They’re calling it the whodunit of the century. It’s no secret bitcoin has been having a rough go of it lately, particularly as the digital currency reaches its fourth straight month of selloffs, sitting below $70,000 a coin for the past two weeks. Now, nearly half of the bitcoin currently in circulation is worth less than what its holders paid for it. But who is to blame? While universities are largely holding on, some hedge funds have revamped their entire positions, selling tens of millions of shares i ...

Market Sentiment - Bitcoin has experienced a four-week decline, dropping as much as 3.2% to $66,604, reflecting a cautious macro backdrop among investors [1] - Sentiment in crypto markets is described as bleak, despite strong adoption progress by traditional institutions, which is not reflected in overall prices [2] - The Fear and Greed Index for crypto markets is at 10 out of 100, indicating "extreme fear" [3] Market Dynamics - US-listed Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have seen net outflows for four consecutive weeks, with $360 million withdrawn last week [3] - Macro news has been closely correlated with crypto's risk profile over the past year, with expectations of consolidation as Bitcoin seeks new sentiment drivers [4] Price Levels and Predictions - Investors are debating whether Bitcoin has established a durable support level, with $60,000 seen as critical, though it may not hold if risk appetite worsens [5] - There is a possibility of a sharper decline into the $50,000s if macro uncertainties persist, as current market conditions do not reflect a full capitulation [6] Institutional Actions - Harvard University has reduced its Bitcoin exposure by selling 1.5 million shares of the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF, while also initiating a stake in the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF [7] - Dartmouth College's endowment has increased its stakes in both Bitcoin and Ether [7]

Market Overview - Bitcoin has extended a four-week decline, dropping as much as 3.2% to $66,604 amid broader market volatility and concerns over artificial intelligence's impact on the economy [1] - The cryptocurrency's price movements have mirrored fluctuations in US tech stocks, indicating a correlation with the broader equity market [1] Sentiment Analysis - Sentiment in the crypto markets is described as bleak, with a Fear and Greed Index reading of 10 out of 100, indicating "extreme fear" [5] - Despite strong progress in adoption by traditional institutions, this has not translated into positive price movements, further depressing market sentiment [2] Investment Flows - Bitcoin is facing headwinds from significant outflows, with $360 million withdrawn from US-listed exchange-traded funds over the past week, marking the fourth consecutive week of net outflows [3] Price Support Levels - Investors are debating whether Bitcoin has established a durable support level, with $60,000 identified as a key threshold that may not hold if risk appetite continues to deteriorate [6] - There is a concern that any macroeconomic instability could lead to a sharper decline in Bitcoin prices, potentially pushing them back into the $50,000 range [7] Institutional Activity - Harvard University has reduced its Bitcoin exposure by selling 1.5 million shares of the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF, although it remains one of its largest holdings [8] - In contrast, Dartmouth College's endowment has increased its stakes in both Bitcoin and Ether, indicating varied institutional strategies in the current market [8]

Core Insights - Bitcoin and Ethereum experienced negative returns in 2025, but investor optimism for long-term growth remains strong [1][6] - The iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) and iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA) provide direct exposure to Bitcoin and Ethereum, respectively, and are compared based on fees, returns, risk, and portfolio composition [2] Group 1: Cost & Size - Both IBIT and ETHA have an expense ratio of 0.25% and are equally priced [3] - As of February 14, 2026, IBIT has an AUM of $51.53 billion, while ETHA has an AUM of $6.29 billion, indicating a significant difference in scale [3] Group 2: Performance & Risk Comparison - Over the past year, IBIT had a return of -29.35% and ETHA had a return of -23.90% [3] - The maximum drawdown for IBIT was -49.36%, while ETHA experienced a larger drawdown of -61.57% [4] - A $1,000 investment in IBIT would have grown to $720, while the same investment in ETHA would have grown to $753 over one year [4] Group 3: Fund Composition - IBIT, launched on January 5, 2024, exclusively holds Bitcoin, while ETHA, launched six months later, exclusively holds Ether [5] - Both funds are characterized by high volatility and provide direct exposure to the cryptocurrency market [5] Group 4: Market Context - The negative performance of Bitcoin and Ethereum in 2025 marks the first annual decline since 2022, highlighting the volatility of the crypto market [6] - Despite ongoing investments from governments and institutions in the crypto space, the market is expected to experience fluctuations similar to the stock market [6] Group 5: Long-term Outlook - Historically, IBIT has increased nearly 40%, while ETHA has decreased by 41%, suggesting a potential advantage for IBIT in the long term [8] - IBIT is associated with a cryptocurrency that has greater institutional and governmental support compared to Ethereum [8]

