Institutional demand for Bitcoin is accelerating as spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) inject $5 billion to $10 billion into the market every quarter.
This new wave of funds is helping to tighten asset supply and strengthen the long-term bullish structure.
Hong Kim, Bitwise’s chief technology officer, said ETF inflows have been steadily flowing in “like clockwork”, citing data from Pharcyde Investors. He described this pattern as a “long-term trend that cannot be stopped even in four-year cycles,” adding, “2026 will be the year of turnaround.”
These inflows reflect deeper changes in Bitcoin’s interaction with traditional finance. Once dismissed as speculative, mainstream cryptocurrencies are now being co-opted through regulated investment vehicles that provide predictable and sustainable liquidity.
As a result, global crypto fund assets under management (AUM), including investment vehicles focused on BTC and Ethereum, exceed $250 billion, demonstrating the confidence of institutional investors in digital assets as part of a diversified portfolio.
Demand for ETFs exceeds new supply of Bitcoin
Meanwhile, a steady influx of institutional investors is not only pushing up the price, but also reshaping Bitcoin’s supply dynamics.
Andre Dragos, head of European research at Bitwise, revealed that financial institutions acquired 944,330 BTC in 2025, exceeding the 913,006 BTC accumulated throughout 2024.
By comparison, miners have produced just 127,622 BTC this year, meaning institutional purchases outpace new supply by around 7.4 times.
The roots of this imbalance date back to 2024, when the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved a spot Bitcoin ETF after years of hesitation.
This approval triggered structural changes. Demand from regulated funds suddenly outstripped supply, reversing the trend that lasted from 2020 to 2023, when financial institutions’ participation was low due to uncertainty and lack of oversight.
BlackRock’s entry through iShares Bitcoin Trust symbolizes this shift and has encouraged other major companies to follow suit. Since then, this momentum has continued into 2025, helped by friendlier US policy signals and widespread recognition of Bitcoin as a Treasury reserve asset.
Some companies, including government officials, now hold Bitcoin directly on their balance sheets, highlighting its growing institutional legitimacy.
With nearly three months left in the year, analysts expect Bitcoin’s supply crunch to become even more acute as capital inflows show no signs of slowing down.
The widening mismatch between issuance and demand highlights how ETF-driven accumulation is transforming market fundamentals, positioning Bitcoin not as a speculative asset but as a global financial instrument with persistent institutional demand.
