Institutional Investors Own Over 20% of US Bitcoin ETF Shares – SEC Filings

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Veronika Rinecker

Editor

Veronika Rinecker

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Veronika Rinecker is based in Germany, studied international journalism and media management. She specializes in politics and regulation, energy, blockchain, and fintech. Since 2017, she has been…

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Last updated:

October 24, 2024 17:40 EDT

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Institutional investors have greatly increased their holdings in Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), signaling a growing confidence in the cryptocurrency.

According to CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju, asset managers now own around 20% of all US-traded spot Bitcoin ETFs, representing over 193,000 BTC, currently valued at around $13 billion.

BlackRock’s IBIT Leads in Institutional Bitcoin Holdings

According to CryptoQuant’s analysis of 13F filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), BlackRock’s IShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) is the dominant player in institutional Bitcoin (BTC) holdings.

However, while IBIT holds the largest amount of Bitcoin (71,045.19 BTC) among institutional funds, it’s not the fund with the highest percentage of institutional ownership.

The ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) leads in this category with almost 33% institutional ownership. The Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) follows closely behind, with 24%, while IBIT comes in at 18%.

Growing List of Institutions Invest in Bitcoin ETFs

The growing popularity of Bitcoin ETFs has attracted a diverse range of institutional investors.

Over 1,179 institutions, including Millennium Management, Susquehanna International Group, and Goldman Sachs, have invested in Bitcoin through spot ETFs. These firms hold big amounts of Bitcoin through ETFs, with Millennium Management leading the way with holdings of almost 19,000 Bitcoin.

Bitcoin Demand Soars, But Price Stuck Below $70,000

Retail investors have also shown increased interest in Bitcoin. According to an CryptoQuant X post from Oct. 22, retail demand for Bitcoin has increased by approximately 13% over the past 30 days, reaching a six-month high and surpassing the levels seen during the previous all-time high in March 2024.

However, the growing demand for Bitcoin and Bitcoin ETFs has not translated directly into a significant price increase. Despite a surge in institutional and retail demand, Bitcoin’s price is struggling to break above the $70,000 psychological barrier.