THE COIN STREET JOURNAL
Market News - February 6th, 2024
New U.S. bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) witnessed substantial growth, accumulating $7.7 billion in funds since their launch, as reported by asset manager CoinShares
This surge effectively offset the $6 billion outflows experienced by Grayscale’s flagship fund, GBTC. Notably, BlackRock’s IBTC and Fidelity’s FBTC, prominent among the new spot bitcoin ETFs, recorded weekly inflows of $884 million and $674 million, respectively, slightly surpassing the previous week’s figures.
The primary contributor to this positive trend was the significant reduction in outflows from existing bitcoin funds like GBTC. Investors withdrew $927 million from GBTC, a notable decrease compared to the preceding week’s $2.2 billion outflow. James Butterfill, head of research at CoinShares, highlighted the data, emphasizing a significant reduction in the momentum of these outflows in recent weeks.
Despite initial concerns about outflows from established bitcoin funds, the report pointed out that these concerns have eased. After an initial wave of withdrawals, primarily related to profit-taking and FTX selling GBTC holdings, outflows have slowed down. Meanwhile, consistent inflows to the newly introduced spot BTC ETFs have helped maintain overall positive momentum.
As of the end of the last week covered by the report, the combined funds amassed by the new bitcoin ETFs reached $7.7 billion, surpassing the $6 billion outflows from existing funds. This data underlines the success and growing popularity of the recently introduced U.S. bitcoin ETFs in the market.
In other cryptocurrency investment trends, Solana (SOL) emerged as a standout with a remarkable comeback, experiencing a tenfold price gain last year. Solana topped inflows to altcoin-focused funds, attracting $13 million. On the flip side, investment vehicles holding Ethereum’s ether (ETH) and Avalanche’s native token (AVAX) faced outflows of $6.4 million and $1.3 million, respectively.
Ripple is generating significant buzz with rumors of an upcoming IPO, especially after winning a summary judgment and celebrating three years of XRP community support
The central question on everyone’s mind is how Ripple’s native token, XRP, currently priced at $0.50, might respond to the IPO and whether it could reach a new all-time high (ATH).
Financial analyst Linda Jones suggests a conservative $5.7 billion valuation for Ripple’s potential stock, estimating a per-share price of $35 based on Linqto platform data. However, Jones presents a more bullish scenario, proposing a $107 billion valuation for Ripple, akin to Coinbase’s debut success. If this holds, Ripple’s stock could be valued at around $600.
The potential surge in Ripple’s stock, according to the analyst, could have a positive impact on XRP’s price. This logic draws parallels with Bitcoin’s influence on the stock prices of mining companies. If Ripple’s stock soars, it could generate heightened interest in XRP, potentially leading to an uptick in its value.
Despite the optimism, there are challenges, notably the need for SEC approval for Ripple’s IPO. This regulatory hurdle might cause delays unless Ripple considers relocating outside the USA. However, with the recent clarity on XRP, a relocation seems unlikely in the near future.
Predictions for XRP’s future value are mixed, with Dark Defender forecasting a rise to $5.85, citing recent positive price action and a short-term retest at $0.66. Breaking $0.55 is seen as a crucial milestone that might initiate a bullish trend. Yet, the overall outlook acknowledges the uniqueness of this situation, emphasizing the subjective nature of Ripple’s stock performance and its potential impact on XRP’s price. Investors are advised to brace themselves for a surprising ride ahead.
Renewed regulatory scrutiny on the energy consumption caused by the mining of Bitcoin
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has launched a mandatory survey of all U.S.-based bitcoin miners, signaling renewed regulatory scrutiny on Bitcoin’s energy consumption.
The survey aims to collect detailed information on miners’ operations, focusing on energy sources and consumption, raising concerns about the selective targeting of Bitcoin mining compared to other energy-intensive industries.
The EIA’s survey, initiated through an Emergency Revision Request, suggests an urgency without clear evidence of public harm, citing the recent increase in Bitcoin prices as a reason to investigate energy consumption.
The accompanying report estimates U.S.-based Bitcoin miners’ electricity usage between 0.6% and 2.3% of total U.S. consumption, framing it negatively despite Bitcoin’s contribution to renewable energy use and grid stability.
The timing of this regulatory move, following the U.S. listing of BTC spot ETFs, hints at a broader strategy to signal disapproval of Bitcoin, adding a layer of perceived investment risk.
The regulatory focus on potential grid strain rather than environmental impact marks a shift in attack vectors, potentially leading to increased costs, paperwork, and regulatory prejudice, which could have broader implications for U.S.-based production and innovation.