BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF sees record $520M inflows as BTC exceeds $60,000.
In the background, the crypto "greed" index hits the highest levels in history.
A BlackRock
exchange-traded fund (ETF) investing in Bitcoin (BTC) saw record inflows of
$520 million on Wednesday, marking the largest daily intake for any US ETF
across asset classes so far this year.
All this
comes as the price of BTC tests $64,000 and is just a step away from its
historical highs of 2021. The market is currently dominated by speculative
frenzy, and "greed" is at a level never seen before.
BlackRock Bitcoin ETF Sees
Record Inflows amid Crypto Rally
The
BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) has seen steady investor demand,
registering 32 consecutive days of inflows. As of Wednesday, nine Bitcoin spot
ETFs combined saw trading volume over $2.6 billion, with IBIT breaking its own
record at $1.5 billion.
The surge
of investments into Bitcoin ETFs comes amidst a broader rally in cryptocurrency
prices. BTC hit a two-year high on Wednesday, nearing its all-time record,
while other major digital assets like Ethereum also saw significant gains.
Analysts
say the successful launch of Bitcoin spot ETFs in January 2024 has opened the
door to fresh investments from wealth managers, hedge funds, and retail
traders. The ease of trading BTC via ETFs is helping drive its price higher
by boosting demand.
Bitcoin price. Source: CoinMarketCap
"The market is waking up to the fact that
Bitcoin is now easily accessible to the masses and that we are only just
scratching the surface as far as mainstream adoption goes," said Joel
Kruger, the Market Strategist at LMAX Group. "We also believe there has
been plenty of excitement around lower correlations with US equities, which
makes Bitcoin all the more attractive as an investment for portfolio
diversification."
Clearly, the demand for leverage in the cryptocurrency market is influencing investors' behavior. Higher costs in the futures market and decentralized finance are leading to an increased need for crypto borrowing.
"Investors are increasingly seeking avenues to obtain liquidity in a high-rate environment, prompting them to turn to lending platforms that offer lending and futures services within an easily navigable interface," commented Andrey Stoychev, the Project Manager at Nexo. "The demand for borrowing in familiar settings is not just a reflection of the market's adaptability to external economic factors but also leads to a significant trend in the cryptocurrency ecosystem."
WisdomTree European BTC
ETPs Exceed $500 AuM
Another
issuer of exchange-traded instruments, WisdomTree, reported record
results. Its European cryptocurrency exchange-traded products (ETPs) have
surpassed the $500 million mark in assets under management. This figure marks a
historic peak for WisdomTree's European crypto ETPs, which have experienced net
inflows of $59 million into their portfolio in 2024, predominantly driven by
WisdomTree Physical Bitcoin.
According
to market experts, the inflows have been primarily driven by retail investors
rather than institutions. As more financial advisors get approved to offer
Bitcoin ETFs to clients, analysts expect volumes to increase over the
next year.
"The
launch of spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds in the US has changed the way many
investors look at cryptocurrencies as an investable asset class," Alexis
Marinof, the Head of European branch of WisdomTree, said. "As attention
turns to the Bitcoin halving expected in April, investors are seeing more
potential within the asset class."
Greed Is Everywhere
BTC's price has more than doubled over the last few months, recently exceeding $64,000. This
rapid price growth has led to euphoric sentiment, with the crypto fear and
greed index reaching its highest level (86) since BTC hit its previous
all-time high of around $69,000 in November 2021.
Crypto Fear and Greed Index. Source: CoinMarketCap
This index
ranges from 0 to 100, with 0 representing "extreme fear" and 100
representing "extreme greed." A high index level signals that
investors are becoming overly greedy, believing that cryptocurrency prices will
continue to rise. This often precedes a market correction as prices eventually
become detached from fundamentals.
Some
analysts argue that such high greed signals that the crypto market is due for a
correction, as excessive optimism generally foreshadows a price reversal. Ultimately,
while extreme greed suggests crypto prices have significant room to fall, the
durability of current market optimism makes the exact timing of a correction
challenging to predict.
A BlackRock
exchange-traded fund (ETF) investing in Bitcoin (BTC) saw record inflows of
$520 million on Wednesday, marking the largest daily intake for any US ETF
across asset classes so far this year.
