The new spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have been a huge success by almost every significant indicator. They have already brought in over $30 billion in assets under management as a group. With over $111 billion in total trading volume in Marchâ€"nearly three times the amount in Februaryâ€"these spot Bitcoin ETFs established a record.
The new spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have been a huge success by almost every significant indicator. They have already brought in over $30 billion in assets under management as a group. (Photo : by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
However, for how long can this unprecedented speed persist? After all, the price of Bitcoin appears to be trapped at the $70,000 mark, and on certain days, net withdrawals are starting to occur from the new Bitcoin ETFs. If you plan to invest in the new ETFs to gain exposure to Bitcoin, there are three important things to think about.
Bitcoin Halving
The halving of Bitcoin is the most important event that is scheduled for April 19. The mining reward given to Bitcoin miners is cut in half during a halving event. As a result, the number of new bitcoins issued decreases and the value of bitcoin increases its resistance to inflation.
In the past, halvings have significantly raised the price of Bitcoin. When the most recent halving cycle began in May 2020, the price of Bitcoin shot up from $10,000 to over $69,000 in November 2021. Even while historical performance does not guarantee future outcomes, many Bitcoin investors are optimistic that this year's halving will follow a similar pattern because it has happened twice before, in 2012 and 2016.
That's very positive news for the new Bitcoin ETFs if that's the case. When the price of Bitcoin rises, more investors get interested in it and choose to invest more capital. This drives up the price of Bitcoin and encourages other investors to invest, and the cycle continues. Previous Bitcoin halving cycles have lasted between 12 and 18 months, so it's possible that trading volumes and inflows into Bitcoin ETFs may increase for the duration of 2024.
Regarding its potential significance in portfolios, a lot of cryptocurrency investors call Bitcoin "digital gold" and compare it to real gold. They appreciate Bitcoin for its future gains and its capacity to hold its value in the face of economic volatility. Historically, 20% to 30% of the "store of value" market has been made up of bitcoin, and some analysts believe this percentage might eventually reach 50%.
This explains why the state of the economy right now is so intriguing. Gold is soaring to all-time highs concurrently with Bitcoin. Although the price of gold is now at $2,370, some experts believe it might reach $3,000. It seems that central banks are hoarding gold as a safeguard against economic instability.
The key question then becomes: Where do investors place their money if things worsen in the Middle East or if the US economy collapses? Undoubtedly, investors in cryptocurrency will shift their funds to Bitcoin. What about everyone else, though? Institutional investors and hedge funds have always preferred gold, and this may once again be the case. If so, there's a chance that the money flowing into Bitcoin (and the new Bitcoin ETFs) may slow down, which would undoubtedly result in a decline in ETF trading volumes.
Bitcoin Allotments
The amount of Bitcoin that investors are advised to allocate is another crucial consideration. That proportion was usually 1% (or less) before this year. But it appears that some institutional investors, like Fidelity Investments, are moving up on their recommended Bitcoin allocations for clients, bringing them closer to the 3% threshold.
It should be excellent news for Bitcoin and the new Bitcoin ETFs if this proportion maintains the same or keeps rising. It implies that until they have achieved the recommended allocation level, both individual and institutional investors will keep adding to their Bitcoin holdings. This implies that Bitcoin is now more likely than ever to become widely used. Not only will Bitcoin fanatics own it, but so will your next-door neighbor.
