Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are nearing their one-month mark since launch, with Valkyrie Funds’ Chief Investment Officer, Steven McClurg, forecasting potential consolidation in the industry by year-end. Among the current ten issuers, McClurg predicts that only “about seven or eight” may survive due to the significant costs associated with operating a spot ETF for Bitcoin, especially amidst a competitive landscape and fee-cutting pressures.
Valkyrie CIO reveals insight into the ETF market
Since the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the first batch of Bitcoin spot ETFs on Jan. 10, the sector has witnessed robust investor interest. On the inaugural trading day, trading volume reached an impressive $4.5 billion, marking a strong start. Additionally, consistent inflows of funds have been observed, with Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart reporting $400 million in inflows in a single day.
Reflecting on the past month, McClurg notes that overall market events aligned with Valkyrie’s expectations leading up to the launch. However, he highlights an unexpected aspect regarding Grayscale, whose transition from a trust to an ETF triggered a temporary sell-off in Bitcoin, pushing its value below $41,000 before rebounding.
Despite recent sell pressure easing, McClurg anticipates further outflows, which may be distributed among other ETFs. With nine competitors, including industry giants like BlackRock and Fidelity, Valkyrie faces steep competition. Notably, BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin ETF and Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund have already surpassed the $3 billion mark in assets under management within the first month, while Ark Invest’s 21Shares and Bitwise’s ETFs also experienced substantial inflows.
Strategies amid intense competition
Despite its smaller size, Valkyrie, with approximately $123.7 million in assets under management as of Feb. 8, has performed satisfactorily according to McClurg. He attributes this success to Valkyrie’s extensive experience in both digital assets and traditional markets. McClurg acknowledges that competing with industry giants like BlackRock and Fidelity is challenging but emphasizes the importance of performing well relative to peers. Acknowledging the fierce competition in the ETF space, McClurg highlights the rounds of fee cuts implemented before and after launching.
While these cuts aim to attract more investors, they also eat into an ETF’s returns. Valkyrie, aligning its sponsor fee with those of BlackRock and Fidelity at 0.25%, aims to avoid standing out negatively but deems these cuts “unfortunate” at such an early stage. With the high costs associated with running a spot ETF, including security and custody expenses, sustaining these fee cuts may prove challenging for struggling issuers.
McClurg’s prediction of a potential reduction in issuers next year stems from the profitability challenges faced by some players. He suggests that some issuers may opt to cancel their Bitcoin spot ETFs due to financial difficulties, emphasizing that if one wants to identify desperate players, one should look for Bitcoin spot Super Bowl ads.
While the Bitcoin spot ETF sector has seen significant growth and investor interest since its inception, challenges related to profitability and intense competition may lead to a consolidation of players shortly. Despite facing steep competition from industry giants, smaller players like Valkyrie strive to perform well relative to their peers while navigating the complexities of the market.
