Recently, CryptoQuant founder Ki Young Ju voiced his concerns regarding the continuous influx of capital into spot Bitcoin ETFs. He warned of a potential sell-side liquidity crisis within six months if this trend continues. Ju highlighted that in the past week alone, spot Bitcoin ETFs saw netflows exceeding 30,000 BTC, with major players such as exchanges and miners collectively holding around three million BTC.
The spot Bitcoin ETF inflows have surpassed the $10 billion mark for the first time since their launch in January. This surge in capital inflows has sparked concerns among market observers about the possibility of a future sell-side crisis. Ju predicted that once the tipping point from spot Bitcoin ETF demand is reached, the impact on BTC’s price could exceed market expectations. He emphasized that a sell-side liquidity crisis could lead to a cyclical top that surpasses projections due to limited sell-side liquidity and a thin orderbook.
Ju noted an uptrend in BTC held by “accumulation addresses” which are wallets characterized by only inbound transactions. However, he mentioned that the accumulation address must reach around 3 million BTC for the crisis to materialize. The data also shows that there has been a notable surge of capital directed towards spot Bitcoin ETF products within the U.S. market.
On March 11, there was a significant increase in netflows into spot Bitcoin ETF products, with BlackRock leading the way with daily inflows of $562 million. VanEck’s HODL product also experienced a surge, with inflows reaching $118 million on the same day. The increase in inflows into VanEck’s HODL product can be attributed to a fee waiver campaign initiated by the company, effective from March 12 until March 31, 2025. During this period, fees for the product will be waived until its assets reach $1.5 billion, after which a 0.20% fee will be imposed.
The current state of spot Bitcoin ETFs is marked by a significant influx of capital and growing concerns about a potential sell-side liquidity crisis. Market observers and analysts are closely monitoring the situation to determine the impact on BTC’s price and overall market stability. It is crucial for investors to stay informed and remain vigilant in a rapidly evolving market environment.