JPMorgan has raised concerns regarding the potential approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs by the U.S. SEC. Analysts from the esteemed financial institution suggest that such approval could instigate a substantial capital outflow from the crypto market, resulting in a notable dip in Bitcoin prices.
JPMorgan's market analyst, Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou, conveyed these apprehensions in a detailed post on LinkedIn last Friday. While expressing confidence in the imminent approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs by the SEC, Panigirtzoglou emphasized the ongoing discussions with clients surrounding the potential consequences of Grayscale Investments converting its Bitcoin trust (GBTC) into a spot Bitcoin ETF.
According to Panigirtzoglou, a significant portion of GBTC shares has been acquired at substantial discounts to the Net Asset Value (NAV) in anticipation of its transition to an ETF. The fear is that speculative investors, having garnered profits, may exit the market, potentially resulting in an approximate $2.7 billion withdrawal from GBTC.
The JPMorgan analyst warned, "In terms of market impact, if this $2.7 billion exits the Bitcoin space entirely, such an outflow would, of course, exert severe downward pressure on Bitcoin prices."
Panigirtzoglou offered a more optimistic scenario, suggesting that if most of the $2.7 billion transitions into other Bitcoin instruments, particularly the anticipated spot Bitcoin ETFs post-SEC approval, the negative market impact could be more subdued. However, he maintained a cautious stance, stating, "Nevertheless, the balance of risks for Bitcoin prices is skewed to the downside in our opinion, as some of this $2.7 billion is likely to completely exit the Bitcoin space."
The analyst added a note of caution, pointing out that a more substantial sum could leave GBTC if its current fee, presently at 200 basis points, is not significantly reduced post-ETF conversion, aligning it with the estimated equilibrium fee range of 50 to 80 basis points.
In a separate analysis, Panigirtzoglou commented on the recent settlement between Binance and U.S. regulatory bodies, including the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Treasury. He highlighted that this settlement is contributing to a broader trend favoring regulated crypto entities and instruments. According to him, the U.S. authorities' objective, particularly in the aftermath of the FTX collapse, is to usher in more regulated players in the crypto space.
Panigirtzoglou asserted, "Such a shift towards regulated crypto entities and instruments should be positive for the crypto ecosystem, as more regulation will help attract the interest of traditional market participants and investors." He supported this viewpoint by referencing the involvement of major traditional asset managers such as BlackRock and Fidelity in the upcoming approval process for physical or spot Bitcoin ETFs by the SEC, aligning with the ongoing trend towards regulatory compliance in the crypto industry.