Core Insights - The ETF industry is projected to reach $1.8 trillion in inflows by 2026, having already attracted approximately $150 billion in January 2026, building on a record $1.5 trillion in 2025 [1] Group 1: Active Fixed Income ETFs - Active fixed income ETFs are leading bond flows, capturing around 40% of all fixed income inflows in 2025, with the Pimco Active Bond ETF (BOND) alone gathering over $2 billion in January 2026 [1] - Other active products such as iShares Flexible Active ETF (BINC), Fidelity Total Bond (FBND), and JPMorgan Income ETF (JPIE) also experienced strong demand [1] Group 2: Thematic ETFs - Thematic ETFs are shifting focus from artificial intelligence to defense and drones due to geopolitical concerns, with the Global X Defense Technology ETF (SHLD) attracting over $1 billion in January and showing a 20% increase for the year [1] - The Rex Drones ETF (DRNZ) has gained 29% since its launch in October 2025, holding approximately $60 million in assets [1] Group 3: Diversification Trends - Investors are beginning to diversify away from mega-cap stocks, as evidenced by the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP) pulling in $5 billion in January 2026 after experiencing $3 billion in outflows in 2025 [1] - The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) gained nearly $4 billion this year following $1 billion in outflows last year, indicating a sector rotation [1] Group 4: Precious Metals and Crypto ETFs - Despite silver prices rising 65% this year, the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) saw $2.5 billion in outflows, attributed to short-term trading rather than long-term investment [1] - Gold has increased nearly 25% and has attracted almost $5 billion in inflows [1] - Crypto ETFs are the only category with outflows in 2026, with the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF (GBTC) outflows offsetting inflows from BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) and Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) [1] - A recent survey indicated that 32% of advisors now allocate to crypto in client accounts, up from 22% [1] Group 5: Private Credit Market - The private credit market offers yields of approximately 15%, significantly higher than the 4.8% for investment-grade and 6.5% for high-yield options [1] - The Simplify VettaFi Private Credit Strategy ETF (PCR) utilizes business development companies and closed-end funds to provide daily liquidity with a proprietary credit hedge to mitigate drawdowns [1]

Group 1 - The introduction of Bitcoin through the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) has marked the official recognition of crypto as an asset class [1] - Binary Tree Analytics (BTA) aims to enhance transparency and analytics in capital markets, focusing on Closed-End Funds (CEFs), Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), and Special Situations [1] - BTA has over 20 years of investment experience, leveraging a background in finance from a top university to deliver high annualized returns with low volatility [1]

Economist Peter Schiff questioned on Thursday how Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ:MSTR) can sustain the 11% dividend payout on its Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock (NASDAQ:STRC), citing the company’s ongoing financial challenges. Saylor Says SRTC Providing Yield With Less Volatility It all started when Strategy founder Michael Saylor took to X, highlighting how the Bitcoin-backed preferred stock delivered 11% annual dividend, paid monthly in cash. Saylor attached a chart showing STRC’s 6% historical volatility, ...

