Despite market volatility, institutional investors have shown a strong interest in digital assets, with net inflows of $308 million in institutional crypto investment products last week. This indicates a potential divergence between institutional sentiment and retail market behavior.
While there was a single-day outflow of $576 million on December 19, it only represented 0.37% of total assets under management (AuM) in crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs). The largest outflow occurred in mid-2022, triggered by a Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) interest rate hike, resulting in $540 million exiting the market, accounting for 2.3% of AuM.
Bitcoin remains the primary driver of institutional interest, attracting $375 million in inflows last week. Ethereum and XRP also saw positive movement, with inflows of $51.3 million and $8.8 million, respectively.
However, multi-asset investment products experienced a significant outflow of $121 million, suggesting a potential shift in investor strategy towards more focused investments.
The recent hawkish stance from the FOMC has contributed to a $17.7 billion loss in assets under management for crypto ETPs. Despite short-term volatility, institutional investors continue to invest in Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies, indicating a belief in their long-term potential.
The actions of institutional investors will be closely monitored as they navigate market fluctuations, providing insights into the overall health and future trajectory of the digital asset space. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether the trend of institutional inflows can be sustained or if further volatility will prompt a reevaluation of investment strategies.