Bitcoin has reclaimed the $43,000 level, driven by a series of positive developments in the market. The recent approval of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) has played a significant role, as the initial selling pressure in spot markets has subsided. This comes after a period where large-scale sales by major holders, known as whales, had caused concern among individual investors, leading to notable losses.
Understanding the Market Dynamics
The downturn on January 12 was primarily due to whale sales, and although the ETF approval was not inherently a “sell the news” event, it was perceived as such. Despite this, spot Bitcoin ETFs continued to see net inflows, indicating a sustained demand for BTC and supporting the notion that ETF approvals are generally expected to foster a gradual, long-term increase in Bitcoin’s value.
Contrary to expectations, a “sell the news” scenario was artificially created by the whales’ massive sales. This led to the feared outcome materializing. However, the strong demand for Bitcoin below the $40,000 mark suggested that investor confidence remained intact, as a typical “sell the news” event would have likely driven prices much lower.
Despite the speculative sales-induced downturn, investors maintained a positive outlook for the mid to long term. The recent rise in Bitcoin’s price is partly attributed to the slowing of outflows from the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, with the day’s outflows totaling a lower-than-expected $360 million.
Furthermore, BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust has amassed $2 billion in BTC since its inception, indicating significant market inflows despite substantial outflows from GBTC. This has sparked discussions on social media, with investors like Rajat Soni pointing out the buying volume’s magnitude relative to Bitcoin’s daily production, reinforcing the optimism for Bitcoin’s future.