Bitcoin ETFs see record inflows, fueling market optimism
Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have experienced a significant surge in demand, with Fidelity’s FBTC and BlackRock’s IBIT leading the charge. On March 7, Fidelity’s FBTC saw a record-breaking single-day inflow of approximately $473 million, equivalent to about 7,000 BTC, bringing its total net inflows to over $6 billion and expanding its Bitcoin holdings to roughly 120,000 BTC. BlackRock’s IBIT also registered robust inflows, recently adding $244 million, elevating their total net inflow to $9.7 billion and Bitcoin holdings to approximately 191,000 BTC. This influx of capital into Bitcoin ETFs reflects growing investor confidence and a bullish outlook for the cryptocurrency’s price.
Mid-tier ETFs, such as Bitwise’s BITB and Ark’s ARKB, also reported inflows of $41 million and $42 million, respectively, with ARKB’s total net inflows reaching $1.8 billion and BITB slightly behind at $1.3 billion. Despite Grayscale’s GBTC experiencing $375 million in outflows, the combined net inflow into Bitcoin ETFs remains strong at $9.4 billion, equivalent to 174,881 BTC, according to BitMEX data.
The increasing demand for Bitcoin ETFs is further evidenced by the record daily inflows into accumulation addresses, which reached 38,000 Bitcoin as prices approached all-time highs. CryptoQuant, an on-chain data provider, highlighted that the total Bitcoin holdings of accumulation addresses have reached record levels at 1.5 million BTC. These addresses represent investors who only accumulate Bitcoin and never sell, indicating strong demand for the cryptocurrency.
The approval of eleven Bitcoin spot ETFs in the U.S. earlier this year has demonstrated a significant appetite for such products, with BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, entering the Bitcoin market with a new Spot Bitcoin product. This move has contributed to the bullish sentiment and triggered another bull market, with Bitcoin’s price hovering around $67,000 after reaching an all-time high of $69,000.
Analysts are now speculating that the convergence of increasing inflows, supportive market indicators, and anticipated regulatory approval for options trading on Bitcoin ETFs could propel Bitcoin prices to new heights. Some predictions suggest that Bitcoin could reach $100,000 by October 2024, driven by institutional adoption and increased investor demand. As the cryptocurrency market undergoes this significant shift, Bitcoin’s role within the broader financial ecosystem continues to solidify, with BlackRock’s strategic investments leading the way.