Spot Bitcoin ETFs record outflows of $79.1m led by ARK and 21Shares’s ARKB

As a seasoned analyst with over two decades of experience in the financial markets, I find myself intrigued by the ebb and flow of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The recent outflows from ARK 21Shares’ ARKB, despite the inflows seen in previous weeks, are a testament to the volatile nature of this nascent market. Yet, it is important to note that even with these outflows, Bitcoin ETFs have collectively attracted significant net inflows since their inception.


On October 22nd, U.S.-based Bitcoin exchange-traded funds experienced substantial net withdrawals, breaking a seven-day trend of inflows. The entirety of these withdrawals can be traced back to the ETF offered by ARK 21Shares (ARKB).

On October 22nd, SoSoValue’s data showed that the total net outflow of $79.1 million was primarily due to investors withdrawing $134.74 million from ARK 21Shares’ ARKB fund. This is the largest single-day withdrawal since the ETF was launched, significantly different from the significant inflows observed in recent times.

On October 22nd, the significant outflows were partially balanced by BlackRock’s IBIT, the leading asset manager in terms of total assets under management, which reported inflows amounting to $42.98 million on that day. Similarly, Fidelity’s FBTC and VanEck’s HODL also recorded inflows of $8.85 million and $3.82 million respectively. The rest of the Bitcoin ETFs did not register any flows on October 22nd.

On October 22nd, the combined trading volume for the twelve Bitcoin ETFs experienced a substantial decrease, falling to approximately $1.4 billion from the previous day’s figures. Although there has been recent outflows, these funds have collectively drawn in a total of $21.15 billion since they were first launched.

Over the past day, Bitcoin ETFs have seen a decrease in investments, but Bitcoin itself has stayed within a certain price range, fluctuating between $66,700 and $67,700. Currently, Bitcoin is being traded at $67,022, suggesting a period of relative price stability amidst the ebb and flow of investments in ETFs.

Contrarily to Bitcoin’s Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) experiencing withdrawals on Oct. 22, Ethereum ETFs registered a total of $11.94 million influx, with BlackRock’s ETHA being the recipient of all the new investment. This represented a turnaround from the day prior, where Ethereum ETFs had $20.8 million in withdrawals.

At the time of writing, Ethereum (ETH) had fallen 1.2%, trading at $2,610.

Institutional investors strengthen their Bitcoin ETF holdings

The adoption of Bitcoin Spot Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) by institutions in the U.S. is expanding rapidly. Today, it’s estimated that about 20% of all U.S.-traded Bitcoin Spot ETFs are owned by large investors. This growing institutional involvement indicates a decrease in initial apprehension towards Bitcoin-related funds. Notable financial heavyweights such as BlackRock and Fidelity are spearheading the influx of investments into these funds.

Experts like Eric Balchunas and James Seyffart from Bloomberg have pointed out that asset managers are gradually adapting to the rising trend of cryptocurrency Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs).

European and Asian investors flock to crypto ETFs

In the United States, there’s a growing enthusiasm among investors towards Bitcoin ETFs. On the other hand, Europe is witnessing a surge in investments into spot crypto ETFs, reaching new records.

Investors based in Europe have poured approximately $105 billion into these financial products so far this year, setting a new record high. As explained by Eric Balchunas, this surge can be attributed to the lower returns that the European market is offering compared to other regions. For instance, the SPY ETF in the United States has experienced a 24% growth this year, while European markets have only increased by 10%.

Moreover, Asian investors are also boosting their investments in US-centric cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which is a significant factor in the substantial inflows seen so far this year.

Instead of the rapid acceptance of Bitcoin Spot ETFs in countries like the U.S. and Europe, the regulatory approach in Japan remains cautious. Japanese officials have yet to approve the incorporation of cryptocurrencies within investment trusts or ETFs, indicating a regulatory climate that leans towards caution.

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2024-10-23 10:02