FTX Sale Impact on Bitcoin and ETFs in 2024
The TDR Three Key Takeaways:
1. Bitcoin’s Price Fluctuations: Despite a year-to-date decline of 11.79%, Bitcoin has shown resilience over a longer term, with a 29% increase in the last six months and a 69% rise over the past year. These statistics highlight the volatile nature of Bitcoin’s price amidst evolving market conditions.
2. FTX’s Impact on the Market: FTX’s bankruptcy proceedings led to the sale of approximately $1 billion worth of Grayscale’s Bitcoin ETF, contributing to significant market movements. This event, coupled with the transition of Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) from a closed-end fund to an ETF and the introduction of new Bitcoin ETFs by major firms, has substantially influenced the cryptocurrency investment landscape.
3. Shifts in Cryptocurrency Investment Trends: The launch of new Bitcoin ETFs and the recent market activities, including FTX’s asset liquidation and the significant withdrawals from Grayscale’s GBTC, have led to a noticeable shift in investment patterns. This is evidenced by the net outflow of $21 million from crypto funds following a substantial inflow the previous week, underscoring the market’s sensitivity to major events and transitions within the crypto space.
Bitcoin’s price has seen an 11.79% decline year to date, drawing attention to recent market activities, especially those related to Bitcoin Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and FTX’s bankruptcy estate. Despite this downturn, it’s important to note that Bitcoin’s price has increased by 29% over the last six months and 69% over the past year, up to the time of this article’s publication.
FTX, in the midst of bankruptcy, sold about $1 billion worth of Grayscale’s Bitcoin ETF. This significant sale was part of the liquidation of FTX’s assets, including 22 million shares of Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust (GBTC). This occurred as GBTC transitioned from a closed-end fund to an ETF, coinciding with the launch of new Bitcoin ETFs by firms like BlackRock and Fidelity. Despite these new offerings, GBTC experienced over $2 billion in withdrawals.
The broader cryptocurrency investment market felt the impact of these events. After the launch of new Bitcoin ETFs, crypto funds reported a net outflow of $21 million, a stark contrast to the $1.25 billion inflow the previous week. Grayscale’s GBTC alone faced $2.2 billion in withdrawals.
The introduction of new Bitcoin ETFs, initially met with optimism, hasn’t matched expectations. Bitcoin’s price dropped by about 20% since these ETFs started trading, influenced by macroeconomic factors and significant withdrawals from the Grayscale fund. Bitcoin, once outperforming traditional assets, is now lagging behind global markets in 2024.
The market is closely observing these developments. The sell-off by FTX’s bankruptcy estate is considered a potential relief from the selling pressure. Industry experts anticipate the market to stabilize and establish a more predictable pattern in the near future, as it adapts to these recent shifts and aims for maturity.At TDR, we are committed to keeping you informed about these developments. An excellent perspective for 2024 is to follow Mark Yusko’s insights on the path of Cryptos in 2024, as recorded last month on TDR’s YouTube channel.
