Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) experienced an astonishing trading volume of $111 billion in March, nearly tripling the volumes of January and February combined.
What Happened: This surge was highlighted in a series of tweets by prominent analysts, underscoring the monumental growth and interest in Bitcoin investment vehicles.
Eric Balchunas, a well-known ETF analyst, pointed out a significant shift in the market share of Bitcoin ETF volumes.
iShares Bitcoin Trust IBIT has emerged as the dominant player, seizing a considerable portion from the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust GBTC which previously monopolized the market.
According to Balchunas, BlackRock‘s Bitcoin ETF is now akin to its gold ETF, essentially dominating the space with its volume.
Adding to the dynamic landscape, ProShares launched the first-ever 2x and -2x spot Bitcoin ETFs, named BITU and SBIT, respectively.
These products aim to offer investors leveraged returns on Bitcoin’s price movements.
Despite their high fees of 95 basis points, initial trading volumes were modest, staying below $1 million.
However, these ETFs are projected to rank among the top five most volatile ETFs in the United States, with a staggering standard deviation approximately 15 times that of the S&P 500.
Also Read: Crypto Crash? Bitcoin And Ethereum Plunge Below Key Support Levels
Why It Matters: The launch and rapid ascendance of these Bitcoin ETFs raise questions about market stability and investor appetite for high-risk, high-reward products.
Jurrien Timmer of Fidelity Investments and Alex Thorn noted an interesting trend: despite the buzz around Bitcoin ETFs/ETPs, the futures market remains vibrant, indicating a broad base of speculative interest in Bitcoin beyond the traditional HODLers.
As the industry gears up for Benzinga’s Future of Digital Assets conference on Nov. 19, these developments signal a robust and evolving Bitcoin investment landscape. With U.S. Bitcoin ETFs now holding over 4.25% of the total circulating BTC supply, the market is at a pivotal juncture.
Whether April will surpass March’s record-breaking volumes remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the appetite for Bitcoin ETFs, whether for bullish or bearish bets, is only growing.
Image created using artificial intelligence with Midjourney.
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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