Buckle Up, Bitcoin ETF Buyers, $79K Might Be Your First Real Test

[Ben Graham]

The cryptocurrency market has been under severe bearish pressure in the past week, with the price of Bitcoin falling below this year’s opening price. At the same time, other large-cap assets have struggled, registering double-digit losses over the past few days.

In recent months, conversations have swirled around the death of the typical four-year cycle and a shift in the Bitcoin market structure, with the spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) providing fresh, consistent liquidity. However, the latest on-chain data shows that BTC ETF investors could be under pressure in the coming days.

$79,300: The Pain Threshold For BTC ETF Buyers

In a recent post on the CryptoQuant platform, IT Tech shared an insight into the current Bitcoin market dynamics and how it could affect the relatively new set of investors known as BTC ETF buyers. According to the on-chain analyst, these exchange-traded fund holders are “about to face their first real test.”

The relevant metric here is the Bitcoin US ETF Realized Price, which tracks the average purchase price of BTC held by United States-based exchange-traded funds. This indicator offers insights into the profitability of institutional investors and holders.

IT Tech, however, made an interesting assertion, calling out the idea that ETF capital inflows are “Institutional Money.” The crypto analyst noted that most value added through US-based exchange-traded funds is mostly from retail investors buying through their brokerage accounts.

As observed in the chart above, the Bitcoin US Exchange-Traded Funds Realized Price currently stands around $79,300. IT Tech said that the ETF buyers often feel “smart” when above the realized price, while they feel panic (as seen with most retail investors) when below their cost basis.

According to the on-chain analyst, these ETF investors are not accustomed to Bitcoin price declines. Hence, this group of exchange-traded fund holders or “new retail,” who have not been tested before, could enter a phase of panic selling should they go underwater.

Currently, the next significant support for the market leader is marked at around $82,000, where several spot investors have their cost basis. Ultimately, this evaluation makes $79,300 another crucial level to watch should the price of Bitcoin suffer further downturn. 

Bitcoin Price At A Glance

As of this writing, the price of BTC stands at around $84,500, reflecting an over 2% decline in the past 24 hours. According to data from CoinGecko, the flagship cryptocurrency is down by more than 11% in the past week.