80% of Bitcoin ETF demand comes from retail investors: Binance

As a seasoned researcher with years of experience in the financial sector, particularly in the realm of cryptocurrencies, I find the recent trends in Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) quite intriguing. The dominance of retail investors in the demand for spot Bitcoin ETFs is a testament to the growing interest and understanding of digital assets among the general public.


It appears that retail investors are driving the majority of the interest in Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) based on recent studies conducted by Binance, a well-known cryptocurrency exchange.

According to a recent study published on October 25th about Bitcoin Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), analysts from Binance found that approximately 80% of the total assets managed by these funds, specifically the ones dealing with spot Bitcoin ETFs, are held by individual investors who are not affiliated with institutions as of October 10th.

80% of Bitcoin ETF demand comes from retail investors: Binance

In January 2024, Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) focused on Bitcoin were introduced, marking a significant milestone for the cryptocurrency sector. Over the following 10 months, these funds attracted a total of $21.6 billion from investors.

Analysts at Binance observed that a significant portion, about $63.3 billion, of the assets managed by the Spot Bitcoin ETF since its debut in January might not have represented new investments in the cryptocurrency market.

It seems that a significant part of the purchasing actions can be linked to individual investors shifting their assets from digital wallets and centralized trading platforms into funds, as these provide enhanced legal safeguards.

Binance noted that Spot ETFs play a twofold function: they are drawing in fresh investors due to their accessibility and also appealing to existing ones who favor the structured and less complex nature of ETFs compared to direct blockchain holdings or other alternatives like Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust, which tend to be illiquid and high-fee.

Institutional demand is still growing

Although individual investors make up most of the investments in these funds, Binance analysts have observed an increasing appetite for these investments from institutions. Specifically, investment consultants and hedge funds are emerging as the two categories with the swiftest growing interest.

80% of Bitcoin ETF demand comes from retail investors: Binance

Nevertheless, numerous organizations haven’t made significant progress with Bitcoin investments, and even the ones that have often maintain a cautious approach when using these funds.

Despite numerous big-name traditional financial institutions seeking opportunities within the Bitcoin ETF market surge, U.S. investment titan Vanguard has remained notably reluctant towards approving Bitcoin ETFs.

Vanguard, one of the world’s largest Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) providers, has consistently declined to introduce Bitcoin or cryptocurrency-based ETFs. In a recent statement on August 14, their new CEO, Salim Ramji, reaffirmed this stance against crypto assets, confirming that Vanguard will not be launching any cryptocurrency ETFs at this time.

Binance analysts noted that this “conservative strategy” mirrors the usual way traditional financial institutions interact with the cryptocurrency market.

Even though it’s anticipated that establishments will boost trade volumes in the long run, there hasn’t been a significant shift during the past year, possibly because of erratic market fluctuations and doubts about global liquidity,” the report noted, implying this.

Bitcoin ETF inflows heat up, which could be a bad thing

Bitcoin ETFs have been witnessing an “unusually large” streak of inflows in recent weeks, causing one analyst to warn of a potential Bitcoin price dip in the near term.  

From October 11th to the 23rd, Bitcoin ETFs accumulated approximately $2.88 billion in investments. Only one day, October 22nd, saw a minor outflow of around $79.1 million, which represented just 2.7% of the total inflows during this period – as reported by Farside’s data.

AI Eye: A bizarre cult is growing around AI-created memecoin ‘religions’

Read More

2024-10-25 17:05