Bitcoin Spot ETFs See Muted Inflows As Negative Funding Rates Signal Bearish Sentiment

In a sign of cautious investor sentiment, Bitcoin BTC/USD spot ETFs experienced modest net inflows on Aug. 15, totaling just $11.1 million.

What Happened: This muted enthusiasm comes as funding rates for Bitcoin futures on major exchanges turn negative, potentially signaling bearish short-term market sentiment.

The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust GBTC, the largest Bitcoin ETF by assets under management, saw outflows of $25 million.

However, these were offset by inflows into other products, with Fidelity‘s FBTC ETF attracting $16.2 million and Grayscale‘s mini Bitcoin ETF seeing inflows of $13.6 million, according to data from SoSo Value.

On the Ethereum front, spot ETFs faced…

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How to Use Bitcoin ATMs

ATMs have become increasingly popular as a convenient way to buy and sell bitcoin without the need for an exchange platform.

These machines are similar to traditional ATMs but instead of dispensing cash from your bank account, they allow you to purchase bitcoin using cash or a debit card, and in some cases, sell bitcoin for cash.

This guide will walk you through the process and explains how to use Bitcoin ATMs.

What is a Bitcoin ATM?

A Bitcoin ATM is a kiosk that allows users to buy bitcoin using cash or a debit card. Some of them also allow you to sell bitcoin for cash.

These machines are usually found in convenience stores, malls, or other public places, making…

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LATEST: World’s 3rd-largest Pension Fund, NPS, Buys $34M MicroStrategy Shares

South Korea’s National Pension Service (NPS), the third-largest pension fund globally by assets, has expanded its stake in the crypto market by purchasing $33.7 million worth of MicroStrategy shares in the second quarter of this year. This strategic move comes as NPS continues to increase its indirect exposure to bitcoin.

The pension fund’s recent report to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revealed the acquisition of 24,500 MicroStrategy shares. This follows NPS’s earlier investment in Coinbase, where it held 229,807 shares valued at approximately $51 million by the end of June.

MicroStrategy, known as the largest corporate holder of bitcoin with 226,500 BTC, remains a significant player in the crypto space. The SEC’s recent approval of the first leveraged exchange-traded fund targeting MicroStrategy highlights the growing institutional interest in bitcoin, aligning with NPS’s strategic investments.

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LATEST: Dubai Courts Approve Salary Payments in Cryptocurrency

The Dubai Court of First Instance has set a groundbreaking precedent by validating cryptocurrency as a legitimate form of salary payment under employment contracts. This decision, part of case number 1739 of 2024, marks a significant shift from the court’s previous stance, where crypto-based salary claims were rejected due to unclear valuation. The court now acknowledges the evolving role of digital currencies in the UAE’s legal and economic systems.

Irina Heaver, a partner at NeosLegal, highlighted that this ruling reflects a progressive approach toward integrating digital currencies into everyday financial transactions. The case involved an employee whose contract stipulated payment in both fiat currency and EcoWatt tokens. The court ruled in favor of the employee, enforcing the crypto payment as per the contract terms, without requiring conversion to fiat.

This decision is seen as a major step forward in the UAE’s push to become a leader in the digital economy, reinforcing the legal recognition of cryptocurrency in employment agreements.

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LATEST: Tron Network’s Revenue Tops Ethereum’s Over 90 Days

Tron network has outperformed Ethereum in revenue over the past 90 days, generating approximately $435 million in fees compared to Ethereum’s $364 million, as reported by Token Terminal. Tron founder Justin Sun emphasized the network’s remarkable 30-day performance, noting that Tron’s revenue exceeded Ethereum’s by 50%. Sun is optimistic, suggesting that if the trend continues, Tron’s protocol revenue could surpass $2 billion this year, positioning it as the most profitable blockchain globally.

Additionally, Tron’s transaction settlements surged to around $1.25 trillion in the second quarter of 2024, nearly one-third of Visa’s total settlement volume. This massive growth further solidifies Tron’s role as a major player in the blockchain space.

Looking ahead, Tron is working on launching a gasless stablecoin for its own network and Ethereum, with plans to expand to other EVM-compatible blockchains. This innovation could revolutionize stablecoin transactions, making them more accessible and cost-effective for various use cases.

TradFi firms disclose positions in BlackRock’s bitcoin ETF

13F filings are one way to look under the hood of some firms, so to speak. 

The filings are required by the Securities and Exchange Commission for firms with over $100 million in assets under management every quarter.

For the bitcoin ETFs, this is only the second quarter of disclosures, and so far, it looks like more firms have added to their positions. 

All of this, however, comes with the caveat that these positions are somewhat dated. The reports show the listed holdings as of June 30, which is nearly two months ago. 

But, even if they’re slightly dated, they give important insight into who was interested in the bitcoin ETFs and what the appetite looked like as of the end of…

Read more on Blockworks

Coinbase shifts focus back to Europe after return to Hawaii

Coinbase’s move to reenter Hawaii is reflective of a broader trend toward crypto regulatory clarity around the globe, Chief Policy Officer Faryar Shirzad told Blockworks. 

Now able to offer its services in all 50 states, Coinbase shifts its focus back to the European Union and the United Kingdom, Shirzad added.  

This isn’t Coinbase’s first foray into Hawaii. The company offered its products to the state’s residents years ago. But it left the state in 2017, after Hawaii — under its Money Transmitter License Regime — would have required Coinbase to maintain a fiat-equivalent balance for every crypto asset it held for clients.

“So essentially a two-for-one custody…

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Daily US Bitcoin ETFs Net Flow Analysis (As of August 15, 2024)

The daily net flow of Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. on August 15, 2024, reveals significant movements within the market. Leading the activity, BlackRock’s IBIT ETF experienced a net inflow of 46 BTC, solidifying its position with a substantial total of 348,609 BTC held. In stark contrast, Grayscale’s GBTC saw a significant net outflow of 480 BTC, reducing its holdings to 231,853 BTC.

Other noteworthy movements include Fidelity’s FBTC, which reported a net outflow of 306 BTC, and Invesco Galaxy’s BTCO with a decrease of 420 BTC. Meanwhile, Franklin Templeton’s EZBC ETF bucked the trend with a net inflow of 58 BTC.

In sum, the day concluded with a net outflow of 1,315 BTC across these ETFs, leaving the combined holdings at 906,634 BTC, valued at roughly $53.9 billion. This snapshot underscores the volatile nature of Bitcoin investments within the ETF space, reflecting varied levels of investor confidence and strategic repositioning in the market.

Disclaimer: Market capitalizations and data can vary in real-time. The information provided here is intended purely for educational purposes and should not, under any circumstances, be construed as financial advice.

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LATEST: Chainlink Tools Facilitate Millions of Transactions on Base Network

Chainlink, a leading blockchain oracle network, has announced the availability of its entire product suite on Base, the Ethereum layer-2 network incubated by Coinbase. This integration includes Data Streams and Verifiable Random Function (VRF) products, providing developers with advanced tools to build next-generation decentralized applications.

Base’s Head of Product, Tom Vieira, expressed excitement about the integration, emphasizing that it equips developers with the necessary infrastructure to innovate within the DeFi space. The inclusion of Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) and Price Feeds further strengthens Base’s platform, enabling high-throughput DeFi products with fast, secure execution.

Base has quickly become a prominent player in the Ethereum layer-2 ecosystem, processing over 4 million transactions in a single day. The addition of Chainlink’s cutting-edge solutions is expected to accelerate this growth, offering a robust and efficient environment for DeFi developers.

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