Blackrock's Ishares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) has once again broken records, marking a second consecutive day of staggering performance in trading volume and net inflows. On Tuesday, the world's largest asset manager saw its spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) record over $1.3 billion in trading volume, surpassing its previous high. Simultaneously, IBIT witnessed a remarkable net inflow, with funds pouring in totaling $520.2 million. This surge in activity brings IBIT's total bitcoin holdings to an impressive 141,000 bitcoins.
The surge in IBIT's performance is not an isolated event but part of a broader trend among recently launched U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs. These ETFs collectively witnessed a significant uptick in trading volume, exceeding $2 billion on Tuesday alone. Among them, IBIT led the pack, showcasing its dominance in the market.
Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas provided insights into IBIT's exceptional performance, noting that the fund's inflow represents a milestone in the ETF realm. Balchunas emphasized that IBIT's net inflows constitute the largest haul for a bitcoin ETF to date, indicating robust investor interest in digital assets. Additionally, he highlighted that Blackrock's substantial bitcoin holdings, now valued at over $8 billion, underscore the growing significance of cryptocurrencies within the investment landscape.
IBIT's remarkable trading volume on Tuesday further solidified its position as a frontrunner in the bitcoin ETF arena. With $1.357 billion in trading volume, IBIT not only surpassed its previous record but also outperformed many large-cap U.S. stocks in terms of trading activity. The surge in trading volume also coincided with a notable increase in individual trades, indicative of heightened market participation and liquidity.
Aside from IBIT, other spot bitcoin ETFs, including Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC), Ark 21shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB), and Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB), experienced substantial trading volumes. These ETFs, which commenced trading on January 11 following approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), have collectively contributed to the growing popularity of bitcoin-based investment products.
The remarkable trading volumes observed in recent days coincide with a bullish trend in the bitcoin market. Bitcoin's price surged above $63,000 on Wednesday, marking a notable uptick from previous weeks. This price rally has likely contributed to the heightened investor interest in bitcoin-related investment vehicles, such as ETFs.
In contrast to the success of spot bitcoin ETFs, the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF (GBTC) has faced challenges, particularly in daily trading volumes and net inflows. Despite its longstanding presence in the market, GBTC has experienced consecutive days of outflows, reflecting shifting investor preferences towards ETFs.
