- A potential “sell-side liquidity crisis” looms for Bitcoin, driven by unprecedented institutional inflows.
- Spot ETFs are significantly impacting Bitcoin’s supply-demand dynamics, potentially leading to a price surge.
In an unfolding narrative that could redefine the Bitcoin landscape, the cryptocurrency world stands on the cusp of a potential “sell-side liquidity crisis.” As institutional inflows continue to surge, the supply of Bitcoin (BTC) could face unprecedented constraints.
This looming watershed, anticipated to materialize within the next six months, is a testament to the burgeoning institutional interest in BTC as a credible investment asset.
Bitcoin Looming Supply Challenge
Ki Young Ju, the astute founder and CEO of CryptoQuant, an on-chain analytics platform, has raised the alarm on this impending supply challenge. His analysis, articulated through a series of insightful posts on X, underscores the gravity of the situation.
Bears can't win this game until spot #Bitcoin ETF inflow stops.
Last week, spot ETFs saw netflows of +30K BTC. Known entities like exchanges and miners hold around 3M BTC, including 1.5M BTC by US entities.
At this rate, we'll see a sell-side liquidity crisis within 6 months. pic.twitter.com/qwAbZJwSOl
— Ki Young Ju (@ki_young_ju) March 12, 2024
The narrative is further enriched by the insightful tweet from renowned BTC analyst Willy Woo, who highlighted:
“Daily capital inflows retained by the Bitcoin network just hit $2 billion per day, a level we reached in the last bullish regime. This time it should go higher. Spot ETFs are opening the inflows big time.”
This commentary aligns with the momentum gained by United States-based spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which now boast holdings nearing $30 billion, marking them as the most successful ETF launch in history.
This institutional fervor is not just a fleeting trend but a clear indication that Bitcoin’s journey as an institutional investment is only just beginning.
The crux of the matter lies in the potential shortage of Bitcoin to meet the escalating demand, primarily driven by these ETFs. Ki Young Ju succinctly encapsulates this dynamic, stating;
“Bears can’t win this game until spot Bitcoin ETF inflow stops.”
The staggering figure of over 30,000 BTC absorbed by ETFs in just the last week paints a stark picture of the impending liquidity crisis.
The backdrop to this narrative is the contrasting trend exhibited by the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), which continues to experience significant daily outflows, as formerly reported by ETHNews.
Despite this, the dollar value of GBTC’s Bitcoin holdings has remained relatively stable, thanks to the appreciating price of Bitcoin since the ETF’s inception in January.
This resilience amidst outflows is a subtle yet potent reminder of the underlying strength and growing acceptance of Bitcoin in the investment domain.
The Price Impact and Accumulation Trend
As the tipping point approaches, the potential impact on Bitcoin’s price could be monumental. Ki Young Ju projects that the ensuing sell-side liquidity crisis could propel BTC price to unprecedented heights, fueled by the scarcity of sell-side liquidity and a thin order book.
This projection is corroborated by the observed uptrend in Bitcoin holdings by accumulation addresses, which are wallets characterized by only inbound transactions. This trend needs to double before the full-blown crisis materializes, signaling a robust undercurrent of BTC accumulation.
At the time of writing, the price of BTC has slightly risen 0.49% in the last 24 hours, reaching a price of $72,183.36. This represents an increase of 11.90% over the past 7 days.