Institutional interest in Bitcoin investment vehicles has surged amid growing anticipation of potential regulatory changes in the United States.
Data from sources such as Bloomberg reveals that Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similar instruments are experiencing near-record weekly inflows.
The prospect of the United States permitting a Bitcoin spot price-based ETF has not only influenced the price of Bitcoin but has also positively impacted the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem.
Alongside cryptocurrency exchanges and mining companies, institutional investment options that have faced challenges in recent times are witnessing a resurgence in demand.
According to Eric Balchunas, a senior ETF analyst at Bloomberg, at least two well-known investment options experienced significant trading volume during the week ending October 27.
One of them was the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO), the first futures-based ETF to receive regulatory approval in the U.S. in 2021.
BITO saw a trading volume of $1.7 billion during the week, marking its second-highest weekly volume since its launch.
Another noteworthy performer was the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), which saw a trading volume of $800 million.
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This increased activity helped narrow the discount of GBTC shares to the Bitcoin spot price, reaching its lowest level in two years.
William Clemente, co-founder of crypto research firm Reflexivity, commented that ETF trading is now “back in full steam,” highlighting the renewed interest in these investment vehicles.
GBTC has experienced a remarkable resurgence in recent months, even before Bitcoin’s 15% price increase in the previous week. Legal victories in the journey towards converting GBTC into a spot ETF provided momentum for this revival.
Currently, Grayscale’s product trades with an implied share price that is just 13.1% below the BTC spot price, according to data from CoinGlass.
Despite the optimism surrounding GBTC, investment management firm ARK Invest has reduced its holdings of GBTC in line with its share price gains.
ARK Invest is also planning to launch a Bitcoin spot ETF, and GBTC currently accounts for 10.24% of its ARK Next Generation Internet ETF—a notable change since November 2022.
In conclusion, the potential for regulatory changes in the United States regarding Bitcoin investment vehicles has sparked a surge in institutional interest and trading activity.
This trend, along with the narrowing discount of GBTC shares to the Bitcoin spot price, suggests a growing confidence in cryptocurrency investment options among institutional investors.
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