The downward pressure on Bitcoin’s price seems to have eased off, thanks to the conclusion of profit-taking activities on the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), as reported by JPMorgan analysts.
Since its conversion to a spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) two weeks ago, GBTC has seen significant outflows, surpassing JPMorgan’s initial estimates. The analysts, led by Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou, suggested in a note that with most profit-taking completed, the adverse impact on Bitcoin’s price from this source should be largely behind us.
Bitcoin experienced a more than 20% drop in the past two weeks following the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. According to the analysts, the sell-off in Bitcoin was triggered by GBTC investors cashing in their profits. While they believe the worst may be over, they caution that GBTC could continue to face outflows and lose market share to competitors if the fund’s 1.5% fee is not reduced promptly.
The analysts highlighted emerging competitors to Grayscale’s Bitcoin ETF, namely BlackRock and Fidelity, which have attracted substantial inflows with significantly lower fees compared to GBTC. BlackRock and Fidelity boast fees of only 25 basis points, while GBTC charges 150 basis points.
The recent introduction of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. is seen by the analysts as a positive development for Bitcoin’s price discovery. They suggest that despite initial concerns about increased fragmentation, the move aligns Bitcoin more closely with traditional markets, particularly in equities where ETFs are commonplace. The analysts anticipate that spot Bitcoin ETFs will enhance market depth and liquidity, making the price discovery process more efficient.
In a concluding note, the analysts expressed optimism about GBTC’s plan to introduce a covered call ETF, seeing it as a potential boost for the fund and Bitcoin’s derivatives markets if approved.