Core Viewpoint - The discussion centers on whether crypto ETFs represent a sustainable investment trend or merely a passing fad, with arguments presented from both bullish and bearish perspectives [1][2]. Group 1: Market Performance and Trends - The first U.S. cryptocurrency ETF, ProShares Bitcoin ETF (BITO), debuted over four years ago, with Bitcoin reaching a peak of approximately $68,000 in 2021 and $126,000 in 2025, indicating significant price volatility and institutional interest [1]. - In 2025, crypto ETPs attracted $34.1 billion in investments, showcasing a growing institutional demand for crypto exposure through regulated vehicles [1][2]. - Despite a 30% price drop in Bitcoin following its peak, the overall inflows into crypto ETFs remained strong, with nearly $48 billion in the first eleven months of the year, indicating resilience in the market [2][3]. Group 2: Regulatory Environment - The regulatory landscape for crypto ETFs has improved, with acts like the GENIUS Act and CLARITY Act providing a more structured environment for investment, which is seen as a positive development for the ETF market [1]. - The SEC's oversight of crypto ETFs contrasts with the original decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies, raising questions about the implications for the future of digital assets [1]. Group 3: Institutional Adoption - A significant increase in the number of U.S. advisory firms allocating to crypto ETFs has been noted, rising from fewer than 200 before 2024 to over 2,000, reflecting a shift in institutional acceptance [1]. - Institutional investors are now holding crypto ETFs, which contrasts with previous cycles where retail investors would panic sell during downturns, suggesting a more stable investment base [2][3]. Group 4: Future Outlook - The potential for consolidation in the crypto ETF market is highlighted, with larger providers like BlackRock dominating inflows, which could lead to smaller players exiting the market [3]. - The emergence of diversified crypto ETFs, such as the CoinShares Altcoins ETF (DIME), is seen as a promising development, allowing investors to gain exposure to a range of cryptocurrencies rather than betting on individual assets [3].

Core Viewpoint - BlackRock is expanding its dominance in the spot bitcoin ETF market with the introduction of the iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF, which aims to provide investors with bitcoin exposure while mitigating volatility through an income-generating strategy [2][5]. Group 1: Product Overview - The iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF will primarily hold bitcoin and generate additional income by selling call options on IBIT shares and indices tracking spot bitcoin products [2]. - This new ETF is designed for investors who seek crypto exposure but are cautious about the volatility associated with direct bitcoin holdings [2]. Group 2: Market Context - BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) has nearly $70 billion in assets, significantly larger than its closest competitor, Fidelity's Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC), which has around $18 billion [5]. - The premium income ETF is not expected to reach IBIT's size, but there is a recognized demand for such products among investors [5]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Existing bitcoin option-income ETFs include the NEOS Bitcoin High Income ETF (BTCI), the Bitcoin Covered Call Strategy ETF (YBTC), and the YieldMax Bitcoin Option Income Strategy ETF (YBIT), which launched in 2024 [3]. - BTCI is the largest among these, with over $1 billion in net assets, while YBTC and YBIT have approximately $211 million and $67 million in assets under management, respectively [7]. Group 4: Performance Insights - Over the past 12 months, BTCI has decreased by roughly 30%, YBTC has fallen about 45%, and YBIT has dropped nearly 50% [7]. - Analysts suggest that funds like the premium income ETF could outperform in sideways or declining bitcoin markets if managed properly [4].

Core Insights - U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs experienced a net inflow of $6.8 million, ending a five-day streak of outflows that totaled nearly $1.72 billion [1] - BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) and Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF (BTC) were the top gainers, attracting inflows of $15.9 million and $7.7 million respectively [1] - Conversely, Bitwise's Bitcoin ETF (BITB) and Fidelity's Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) faced outflows of $11 million and $5.7 million, while ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) lost $2.9 million [2] Market Context - The recent inflow marks a positive shift after significant losses, with the previous Wednesday alone seeing outflows of $708.7 million [3] - Bitcoin's price was down 0.4% at approximately $87,815, reflecting a decline of 2.5% over the past week, 5.8% over the past fortnight, and 11.9% year-to-date [3] - Analysts view the uptick in ETF inflows as a significant indicator, despite Bitcoin's recent price stagnation [4] Analyst Commentary - David Morrison, a senior analyst, noted that the inflow is a positive sign amidst previous outflows linked to Bitcoin's selloff [4] - He expressed that Bitcoin may need to consolidate before a sustained rally, as it is not currently responding to movements in U.S. equities [5] - Morrison highlighted that the strongest correlation for Bitcoin is with the U.S. dollar, which has recently fallen to a three-and-a-half year low [6] Future Outlook - A potential increase in the dollar could positively impact Bitcoin, helping it to break above mid-January highs [7]