The recent surge in Bitcoin ETF filings in the U.S. has garnered significant interest from institutional investors. For example, ProShares’ Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO), a Bitcoin futures fund available in the U.S., recorded the highest weekly inflow in over a year as Bitcoin (BTC) prices crossed the $30,000 threshold. This information comes from data provided by Bloomberg senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas.
Thanks to its status as a regulated product, BITO allows investors to access Bitcoin-linked returns. Currently, the ETF holds over $1 billion worth of CME Bitcoin Futures. In the past week alone, investors pumped $65 million into BITO, shattering the previous high from April 2023, which sat at just over $40 million. This uptick in demand is especially noteworthy given that it followed a period of stagnant growth in May and most of June.
BITO has managed to keep pace with spot Bitcoin prices, which has only increased its appeal to traders. Balchunas pointed out that the ETF has “tracked Bitcoin perfectly” with a minimal lag of 1.05% (annually) and a fee of 0.95%.
This buying pressure in BITO suggests a growing desire for Bitcoin exposure among institutional investors. This comes closely in the wake of an ongoing Bitcoin ETF frenzy in the U.S. Bitcoin prices experienced a rally in the past two weeks, following investment giant BlackRock’s filing for a spot Bitcoin ETF in the U.S. As a result, the world’s largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization reached $31,000, extending its monthly gains to 14%, according to CoinGecko data.
Despite the potential advantages of having an asset like BITO in the market, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has persistently blocked spot products from launching. However, the introduction of Bitcoin ETFs by reputable firms like BlackRock has invigorated a sense of bullish optimism among traders.
To be sure, while the recent growth in BITO’s inflows and the overall enthusiasm surrounding Bitcoin ETFs is promising, there’s no denying the uncertainty in the cryptocurrency market. The SEC’s historical reluctance to greenlight these products raises concerns about their long-term viability. Yet, time will tell if the current wave of institutional interest and Bitcoin’s price recovery sparks a more favorable outlook for cryptocurrency ETFs in the future.
Source: Coindesk
