In recent weeks, the crypto market has seen an influx of investors withdrawing funds. Last week alone, a staggering $62 million was pulled from various cryptocurrency funds, contributing to a seven-week draw down totaling $329 million, according to a Coinshares report. This has led to a 1% decrease in assets under management (AUM) over the last week alone. One possible explanation for these withdrawals is the increase in investors cashing in on short positions, as cryptocurrency prices have surged by 56% over the past year.
Outflows have been observed across several cryptocurrencies. The Tron blockchain experienced the largest hit, with withdrawals totaling around $51 million – an astonishing 70% of its total AUM. Though this may appear alarming, CoinShares’ head of research, James Butterfill, suggests that the primary cause for this dramatic change might be a withdrawal of seed capital rather than an ominous indication for the future of the blockchain.
Bitcoin funds have also been affected, albeit to a lesser extent. Last week saw $2.7 million in outflows from long-Bitcoin funds, along with $6.3 million in outflows from short-Bitcoin funds. Shorting Bitcoin involves selling the tokens at a higher price for profit, with the intent to repurchase them at a lower price later on. Despite representing only 0.9% of AUM in long-Bitcoin funds, these short-Bitcoin funds constituted around 44% of all outflows.
Meanwhile, Ethereum funds experienced $2.7 million in outflows during the same period. On the other hand, weekly deposits for XRP, Polygon, and multi-asset funds reached $1.6 million.
Although the market has faced a continued period of withdrawals, this is not a sign of an impending downward spiral. In fact, Coinbase announced last week that it would be offering “institutional-sized” Bitcoin and Ethereum futures contracts for its institutional clients, reflecting sustained interest in digital assets. These contracts, priced at 1 BTC and 10 ETH per contract, are based on the expected future prices of the cryptocurrencies.
In spite of the recent trading downturn, both Bitcoin and Ethereum have seen price increases exceeding 50% in the past year, as tracked by CoinMarketCap. It is crucial for investors to carefully weigh the potential risks and rewards, and consider whether the recent outflows signify a temporary drop or a longer-lasting trend. As the crypto market continues to evolve, it remains important for enthusiasts and investors alike to stay informed and maintain a balanced perspective on the future of digital assets.
Source: Decrypt
