Despite the muted performance of Bitcoin in recent months, the 13-F filings for the spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) paint a bullish picture for the BTC price. Bitwise Chief Investment Officer (CIO) Matt Hougan has shared a recap of the three most interesting takeaways from the Q2 filings via X. His findings underscore a growing and sustained institutional interest in Bitcoin, pointing towards an bullish outlook.
#1 Increased Institutional Bitcoin Adoption
Hougan highlights an impressive rise in institutional engagement with Bitcoin ETFs during the second quarter of the year. He reported, “I count 1,924 holder<>ETF pairs across all 10 ETFs, up from 1,479 in Q1. That’s a 30% increase; not bad considering prices fell in Q2.” This data suggests that institutional investors are increasingly viewing Bitcoin as a viable asset class, even amidst price declines, indicating a long-term commitment rather than speculative short-term plays.
Hougan concludes, “Of course, this does not mean 1,924 institutions own bitcoin ETFs; some investors report positions in multiple ETFs. But that “double-counting” aspect is equally true of the Q1 and Q2 numbers, so the percentage increase is still telling. My takeaway: Institutional investors continued to adopt bitcoin ETFs in Q2. The trend is intact.”
#2 Institutional Investors Are HODLers
The holding patterns within these filings reveal that a substantial portion of institutional investors remained committed to their Bitcoin ETF holdings, reflecting a resilient stance against the market’s volatility. “Among Q1 filers, 44% increased their position in bitcoin ETFs in Q2, 22% held steady, 21% decreased their position, and 13% exited,” said Hougan.
These figures are particularly telling because they demonstrate that more than two-thirds of the institutions either maintained or increased their exposure to Bitcoin ETFs during a period of significant price fluctuations. Hougan interprets this data as a sign that institutional investors possess “diamond hands,” a colloquial term used within the community to describe holders who do not sell their holdings despite pressure or market downturns.
Hougan added, “If you thought institutional investors would panic at the first sign of volatility, the data suggest otherwise. They’re pretty steady.”
#3 Broad Investor Base
The analysis by Hougan also highlights the diverse array of investors participating in Bitcoin ETFs. Major hedge funds like Millennium, Schonfeld, Boothbay, and Capula are prominently featured among the top holders. However, the presence of advisors, family offices, and other institutional investors such as the State of Wisconsin is particularly notable.
“ETFs are a big tent that attract a wide variety of investors. It’s kind of great to see Millennium nestled up against the State of Wisconsin in these ETF filings. Over time, I’d like to see wealth managers and pensions account for a growing share,” Hougan remarked.
Yesterday it became public that the Wisconsin Pension Fund has increased its Bitcoin ETF holdings. In an SEC filing, the State of Wisconsin Investment Board reported owning 2,898,051 shares of the iShares Bitcoin Trust as of June 30 (worth $98.9 million as of that date). This is an increase from the 2,450,400 shares Wisconsin had previously reported in May.
At press time, BTC traded at $58,035.
Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com