Some institutional investors taking profit as Bitcoin retraces

A new report from crypto fund provider CoinShares has indicated that some institutional investors have been realizing profits during BTC’s recent consolidation.

CoinShares’ weekly digital asset flows report identifies $85 million in outflows from institutional crypto products this past week, asserting the data suggests “some investors are continuing to take profits after [BTC’s] strong price appreciation.”

The report noted the rising (trade-weighted) U.S. dollar, stating the USD index “is typically inversely correlated to Bitcoin prices,” and could explain why some investors are taking profits at the current levels.

The firm also identified modest outflows from Ethereum-derived investment products, with $3 million leaving the markets.

Despite the profit-taking, institutional inflows remain strong, with $359 million flooded into crypto investment products this week. Institutions still appear almost single-mindedly focused on BTC, with Bitcoin products representing all but 1% of the week’s total capital flows.

CoinShares notes that crypto inflows have returned to their pre-Christmas levels, following the 97% drop over three weeks seen after the holiday break. Daily volumes are currently up more than 450% year-over-year.

Institutional products currently represent 6% of combined Bitcoin volume — down from 14% at the start of the month.

Much has been lately of the growing institutional appetites for crypto, with major global companies recently filling their treasuries with BTC.

After hosting more than 11 million BTC worth of futures trade in 2020, Chicago Mercantile Exchange announced last month that it plans to launch cash-settled Ethereum futures contracts in early February, pending regulatory approval.

On Jan. 20, Ninepoint Partners filed its final prospectus for a Bitcoin Trust conditionally approved by the Toronto Stock Exchange.