Global asset management firm BlackRock has disclosed buying 43,000 shares of iShares BTC ETF for its Global Allocation Fund in the latest SEC filing. The decision highlights BlackRock’s increasing confidence in BTC’s potential as a mainstream investment. Since its launch, Blackrock has quickly ascended to become one of the leading assets under management [AUM] in the crypto fund sector.
In a recent video, BlackRock highlighted Bitcoin’s evolving position in the financial landscape. Head of Thematic and Active ETFs at BlackRock Jay Jacobs Jacobs stated,
“Bitcoin is a nascent asset. It’s only one-tenth of the size of the gold market. Therefore, it has high volatility and behaves a bit differently than stocks and bonds. A lot of investors look at it as a potential hedge against geopolitical and monetary risks. Other investors look at it as a way to play future adoption of blockchain technology. In either case, investors must take a measured approach to Bitcoin, considering both the risks and the potential returns of the asset.”
Digital assets have often come under increasing scrutiny due to their inherent volatility and BTC’s recent drawdown has only boosted the narrative.
While the dominant crypto has witnessed a major sell-off in the past three weeks, BTC’s Open Interest has also declined by roughly $3 billion over the last three weeks, with longs making up the majority of this number. This indicates a more balanced market, away from the highly speculative nature that critics have often attributed to the asset.
Bitcoin Market Analysis
Digging deeper, the funding rates for perpetual contracts have also reduced significantly and are almost nil. This suggests a fair balance between buyers and sellers, painting a comparatively realistic price outlook
In the last three weeks, Bitcoin has undergone a correction of approximately 15%, dropping from the $70k range to the $60k range. With the more significant correction yesterday, signs of a possible local bottom have emerged: Futures Market: Open Interest has declined by about $3 billion in the past three weeks, with a predominance of long liquidations. The funding rates for perpetual contracts have dropped to near zero, indicating a greater balance between buyers and sellers, creating a healthier and less overly optimistic price structure.