Institutional Investment in Bitcoin Futures Drops as Price Settles: CFTC

The overall institutional investment in Bitcoin (BTC) futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) decreased this past week, according to data published by the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on April 9.

The data shows that as of April 9, institutional investors and asset managers had 244 open long positions, a decrease of 71 from April 2, and 80 open short positions, nine less than one week before. Also, the data show only three open spreading positions for institutional investors, 32 less than the previous week.

As of the April 9 data, the number of short positions among institutional investors had thus dropped 11%. Long positions, on the other hand, decreased by almost 30% over the same period, indicating a slight bearish sentiment among investors.  

Meanwhile, while specifically among institutional investors on CME there are more long than short open positions, the number of open short positions prevails in the overall total open positions count for the asset. There are 3,267 open long positions on the BTC futures contracts offered on the CME exchange, and 4,177 open short positions.

The week from April 2 to 9, total short positions increased by 421, while long positions saw a slightly smaller increase of 366.

Previously, crypto news outlet Bitcoinist reported that the number of opened long positions for CME Bitcoin futures contracts by institutional investors and asset managers had spiked during the previous week.

More precisely, there had purportedly been an 88% increase in institutional long positions compared to the previous week, with 315 long contracts opened by April 2. The publication also reported that the number of short positions reported a 63% decrease, to 89 contracts from 241.

As Cointelegraph reported last week, CME had noted that its Bitcoin futures saw record trading volumes on April 4, just after the price of Bitcoin surged to multi-month highs. Bitcoin is currently trading around $5,100, seeing almost no change on the day and week.

Wall Street strategist and co-founder of Fundstrat Global Advisors Thomas Lee revealed last week that his “Bitcoin Misery Index” (BMI) recently hit its highest figure since June 2016. According to Lee, the fact that Bitcoin reported its highest reading since June 2016 provides a mixed signal:

“Good--> Since 2011, BMI >67 only seen during $BTC bull markets. More evidence bull starting. Bad --> BMI >67 after peak, $BTC falls ~25% = Profit taking ST.”