Institutional Buying Spurs Bitcoin Surge Beyond $52,000

Bitcoin has surged past the $52,000 threshold, propelled by sustained buying pressure from institutional traders. According to Ki Young Ju, the founder and CEO of CryptoQuant, institutional brokers are actively purchasing Bitcoin on Coinbase to fulfill their clients’ buy orders.

One key metric to gauge this activity is the “Coinbase Premium Index,” tracking the percentage difference in BTC prices between Coinbase and Binance. Coinbase, favored by American institutional entities, and Binance, with a more global user base, reveal insights into the distinct buying and selling behaviors of these demographics.

The chart depicting the trend in the Coinbase Premium Index for Bitcoin over the past weeks illustrates predominantly positive levels. This indicates that the price listed on Coinbase has consistently exceeded that on Binance. Such a scenario arises when buying pressure from Coinbase users outweighs that on Binance or when the selling pressure on Coinbase is comparatively lower.

Notably, these positive values coincide with Bitcoin’s upward trajectory, indicating a prevailing trend of net buying in the market. The green Coinbase Premium Index reflects the substantial buying pressure from US-based institutional traders, contributing to Bitcoin’s recent surge.

Meanwhile, on Coinbase, institutional brokers seem to be fulfilling client purchase orders for #Bitcoin.https://t.co/CBvH58cfIG pic.twitter.com/Opl3rAoCuR

— Ki Young Ju (@ki_young_ju) February 15, 2024

In the initial week of the month, the indicator displayed a negative trend, and Bitcoin prices remained in a consolidation phase. However, as the metric shifted towards positive levels, it coincided with the commencement of the recent Bitcoin rally, highlighting the significant role played by these major entities in the current market dynamics.

Examining cumulative returns segmented by session further reinforces the notion that American investors have been pivotal in driving the price surge. Reflexivity Research co-founder Will shared a chart illustrating this pattern. Notably, Bitcoin has exhibited the most favorable returns during American trading hours in recent months, underscoring the substantial buying pressure exerted by entities based in the United States.

Given the observed correlation between institutional behavior on Coinbase and BTC prices, closely monitoring the premium in the coming days becomes crucial. A sustained positive trend could signify a continuation of the ongoing rally, while a shift into negative territory might indicate these entities engaging in selling activities.