The recent outflow of $39.3 million from Hong Kong’s spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs on May 13 has caused quite a stir in the cryptocurrency investment community. This total outflow, the highest since the ETFs were launched on May 2, signals a significant shift in investor sentiment towards these institutional products. Spot Bitcoin funds from issuers Bosera, China Asset Management, and Harvest took a hit, losing $32.7 million collectively, while Ethereum funds from the same issuers lost $6.6 million. The net redemption of 519.5 BTC on that fateful day coupled with a daily turnover of $4.25 million paints a bleak picture for these funds moving forward. As a result, the total flow balance now stands at a negative $20.9 million, wiping out any previous gains made since the launch of the ETFs.
In stark contrast to the situation in Hong Kong, Bitcoin ETFs in the United States saw a daily inflow of $66 million on the same day. This positive inflow marks a turnaround from the $96 million that exited the products in the two trading days prior. Fidelity’s FBTC fund led the pack with $38.6 million in inflows, followed by Bitwise BITB with $20.3 million. BlackRock maintained a zero flow while Grayscale’s GBTC showed a net zero flow as its outflows slowed down. Despite this positive trend in the US market, the unprecedented outflow seen in Hong Kong raises concerns about the overall stability and future prospects of cryptocurrency ETFs.
The cryptocurrency markets as a whole experienced a 2% gain on the day, reaching a total capitalization of $2.40 trillion. This steady increase in market capitalization has been sustained over the past month, albeit with some expected volatility following the release of inflation data this week. Bitcoin briefly hit $63,000 in early Asian trading on Tuesday before retracing to $62,500. This price level represents a 15% decrease from its all-time high, indicating a period of consolidation for the leading cryptocurrency. Similarly, Ethereum failed to break resistance at $3,000 and currently sits at $2,930, showing signs of weakness in its price action. Despite these setbacks, altcoins such as Solana, Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and Near Protocol have performed particularly well, hinting at a potential revival of meme coins in the market.
The contrasting flows of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs in Hong Kong and the US highlight the volatile nature of cryptocurrency investments. As regulatory scrutiny and market conditions continue to evolve, investors must remain vigilant and adaptable to navigate the ever-changing landscape of digital assets.
