Crypto Whales Amassed Nearly $16.8 Billion Worth of Bitcoin After Spot ETF Launch

As an experienced analyst with a background in financial markets and cryptocurrencies, I believe that institutional investors’ entry into the cryptocurrency space, specifically Bitcoin, is a significant development. The data from IntoTheBlock indicating whales accumulating over $16 billion worth of Bitcoin since the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs is compelling evidence of this trend.


As an analyst, I’ve observed a significant surge in institutional investment in the cryptocurrency market. The introduction of Bitcoin spot ETFs in the US seems to have piqued the interest of deep- pocketed investors. Consequently, these whales have amassed approximately $16 billion worth of Bitcoin since then.

Based on information from crypto analytics firm IntoTheBlock, it seems that the long-anticipated institutional inflow into the cryptocurrency sector is materializing. Specifically, investors holding large amounts of Bitcoin (1,000 BTC or more) have accumulated approximately $16.8 billion worth of the digital asset since regulatory approvals for spot Bitcoin ETFs were granted earlier this year.

According to the firm’s report, a total of 250,000 Bitcoin worth approximately $8.3 billion was added by whales since the introduction of spot Bitcoin ETFs. Currently, the collective Bitcoin holdings of these large investors are close to their pre-FTX collapse amounts.

As an analyst, I’ve noticed an intriguing transformation highlighted by IntoTheBlock. The identity of the prominent whale investors in the cryptocurrency market seems to be evolving. Traditional financial institutions are increasingly making their presence felt, pushing aside the earlier dominance of crypto-native asset managers.

According to recent reports, the demand for Bitcoin sellers on Coinbase, a widely-used cryptocurrency exchange, has decreased noticeably. This shift is reflected in the narrowing of the Coinbase premium – the price gap between Bitcoin trading on Coinbase and other exchanges – which has significantly shrunk.

As an on-chart analysis expert, I’ve noticed that the “Coinbase Premium Gap,” a key metric monitored by my firm CryptoQuant, has noticeably narrowed after hitting unusually low levels this week. This contraction implies that institutional investors, who often utilize Coinbase to enter the cryptocurrency market, have been selling off their holdings in substantial quantities.

The shrinking difference suggests that selling forces have lessened, possibly due to the stabilization of investments in Bitcoin spot ETFs and the increasing value of the leading cryptocurrency itself.

In the first quarter of this year, filings to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission disclosed that prominent financial institutions such as hedge funds and Wall Street giants have increased their investment in Bitcoin through purchasing units in Bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs). An illustrative example is Bracebridge Capital, a Boston-based hedge fund managing approximately $12 billion in assets, which acquired over $360 million across three different funds.

As a financial analyst, I’d rephrase it as follows: In the latest development, Wisconsin has joined the ranks of governments disclosing investments in Bitcoin. Specifically, we purchased approximately 94,562 shares of BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) during the first quarter, representing a value close to $100 million.

The recent filing reveals that Wisconsin has followed in the footsteps of financial heavyweights like JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo by disclosing investments in Bitcoin spot ETFs through their 13F filings.

JPMorgan disclosed investments totaling $731,246 in the iShares Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (IBIT), Bitwise Bitcoin Trust (BITB), Fidelity Wise 10 Crypto Index Fund (FBTC), and Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC). Wells Fargo reported holdings of $141,817 in GBTC. Similarly, BNP Paribas and BNY Mellon have made comparable disclosures.

As a crypto investor, I’m always on the lookout for major institutions entering the space, and BNP Paribas, Europe‘s second-largest bank with over $600 billion in assets under management, caught my attention in Q1 this year. They made their move by investing in shares of IBIT, a company that specializes in Bitcoin. This means that despite its traditional banking background, BNP Paribas is now indirectly holding Bitcoin through its investment in IBIT.

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2024-05-21 01:36