Decline in active Bitcoin addresses since 2024 ETF launches indicates institutional shift
Key Takeaways
- Active Bitcoin addresses have decreased since early 2024, after the introduction of spot Bitcoin ETFs.
- Bitcoin ETFs enable institutional investors to gain Bitcoin exposure without directly holding or moving the asset onchain.
Active Bitcoin addresses have declined since the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs in early 2024, signaling a shift toward institutional investment over retail participation in the crypto market.
Bitcoin ETFs, investment funds that track Bitcoin’s price through traditional stock exchanges, have driven institutional inflows while contributing to reduced onchain activity. The funds allow investors to gain Bitcoin exposure without directly holding the digital asset.
The decline in active addresses has coincided with Bitcoin reaching new price highs since ETF introductions, suggesting institutional adoption through ETF structures has outpaced direct retail engagement with the blockchain network.
Onchain engagement has softened despite the price appreciation, indicating that while institutions increasingly use ETF vehicles for Bitcoin exposure, retail investors are participating less directly in network activity.
