06-06 10:52