Crypto Inflows Soar After BlackRock's ETF Move
Data suggests asset managers are following BlackRock into the cryptocurrency market, as European crypto ETPs experienced significant inflows in June, marking their best performance since March 2022.
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Posted 8/23/2023, 9:07:46 PM
cryptobriefing.com
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The cryptocurrency market is preparing for a potential larger financial event in September that could significantly impact Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and the wider digital asset landscape.
Global investment giant BlackRock has positioned itself to benefit from the growing importance of digital assets, including Bitcoin, through its substantial stake in MicroStrategy, indicating a new phase of institutional adoption in the cryptocurrency market.
In July, capital inflows from venture capitalists in the crypto sector decreased by 10.26%, with $700 million raised, as macroeconomic conditions and geopolitical events continued to impact investment decisions, although some notable outliers, such as Polychain Capital and CoinFund, launched new funds totaling millions of dollars, and the potential approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the U.S. could bring renewed attention and capital into the industry. Infrastructure and Web3 sectors received the most capital inflows, while overall investor activity in the blockchain industry remained low, suggesting a slow return to a steady upward trend.
BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, has filed a proposal to establish a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), which could increase mainstream acceptance of Bitcoin investing and open up new investment opportunities if approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Crypto-related stocks soar as the chances of fund companies offering Bitcoin ETFs increase, though Coinbase Global faces obstacles.
ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood predicts that the market capitalization of cryptocurrencies will increase by over 2,100% in less than seven years, driven by institutional investment and the potential approval of a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), with the total crypto market cap potentially reaching $25 trillion by 2030.
Ethereum's price has been declining, leading to concerns among investors, but there are two factors to consider: a drop in user activity and transaction volume on the Ethereum blockchain, which may be due to users migrating to faster and cheaper Layer 2 blockchains, and selling by Ethereum "whales" and insiders, including co-founder Vitalik Buterin, which could be attributed to profit-taking and security measures rather than a lack of confidence in Ethereum's future prospects. Despite the market's overreaction, Ethereum remains a strong investment with its dominance in various business segments and ongoing development plans.
BlackRock, a major asset manager, is accused of deliberately driving down the price of Bitcoin in order to establish a better buying position for their Spot Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) if it is approved, according to analyst Crypto Rover. This highlights the influence of big players in the market and reminds retail investors to be more analytical.
Bitcoin (BTC) has remained stagnant below $26,000, with investors waiting for further developments in the cryptocurrency market and the wider economy, while Ether (ETH) is expected to outperform BTC in September and October due to the potential approval of the first ether ETF in mid-October. Additionally, SOMA Finance plans to sell tokens that represent a financial interest, addressing the criticism that crypto tokens lack equity or debt claims. Binance continues to dominate the crypto market as the leading exchange.
Asset managers ARK Invest and 21Shares have applied for regulatory approval for an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that would directly hold ether (ETH), the second largest cryptocurrency, with custody provided by Coinbase Custody Trust Company.
Despite the uncertain regulatory environment and the current state of the crypto markets, asset managers remain interested in digital assets and expect the industry to grow in the next five years, with many estimating a compound annual growth rate of at least 11%.
Traditional exchanges, such as Nasdaq, are also venturing into the cryptocurrency space alongside companies like BlackRock.
The market is underestimating the potential impact and value of Spot Bitcoin ETFs, with analysts arguing that approval would lead to significant financial inflows and buying pressure, and that it is a good time to enter the market and start building a crypto portfolio, despite regulatory challenges. Ethereum could also benefit from a futures-based ETF listing, but there is caution about the SEC potentially classifying ETH as a security. Overall, the global crypto adoption is dependent on market maturity, regulatory intervention, and consistent long-term adoption.
Teams in Asia are increasingly playing a significant role in the development and research of cryptocurrency technology, particularly in the areas of exchanges, mining, and innovation in smart account crypto wallets, according to Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum.
Crypto strategist predicts a significant expansion in the digital assets market similar to 2019, with the possibility of a short squeeze after a Bitcoin market correction.
BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, is rumored to be reassessing its digital asset strategy, with speculation that it may shift its focus from Bitcoin to XRP, driven by regulatory changes, technological advancements, and a desire to diversify its digital asset portfolio.
Crypto is poised to create a new investable asset class globally and will revolutionize the internet, requiring new business models, metrics, and research structures, as well as a framework to analyze value flows within the tech stack, particularly in relation to Ethereum's layer 2 solutions.
Crypto asset manager CoinShares plans to establish a hedge fund unit for qualified US investors in order to provide institutional investors with actively managed exposure to digital assets outside of Europe due to the changing macro environment marked by interest rates and inflation.