Bitcoin ETFs Gobble Supply Faster Than Miners Can Dig—Wall Street’s New Gold Rush

Spot bitcoin ETFs are vacuuming up 10x the daily mined supply—BlackRock and friends now dictate market flows.

Miners scramble to keep pace as institutional demand flips scarcity dynamics. Who needs physical bitcoin when you can trade paper promises?

The ultimate irony? Finance giants spent years mocking crypto—now they can’t get enough of its juiced-up volatility and 24/7 trading windows.

In Brief

• Institutional demand six times higher than mining supply: 18,644 vs 3,150 BTC.
• Massive flows: $1.8 billion in new capital over five days.
• Spot Bitcoin ETFs now hold over $110 billion in assets under management

US Bitcoin ETFs vs Miners: An Unprecedented Imbalance

The rush for spot ETFs on bitcoin has reached new heights. From April 28 to May 2, the exchange-traded funds bought nearly six times more BTC than mining production. According to HODL15Capital, these vehicles acquired 18,644 coins. Meanwhile, miners only extracted 3,150.

Daily production hovers around 450 BTC. Thus, institutions have absorbed the equivalent of more than 40 days of mining. This phenomenon marks a major shift. It shows that investor appetite in the spot market now exceeds the capacity to create new coins.

Capital flows confirm this imbalance. Farside Investors reports approximately $1.8 billion inflows over the last five trading days. Only a net outflow was recorded on April 30. Since April 16, outflows have been almost nonexistent. The enthusiasm of professional investors is evident.

This acceleration coincides with a surge in the bitcoin price. In early May, BTC ROSE 4% to reach $97,700. However, the price soon fell back to around $94,000. With supply remaining limited, each new demand moves prices. Tension therefore rises between demand and production.

Implications and Market Outlook

BlackRock’s dominance is becoming clearer. Its iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) raised nearly $2.5 billion in five days. Even better: IBIT has seen 17 consecutive days without capital outflows. This record illustrates asset managers’ confidence.

For Nate Geraci, president of the ETF Store, this category of ETFs has already crossed $110 billion in assets under management. And despite significant hurdles. Many wealth management platforms still prohibit access to Bitcoin ETPs. Financial advisors struggle to recommend them.

Imagine the outlook if these barriers fall. Bitcoin ETFs could trigger a new wave of massive inflows. Volume and liquidity would multiply. Consequently, pressure on miners would intensify. And bitcoin’s spot premium could soar even higher.

Faced with this wild race, bitcoin stands at a historic crossroads. The equation between limited supply and record institutional demand will define its short-term trajectory. Nothing will be the same again. Within 100 days, it is possible that it climbs to $135,000.

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