All this
comes as the price of BTC tests $64,000 and is just a step away from its
historical highs of 2021. The market is currently dominated by speculative
frenzy, and "greed" is at a level never seen before.
BlackRock Bitcoin ETF Sees
Record Inflows amid Crypto Rally
The
BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) has seen steady investor demand,
registering 32 consecutive days of inflows. As of Wednesday, nine Bitcoin spot
ETFs combined saw trading volume over $2.6 billion, with IBIT breaking its own
record at $1.5 billion.
The surge
of investments into Bitcoin ETFs comes amidst a broader rally in cryptocurrency
prices. BTC hit a two-year high on Wednesday, nearing its all-time record,
while other major digital assets like Ethereum also saw significant gains.
Analysts
say the successful launch of Bitcoin spot ETFs in January 2024 has opened the
door to fresh investments from wealth managers, hedge funds, and retail
traders. The ease of trading BTC via ETFs is helping drive its price higher
by boosting demand.
Bitcoin price. Source: CoinMarketCap
"The market is waking up to the fact that
Bitcoin is now easily accessible to the masses and that we are only just
scratching the surface as far as mainstream adoption goes," said Joel
Kruger, the Market Strategist at LMAX Group. "We also believe there has
been plenty of excitement around lower correlations with US equities, which
makes Bitcoin all the more attractive as an investment for portfolio
diversification."
Clearly, the demand for leverage in the cryptocurrency market is influencing investors' behavior. Higher costs in the futures market and decentralized finance are leading to an increased need for crypto borrowing.
"Investors are increasingly seeking avenues to obtain liquidity in a high-rate environment, prompting them to turn to lending platforms that offer lending and futures services within an easily navigable interface," commented Andrey Stoychev, the Project Manager at Nexo. "The demand for borrowing in familiar settings is not just a reflection of the market's adaptability to external economic factors but also leads to a significant trend in the cryptocurrency ecosystem."
WisdomTree European BTC
ETPs Exceed $500 AuM
Another
issuer of exchange-traded instruments, WisdomTree, reported record
results. Its European cryptocurrency exchange-traded products (ETPs) have
surpassed the $500 million mark in assets under management. This figure marks a
historic peak for WisdomTree's European crypto ETPs, which have experienced net
inflows of $59 million into their portfolio in 2024, predominantly driven by
WisdomTree Physical Bitcoin.
According
to market experts, the inflows have been primarily driven by retail investors
rather than institutions. As more financial advisors get approved to offer
Bitcoin ETFs to clients, analysts expect volumes to increase over the
next year.
"The
launch of spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds in the US has changed the way many
investors look at cryptocurrencies as an investable asset class," Alexis
Marinof, the Head of European branch of WisdomTree, said. "As attention
turns to the Bitcoin halving expected in April, investors are seeing more
potential within the asset class."
Greed Is Everywhere
BTC's price has more than doubled over the last few months, recently exceeding $64,000. This
rapid price growth has led to euphoric sentiment, with the crypto fear and
greed index reaching its highest level (86) since BTC hit its previous
all-time high of around $69,000 in November 2021.
Crypto Fear and Greed Index. Source: CoinMarketCap
This index
ranges from 0 to 100, with 0 representing "extreme fear" and 100
representing "extreme greed." A high index level signals that
investors are becoming overly greedy, believing that cryptocurrency prices will
continue to rise. This often precedes a market correction as prices eventually
become detached from fundamentals.
Some
analysts argue that such high greed signals that the crypto market is due for a
correction, as excessive optimism generally foreshadows a price reversal. Ultimately,
while extreme greed suggests crypto prices have significant room to fall, the
durability of current market optimism makes the exact timing of a correction
challenging to predict.
Damian's adventure with financial markets began at the Cracow University of Economics, where he obtained his MA in finance and accounting. Starting from the retail trader perspective, he collaborated with brokerage houses and financial portals in Poland as an independent editor and content manager. His adventure with Finance Magnates began in 2016, where he is working as a business intelligence analyst.
Kraken Taps Alpaca for xStocks After Backed Finance Acquisition
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
