BlackRock’s recent entry into the spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) market has fueled speculation about a potential supply shortage, as the asset management giant purchased over 11,400 Bitcoins.
According to InvestAnswers, this acquisition by BlackRock, following the official launch of its spot Bitcoin ETF, amounts to more than 13 days of Bitcoin production, considering the daily issuance of around 900 Bitcoins on average.
InvestAnswers highlighted the significance of the purchase, stating, “The key point is 11,500 BTC were sucked from the system in 2 days by 1 player. That alone is approximately 13 days of supply.” The rapid depletion of Bitcoin reserves by BlackRock has raised concerns about a potential supply crunch.
The InvestAnswers report suggests that if BlackRock continues at this pace, the market could face a severe supply shortage. The calculations indicate that the pace of Bitcoin consumption by U.S. ETFs alone is 25.56 times the daily production.
While Grayscale initially led the trading volume ranking on the first day, Bloomberg Intelligence ETF analyst James Seyffart noted that a considerable portion of the volume could be attributed to selling of Grayscale’s GBTC and buying of other ETFs.
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ranked second in trading volume with over $1 billion. The data indicates a strong demand for Bitcoin ETFs.
Meanwhile, BlackRock has released a new spot Bitcoin ETF advertisement, targeting a broader audience beyond crypto enthusiasts. The move aims to promote the Bitcoin ETF to a wider range of investors in the U.S. as established financial institutions like BlackRock and Fidelity seek to attract investors who may not have considered Bitcoin previously.
Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas commented on BlackRock’s marketing strategy, stating, “This is how you market to rich boomers, folks. The calm disposition, easy-to-understand investment case, soft new age music, suit with no tie. Everything about it says ‘it’s ok now, the adults are here’.”
