Key Points
- Bitcoin retail holders are selling aggressively while smart money is investing heavily.
- Bitcoin’s performance is lagging despite a weaker dollar and a surge in U.S. equities.
Bitcoin’s retail holders have been selling their holdings at an aggressive pace. On the other hand, the so-called ‘smart money’ is investing in the cryptocurrency with increased vigor.
Market Turbulence and Bitcoin
The U.S. dollar index has seen a significant drop of 11%, sparking a surge in risk assets. In response, U.S. equities have experienced a strong recovery from their weekly lows, capitalizing on the greenback’s weakness.
However, Bitcoin’s performance tells a different story. Retail holders have sold off 247,000 BTC so far this year, which amounts to a $25.7 billion sell-off in spot terms. In contrast, businesses, ETFs, and government wallets have been buying up Bitcoin aggressively.
Bitcoin’s Performance Compared to Other Assets
Historically, a weaker dollar has led to a rise in equities and cryptocurrencies. At the time of writing, the U.S. dollar index is at its weakest since early March, having fallen 11% since the start of the year.
The U.S. stock market has been performing in sync with this trend, with the S&P500 and the Nasdaq 100 experiencing significant gains. However, Bitcoin has remained relatively stagnant, with its price hovering around $104K.
The Role of Institutions
This divergence in risk flows indicates a shift by retail investors towards traditional assets. With a pause in tariffs and easing macroeconomic fears, the retail bid for Bitcoin appears to be capped.
The responsibility now falls on the ‘whales’ and institutions to absorb the selling pressure. However, whale counts have remained stagnant since early April. On a positive note, spot ETFs are showing signs of activity, with BlackRock’s IBIT ETF seeing $800 million in BTC inflows in less than a week.
The big players are stepping in, but with retail investors prioritizing capital over conviction, Bitcoin’s next move will depend on how deep these heavy hitters are willing to invest.
