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FreeBTC4 min read

BTC: the ETF bid changed the microstructure

BTC
Delayed

The thesis

Perp funding used to lead every move. It doesn't anymore — creations and redemptions do, and they behave completely differently.

What I'm watching

  • Net creations on down days specifically
  • Funding rate divergence from spot
  • Exchange balances continuing to fall

Positioning

Watch, 2-6 weeks. Conviction: Medium. Regime changes in microstructure break old signals. Re-baseline.

Opinion, not investment advice. The author may or may not hold positions discussed.

Opinion. The author may or may not hold positions discussed. Not advice. Not a financial promotion approved under FSMA s.21. Quote data is delayed. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

Comments

15 comments
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Nils Marchetti·

Clearest framing of BTC I've read this month.

43 replies
Callum Whitlock·

Fair, though I'd want to see it hold for another week before sizing up.

Kenji Aoyama·

That's the part I keep going back and forth on.

Zoe Carter·

Yes, and I'll post an update if that level goes.

Emil Sterling·

The footnote disclosure in the last filing supports this read, for what it's worth.

11 reply
Zoe Carter·

Good question. I'd size it at a third until it confirms.

Felix Chowdhury·

The second point is the one most people are going to skip over.

Samir Tanaka·

I'd argue the risk section understates the downside if the macro backdrop shifts.

Lena Okonkwo·

What's the invalidation level you're using on BTC?

Zoe Carter·

Good question. Invalidation is a weekly close back below the level I flagged — that's the whole trade.

Diego Novak·

How are you sizing this relative to the rest of the book?

Nora Aziz·

Good timing — was just reworking my BTC sizing this morning.

71 reply
Zoe Carter·

That's the risk. I'm accepting it because the asymmetry still works.

Luca Ashcroft·

Reasonable thesis but I think BTC is priced for most of this already.

71 reply
Ines Villanueva·

Agreed — and the same thing showed up last cycle.